CORRESPONDENCE.

A HUNDRED-AND-SEVEN-POITND WOODEN COTTAGE.

r To 7811 EDITOR Or VIII “SPZCTATOZ"]

Brit,—I send you herewith plans and specification of the weather-board model cottage erected by me for Mr. St. Los Strachey on his land near Merrow Common.—I am, Sir, &c., CONNA11 B. WILLoocas, A.R.LB.A.,

I/ Friar Street, Reading. Architect..

DESCRIPTION, Ac.

Generally.

In considering the question of rural housing the chief difficulty that presents itself is that of erecting cottages at a price which, when let at a reasonable rent, will pay a fair return on the capital invested. To endeavour to meet this difficulty Mr. J. St. Doe Strachey recently challenged architects to design a comfortable, convenient, and sightly cottage containing a living-room, scullery, larder, fuel-house, and three good bedrooms, which could be built at a cost of £100. This cottage has been erected in answer to this challenge, and although the cost—A107—is rather higher than the sum suggested, it could have been reduced to the required £100, without reducing the sizes of the rooms, by omitting sundry fittings, Jcs., which it has been thought preferable to retain in this example. In preparing this design endeavour was made to give the requisite accommodation conveniently arranged, due consideration being given to site, aspect, and cost. Also it was desired to produce a design which could be erected and repaired by any competent builder with local materials without the use of special patents. Timber construction was adopted as being practically the cheapest form of construction in most districts, so allowing the maximum accommodation to be provided for the money. Of the durability of this form of construction numerous examples in England and elsewhere give ample proof. The design is, however, equally well adapted to being built in bride or ferro-concrete,

Planning.

In considering the plan it was decided to place one of the bed- rooms on the ground floor, both on account of economy, and so that in the case of a small family it ()mild be conveniently used as a parlour, the front door being arranged to give access to it without having to cross the living-room, it being only necessary to enter one corner, which could well be screened off.

The living-room itself has been made as large as possible, and is well-lit and cross-ventilated by windows on the south and west. The range is well side-lit Opening off one corner is a good larder with perforated-zinc window. In the scullery are provided a fireplace and copper, the latter being fitted with a steam outlet by means of which the steam is drawn off up the flue instead of filling the room. A space is arranged for • a bath, which could be fitted at an extra cost of £4 or so.

The stairs have been arranged to open off the scullery—a position which many oottagers prefer as it enables access to be obtained to the bedrooms without passing through the living-room, and also makes the latter room less draughty. The stairs are well side-lit, and under them is a useful cupboard. On the first floor are two good bedrooms, both fitted with banging-cupboards. Under the slope of the roof are two stores. AU rooms are provided with fireplaces.

Externally are an earth-closet and good fuel-house. Outside the back door is fixed a rain-water butt The sink drainage is taken in an open channel—which can always be kept clean—to discharge into an adjoining ditch.

The areas and cubical contents of the different rooms are as

follows—fireplaces and bedroom cupboards included, but omitting stores on first floor and cupboard under stairs. Ground floor taken as 7ft. 10in, high in clear. Ilsor Area. Colima Contents.

Ft. eV. Ft. cube.

Living-Boom......

Ground-Floor Bedroom .7. 77

70

11 so

Pad-House 17

198 995

Bedroom No. 2 ... 95

The total cubical contents of the building measured to lft below floor level = 6,666 cubic feet.

Construction.

The walls of the cottage are constructed of timber framing on brick in cement foundations resting on concrete, a damp-course being fixed under the lower timber-plate. The design of the cottage lends itself to a very strong form of construction.

Externally the framing is covered with felt and 1 in. rebated boarding, preserved and stained dark-brown with soligniun.

The roof is covered with red Somerset "Roman" tiles.

Internally all walls and partitions and first-floor ceilings are plastered on "double" laths. Picture rails are fixed in the four chief rooms. AU floors are boarded, except scullery' and offiees, which are of cement.

In the living-room there is a small dresser, and a useful shelf is fixed in the scullery. Price, 4^e. This cottage was built under an Ordinary contract with a very good firm of Guildford builders, who carried out the work in a most satisfactory manner. The price includes all fittings and drainage, &c., but not water-supply to sink and fencing, which were provided by the owner. The prices, £100 or £100, according to fittings, may be taken as fair averages, whilst in some districts it might be possible to build cheaper.

The builders were Messrs. William Billion and Son, Commercial Road, Guildford, who can repeat the cottage at the same prices under similar conditions.

The architect was Mr. Conrad B. Willeocks, 11 Friar Street, Reading.

(The cottage designed for Mr. Strachey by Mr. Willcocke, and built at Marrow Common by Messrs. Bullen, of Guildford,

for 2107, is an excellent piece of work, and Mr. Strachey has taken over the cottage without waiting for the trial year to elapse, so well satisfied is he as to its stability. Mr. Willeocks's cottage proves how perfectly stable, weather- tight, and permanent a wooden cottage is when properly constructed. Inside, no one could know that the structure was of wood. Outside, the weather-boards give a very pleasant effect, and, of course, afford an ideal wall in wet weather. Storms that will drive the wet through solid brick and stone walls are defied and vanquished by weather-board. To show how absurd is the notion that wooden buildings are only temporary, and will not stand for more than thirty years at most, we may mention Washington's country house at Mount Vernon, Virginia. The old slaves' quarters are of red brick (brought from Hampshire), but the house has wooden walls, cut and painted to imitate stone. The house is, in spite of its hundred and forty years and more, perfectly sound. Essex, and indeed all the Southern counties of England, can show wooden houses two hundred years old by the hundred. Wooden houses, again, are not more liable to be infested by vermin than are dirty brick houses. Mr. Willeocks has made excellent use of the 2107 which the house cost, and the cottage is thoroughly comfortable. We greatly hope that this model will have many imitators. We note with pleasure that Messrs. Bullen will repeat the cottage for E107 where the conditions are similar, i.e., not specially difficult, for there was nothing specially favourable about the conditions at Morrow. The cottage can always be inspected at Merrow Common, three miles from Guildford Station. All applications in regard to plans, &c., should be made, not to the Spectator, but only to Mr. Willcocks, who is proposing to supply complete working drawings and specification for a fee of £2 2s. for one cottage, whilst if more than one cottage is built from the same drawings, on the same estate, an extra charge of 21 Is. for each additional cottage would be made.— En, Spectator.]