Cob: And back to Cob...

[Juliann Klapp]

On Fri, 13 Jul 2001 16:14:06 +0100, Michael Saunby wrote:

>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: "Mafalda Stock" <mafalda.stock at yale.edu>
>  To: "Michael Saunby" <mike at chook.demon.co.uk>
>  Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 2:47 PM
>  Subject: Re: Cob: Cob Classes
>  
>  
Thank you, Mafi and Michael, for your wonderful posts describing the "dream"
and the "reality", respectively, of cob building and living.  (And, thanks
also, Michael for the photograph link of your beautiful home.)  Speaking as
someone who is yet in the planning/dreaming/learing/Coblist-lurking stage of
the process, it is inspirational to read such lovely descriptions of the
projects of others.  I am grateful to all the Coblisters for so generously
sharing your experience, knowledge, and ideas...
juliann

>  > Hello, Michael,
>  > Have YOU done cob?  I've had this dream of replicating a neato cottage
or
>  > home, with ye olde worlde charm  -- hearth, exposed beams, etc., sort
of
>  > pub-like, just like some of the buildings I remember from
>  > Bourton-on-the-Water, or even the Welsh brick farm house my friend
lives
>  > in, with a quaint interior much as I described, with a large cob hearth
>  > with stone in front? and a  hefty wood beam right across it, including
a
>  > side nook to heat water pr food, bake bread or whatever one can do. 
I'm
>  > only telling you all this so you can imagine what I'm talking about.
>  > Have you dabbled in building something like that?
>  > Regards,
>  > Mafi Stock
>  > (ex Barnet, Herts citizen)
>  >
>  >
>  
>  To be totally honest, I don't need to, at least not on that scale.  I
live
>  in a 17th century cob farmhouse with a small cob outbuilding (probably
all
>  that's left of an earlier house or barn).  Many of the properties nearby
are
>  of similar age and construction.  I can do cob though, at least on a
small
>  scale, for repairs, or entertainment.  I plan to build a new cob sheep
shed
>  next year, extravagant I know, but as the house proves, the soil and
climate
>  here is good for cob, the materials are to hand, and I'm not planning on
>  ever leaving, so a few months hard work is more of a gain than a loss.
>  
>  This house has two such inglenook fireplaces, no fire at present, it's
>  summer, but in winter that's what heats the house.  Though now listed
(i.e.
>  protected by law) even this house changes slowly, new doors, windows,
>  sometimes a floor... In the 19th century someone added a brick dairy,
which
>  is now a kitchen, the roof of this extension was Delabole (Cornish) slate
>  originally, latter replaced, but now back as Delabole.  The main roof is
>  thatch of course, the straw is grown on a nearby farm, and the timber was
>  probably grown on this farm, which produced oak for construction until
quite
>  recently - and there's folks that think cob was used because of a
shortage
>  of other materials!  The stairs are of elm and the upper floors a mix of
oak
>  and elm.  There are no ceilings downstairs, just large oak beams with the
>  board above them, light from upstairs glints through the gaps between the
>  boards.  Very romantic, etc.  I'm still an engineer though, and in the
end I
>  see it for what it is, an exquisitly designed machine for living,
shelter,
>  heat, food (cooked on an open fire).  That it was built so well by people
>  who knew the essence of life, is proved by its continued occupation for
some
>  350 years so far, and it's not broken yet, so with luck, and care, it
will
>  see a few more centuries.
>  
>  There's a picture at http://www.chook.demon.co.uk/teachmore/teachm4.jpg
The
>  small rusted roof to the left of the house covers the old cob shed, I've
>  fixed the walls and will in time have a go a thatching the roof.  The
larger
>  shed to the far left is what I plan to replace with another cob shed.
>  
>  The buildings to the right is my neighbour, until the 1970s this was a
>  derelict barn, now it's a house.
>  
>  Michael Saunby
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  






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