School: Abbeytown Convent N.S. (roll number 15043)

On this page

1. Old Houses (continued)

   “Long ago in this parish, the houses were very small and often there was not room for a whole family to fit it.”

   

   Share Share Post

   (continued from previous page)

   member of the family tramped upon it in order to level and smooth it.
   The bed was always kept in the kitchen and was called the "settle" bed. This could be closed up during the day and was placed along the side wall and used as a form. There was also another bed known as a "press bed" which could be closed up in during the day and opened at night, and this was also placed in the kitchen if the place was big enough.
   These old houses had no windows, so in order to let in light, air and sunshine a hole was made in one of the side walls. In order to have light at night the people had to secure rush candles. These were made from the thickest rushes and first the skin was peeled off them. Then they were put in a hot lard or grease, and they left them there, until they go hard and fit for use.

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. objects
      1. man-made structures
         1. buildings
            1. residential buildings (~2,723)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Mary Joe Mac Dermot

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Boyle, Co. Roscommon

   Informant

   Mr T. Tiernan

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Boyle, Co. Roscommon