HOUSES WITHOUT BRICKS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 56, 8 March 1919, Page 11

HOUSES WITHOUT BRICKS

EEVIVAL OF PICTURESQUE "COB" BUILDINGS.

A revival of earth houses was prophesied by Sir William M'Connick, of the Department of Industrial Research, a few weeks ago. It -is calculated that tho bricks likely ■to be made in the coming year will not nearly meet the number required, and, experts are considering the best way of improving earth or, "cob" buildings, so that men -returning to the land shall not, be homeless. -

The "cob" farmhouses of Devonshire, so clean and so attractive, are mostly 300 to 400 years old, • and they aro as warm and comfortable to-day as ever they were. Sir Walter Raleigh's house was made of "cob," and stands to-day as an enduring memorial.

There were, however, certain disadvantages in old cob buildings. It was found that thoy were not always rat-proof. "We have already discovered how to make these houses vermin-proof by means of chemical treatment." Mr: Hudson, oho of the directors of Country Life, which is investigating the problem, stated. "Mr. Alban Scott," the expert in ferro-concrete architecture, and Sir Edwin Lutycns are conducting- the experiments. It is not expected that cob houses , will be cheaper than brick houses, but they last far longer, are much more beautiful, and keep cool in summer and warm in winter. The great point 13 that the matorial is ready at hand, and it has ■ been- proved lately that chalk makes (.icellont cob. In ail great chalk districts cob houses could easily be built."

Tho Devonshire cob houses were made largely with clay 3hale or red clay mixed with small stones. They were generally thatched, though in some cases slate roofing- was used