Part 15 (1/2)

From this cause the ”waste” is so ”stones” from the quarries of Beer, Sutton, and Tottenhoe in Devonshi+re are really chalk, but in a foruishable froer that chalk blocks are kept to dry before building-in the better, and the sun and wind of at least a year should be allowed free play upon them to dry out their natural sap and render the-out process the chalk should, if possible, be protected fro built into the walls of a house, chalk will continue to dry and harden

But it is essentially a soe itself on those neglecting its just demands for a sound roof and a proper da is liable to allow the penetration of moisture under the pressure of the wind unless a cavity is provided or unless the surface is treated with a silicate or other ”vitrifying” fluid

Chalk, however, has one shi+ning virtue in cohtily with keeping

Chalk walls sometimes have youthful vices in the way of porosity that entirely disappear with advancing years through the closing up of the surface pores, which eventuallysuperfluous

IV

_UNBURNED CLAY AND EARTH BRICKS_

SUN-DRIED BRICKS

The use of sun-dried bricks in this country, is, for no very apparent reason, allia There it has been used for generations with entirely satisfactory results

Mr Skipper of Norrites of thefroe line, has not noticed the nue, fars scattered practically all along the countryside? Some of these are of studwork and plaster, some of wattle and daub, but many are built of clay made up into lumps, sun-dried, and built into the walls with a soft clay-h soging, exposure andwith short straw are similar to the Devonshi+re 'cob' work, but in these parts the worked clay is thrown into moulds, and lumps are formed of, say, 18 in

by 12 in by 6 in, or 18 in by 9 in by 6 in for large sizes, and for inside walling or backing to brick-faced walls, 18 in by 6 in by 6 in

The walls, naturally, are rough in texture and the joints are generally stopped up and bes or al sometimes has lime mixed with it, but it is not necessary

This is all that is needed to co, that any one can see at Tivetshall Station on the Ipswich line, about 200 ft long, 45 ft or 50 ft wide and three floors high, built of lumps 18 in by 12 in by 6 in--that has stood the weather and weight of its roof for forty years built in this way; 12 in

is the thickness of its walls A further stage in finish is to give the walls two or three coats of coal tar, but it is not essential, though desirable where stock are kept, as cattle are rather fond of licking the clay, and they do not use their horns hest finish in this work is to cast sand on the last coating of tar before it is quite dry, and then to colour or ash on this This accounts for the variety of colourings seen in these buildings, some even of a kind of pink or red; while some yellow or buff, beside the white and the black or tarred buildings, and all huddled together or standing apart, whether covered with thatch or red pan or flat tiles, look res These lump walls are, of course, built on a base of brickwork, about 18 in or 2 ft

high, to keep the can be built for _at least_ 15 per cent or 20 per cent cheaper than ordinary 9 in

brickwork Thin as these walls are co warm in winter and cool in summer When suitable clay is procurable a local builder al a house for hiratify a whim perhaps, he will case the outside walls--especially the front next the street or road--with brickwork But clay lu linings to the outside walls, bonding the two together very much in the same way as two 4 in 'cavity walls'

are bonded I a artistically as 'cob,' but I do suggest it is a practical, sensible and _dry_ walling, and if properly done it will 'last for ever,' as a local builder repeatedly said to ht--the sun and the winds do the drying in the spring months, and no coals are required, and also the clay is often found on the building site, hence no cartage Actual building work naturally goes quickly, as the lue There is another i complete with its roof on and occupied by its tenant while still awaiting an outside casing of brickwork to be built round it, either with a view to greater protection or for the mere vanity of the owner, for while thus left unprotected the lump walls take no harm from even winter exposure Now to be quite practical in these extreest that the use of clay lus of outside walls would be an i projected We et that comparatively few bricks will be available this year, while the cottages are wanted at once Can these few bricks be better used than by for foundations and chies? I think not The cottages could, of course, be occupied in the late summer or autumn of this year, and next year when bricks will be s could be added, if brickwork _estion solely to ent and deep national need Personally, I prefer the sight of a cottage built and finished in the old-established method of the locality Unskilled labour only is required, working under intelligent supervision, hence ireat number of men would be provided”

[Headnote: Use for Unskilled Labour]

[Illustration: +Once Corn Hall, now Council School+ Built about a hundred years ago Still in sound condition and quite dry]