Yorkshire Cottage. By Ella Pontefract and Marie Hartley. (Dent. 125.
6d.)
" THE country's not unworthy (post-war) role," writes Miss Ponte- fract, " would seem to be to secure that progress still preserves the old traditions for the generations that follow, particularly in places like our own, where traditions are worth preserving." It was in such a spirit that the author and Miss Hartley (referred to through- out the book as " the artist "), purchased a somewhat dilapidated stone cottage on the edge of the fells in Wensleydale, and set about repairing and improving it. That was in the days just before the war ; and the present book, simply written, circumstantially told, is the story of how the work was carried out. Care was taken to impose on- the old building nothing that could possibly disturb its ancient conformity with the landscape ; and not the least interest- ing part of this unambitious tale is that which recounts the words and works of those local men, from blacksmith to stone-mason, who had their honourable share in the reconstruction. If in post-war England there still remain old cottages to buy and traditional labour to employ for their restoration, here is a useful guide for would-be purchasers : meanwhile Yorkshire Cottage makes pleasant, if rather remote, reading. The second half of the book tells in modest fashion the story of the first year of occupation. The illustrations by " the artist" are neat and informative, and provide a proper counterpart to the text.
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