Choosing a Site for a Cottage
The Actual Site
The locality fixed upon, we have next to find a suitable site. In doing
this, we are at once faced with a whole range of difficulties, on which
will depend in a large degree the comfort and happiness of the cottage
inmates. First of all, we shall make ourselves acquainted with the place,
and visit all the highways and by-ways, asking estate agents, friends,
and the lady at the village shop questions innumerable.
Each site proffered should be critically investigated before anything
is definitely settled. What about present and future neighbours? Are
the village schools, the picturesque church with its ivy clad tower
(containing a bell), or the local public-house a little too close? We
may rather like the look of that farm-yard closeby ; but when we find
that the plumpness of the chicken is due to adjoining gardens, and that
the chorus of the ducks rarely concludes by sunset, our love grows cold.
Possibly the pretty little brook that bubbles by so merrily is more
harmful than it looks : there may be some primitive forms of drainage
higher up stream ; and also a heavy rainfall is capable of surprising
effects.
Although we shall naturally avoid the high road on account of the annoyance
of passing traffic, which includes tramps, barrel-organs, and motors,
we should like to take advantage of the public drainage system, and
water and gas supplies ; and also to be near the post office and railway
station. An uphill climb from the station is to be preferred, as it
can at least be taken leisurely.
One cannot be too careful in making enquiries, or in having too legal
a guarantee as to the class and value of buildings permitted to be erected
on adjacent land although it is possible to secure and maintain privacy
to almost any extent by the judicious planting of trees and shrubs,
it is a good deal more difficult to protect ourselves from the nuisance
of some adjoining factory which has been attracted to the neighbourhood
by the low rates. Sewage farms and slaughter-houses are unpleasant things
to have in the proximity; and cement works and cemeteries are unhealthy
as they give off carbonic acid.
It should be observed whether the road is made up and taken over by
the local authority, for otherwise the cost may fall on the frontagers.
Often the fine views obtainable from a particular site are the chief
reason for its choice, so it is well to ascertain whether there is any
likelihood of future building in the immediate neighbourhood.
Picture 7. This pair of semi-detached houses was built
in 1909. The accommodation includes four bedrooms, bathroom, etc., on
the first floor ; and two sitting-rooms, a hall with a fire-place, and
the usual offices below. This type of house is economical, as the roof
continues down over the porches, thus saving brickwork. Red brick was
used for the chimneys, Fletton brick and roughcast for the main walls
and dark red tiles for roofing.
The locality fixed upon, we have next to find a suitable site. In doing
this, we are at once faced with a whole range of difficulties, on which
will depend in a large degree the comfort and happiness of the cottage
inmates. First of all, we shall make ourselves acquainted with the place,
and visit all the highways and by-ways, asking estate agents, friends,
and the lady at the village shop questions innumerable.
Each site proffered should be critically investigated before anything
is definitely settled. What about present and future neighbours? Are
the village schools, the picturesque church with its ivy clad tower
(containing a bell), or the local public-house a little too close? We
may rather like the look of that farm-yard closeby ; but when we find
that the plumpness of the chicken is due to adjoining gardens, and that
the chorus of the ducks rarely concludes by sunset, our love grows cold.
Possibly the pretty little brook that bubbles by so merrily is more
harmful than it looks : there may be some primitive forms of drainage
higher up stream ; and also a heavy rainfall is capable of surprising
effects.
Although we shall naturally avoid the high road on account of the annoyance
of passing traffic, which includes tramps, barrel-organs, and motors,
we should like to take advantage of the public drainage system, and
water and gas supplies ; and also to be near the post office and railway
station. An uphill climb from the station is to be preferred, as it
can at least be taken leisurely.
One cannot be too careful in making enquiries, or in having too legal
a guarantee as to the class and value of buildings permitted to be erected
on adjacent land although it is possible to secure and maintain privacy
to almost any extent by the judicious planting of trees and shrubs,
it is a good deal more difficult to protect ourselves from the nuisance
of some adjoining factory which has been attracted to the neighbourhood
by the low rates. Sewage farms and slaughter-houses are unpleasant things
to have in the proximity; and cement works and cemeteries are unhealthy
as they give off carbonic acid.
It should be observed whether the road is made up and taken over by
the local authority, for otherwise the cost may fall on the frontagers.
Often the fine views obtainable from a particular site are the chief
reason for its choice, so it is well to ascertain whether there is any
likelihood of future building in the immediate neighbourhood.
Picture 7. This pair of semi-detached houses was built
in 1909. The accommodation includes four bedrooms, bathroom, etc., on
the first floor ; and two sitting-rooms, a hall with a fire-place, and
the usual offices below. This type of house is economical, as the roof
continues down over the porches, thus saving brickwork. Red brick was
used for the chimneys, Fletton brick and roughcast for the main walls
and dark red tiles for roofing.
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