[Cob] Are roof overhangs absolutely necessary?

[Christopher Higgo]

Hi,

I want to build a one-and-a-half storey cob house. The architectural  
restrictions in the area I live in in Cape Town call for clipped  
eaves; so no overhang. But the area, in winter, has quite a lot of  
wind-driven rain. This combination got me worried about the walls  
lasting. But after seeing many pictures of old cob buildings in wet  
climates which are double-storey and have double pitched roofs (so 2  
of the 4 exterior walls are completely exposed, and the ground floor  
is exposed all the way around), that have lasted a couple of  
centuries, I have begun to question the common wisdom about the  
absolute necessity of overhangs.

What do you think? Are they absolutely necessary or can a good lime  
rendering alone protect the walls from rain?
Has anyone built a lasting cob structure in a winter rainfall area  
without roof overhangs?

One example: 17th Century cob cottage in Devon, double storey, double  
pitched roof, clipped eaves.
http://www.english-country-cottages.co.uk/sites/english-country- 
cottages/pages/PropertyDetails_C.aspx?QS=2B831DC8-E0A4-4868-B1DF- 
DDB2FE4FD44A~C~HEEA~HCG~216~GBP~4~0~~A~N~1~BAE699D2-1219-6505-7A07- 
AC378919C91A~7207~0~6~N~N~N~N~N&awc=2393_1280828513_9855889cfdfe451ac1e5 
9568f698e864

Christopher