Original Homes
Are local councils afraid that people will insist on living in such places if they are left erect? Doubtless men have been found living in corners of a garage or even less con- venient paces. At one time I frequently visited one dwelling which was a chalk cavern under the roots of a large and comely beech-tree. Except for a curtain of sacking across the entrance, all the walls were of white chalk and the roof was " half-timbered " with beech roots. Again, I possess a photograph, given me in Western Australia, of a hollow tree where lived a man and his wife and, I think, twelve children. Even if it was judged illegal for people to live in such places, however much they enjoyed their original residence, the greatest stickler would not recommend the demolition of the chalk cave or the hollow tree. The campaign in favour of better houses is not in any way prejudiced by the use of old houses as barns; and these, if comely and historical, may be a valuable addition to a village.
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