November, 1919 
25 
A RESTORED ENGLISH COTTAGE 
What did the poet say about “Age catmot wither nor 
custom stale,” etc.? That, too, applies to the English 
cottage. It has a way of surviving the chances and 
changes of this chaotic world. Here is one—it is in 
Sussex—built in the 14 th Century, originally one big 
room running right up into the rafters, with two little 
rooms off to one side that served for buttery and larder, 
and with a room above them for a lady’s bower. The 
fire was made in the center of the room and the smoke 
went up through the ceiling. In the 16 th Century a 
floor was laid in the middle and a chimney built. Late¬ 
ly the cottage fell on evil days and recently was con¬ 
demned. But an architect rescued it—and today it 
stands as sturdy and substantial as when its first owner 
gazed proudly upon it six hundred years or so ago. 
The name of the architect is J. D. Clarke 
