School: Knockcommon (roll number 16549)
- Location:
- Knockcommon, Co. Meath
- Teacher: Sighle Nic Aibhsc
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0684, Page 105
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- 105. Old HousesThere were seven houses in the district in former times, all of which were thatched. The straw for thatching them was grown locally. The bed was not in the kitchen but in a bedroom. The fireplace was in the gable wall in most of them and the chimneys were made of clay and wattles.
There are accounts of houses which had no chimneys in Thiursdenstown, and they had a hole in the roof instead. These houses were thatched with rushes. The fireplace was in the middle of the floor.
There is one house in the district of Newtown which has cardboard in the Windows. The floor is made of clay and a hearth for the fire. An open chimney is also used through which the sky can be seen plainly. When rain falls it puts out the fire.
Half doors were common in this district in former times, and it was the custom for people to lean across them and talk to their neighbours. Turf and wood were usually used for the fire(continues on next page)
- Collector
- John Carney
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Newtown, Co. Meath
