Sunday, March 31, 2013

Irish Thatched Cottage


Bothan Scóir, was usually a small, basic one roomed cottage of the poor landless labourer who worked for the local landlord.
 
 
The walls of the cottage were whitewashed inside and out, whitewash was a solution of lime powdered down and mixed with water.  Over the years the accumulation of whitewash helped weatherproof the cottage. In some districts a touch of colour was added.
Most cottages had half doors and earthen floors. The earthen floor comprised of gravel, straw, sand, dirt and clay, sealed with linseed oil. Because of the unevenness of some floors, three legged pots and stools were used, some stools had legs with slightly different lengths, making it easy to position them on such floors.
I took the photo's last August on a visit to Bunratty Folk Park. 
Linked to: http://smilingsally.blogspot.com

6 comments:

  1. Those houses looks nice but I can imagine the living conditions : half doors and earthen floors.
    maybe open fireplace too. In movies I have seen houses like these. Beautiful photos !

    http://nukkekotinukke.blogspot.fi/2013/03/valokuvatorstai-toivo-hope.html

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  2. What an informative post. I enjoyed it and learning something new about another culture.

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  3. Hi Ann,

    Please place a link to Blue Monday on your post so that others can find us. Then return to link in again with Mr. Linky. You can find the code when you click on the blue bird located in my sidebar.

    http://smilingsally.blogspot.com

    Sally

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  4. Beautiful photos, Ann. You have an eye for beauty. I have seen this type of roof once in SoCal. Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you'll come again.

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  5. Such cool looking little homes. I can understand now how 3 legs would be appropriate on furniture.

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  6. I'm sure their living conditions were very challenging and often very uncomfortable, and wonder what the former residents of this cottage would think of us finding their humble home "charming." But I can't help it, I do! I'd love to live in a cob cottage, and I am totally smitten with the look and idea of a thatched roof. I'm drawn to cottages like these for their simplicity and their earth-friendliness, and yes... their charm! :-) (I'd want cork floors or radiant-heated tile floors in mine, though!)

    Interesting about the 3-legged pots and stools! I wonder what they did about their table...

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