School: Gortloney (roll number 11978)

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1. Old Houses

   

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   Old Houses

   Written by Kathleen Hill, Milltown; 9th December, 1938.

   Almost all the houses long ago were made of mud. Some of them were very comfortable and warm, others were very poor. They were roofed with rough poles, which were covered with bog screws and then thatched with straw, or sometimes rushes. In those days a thatcher was a good trade.
   Where there were two rooms the fire was generally in the centre wall. The chimney was made of woven rods which was supported by a beam, which rested on two posts buried in the ground. The fire place was made of a few flags and the floors were made of yellow clay. In most houses the windows were very small and could not be opened. Most people burned turf as it was very plentiful in those days.
   The light they had at night was obtained from rush candles. The rushes had to be pulled in the summer and they were put in water to prevent them drying too quickly. When taken out of the water they were spread on grass to bleach for a few ays. They were then peeled

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   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

   Kathleen Hill

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Milltown, Co. Meath