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other had narrower bays and a crown post roof. A 19th century drawing of the Guildhall by
Ruskin survived, which showed two 15
th
century timber, tracery windows, on the first floor.
Messenger moved on to look at vernacular buildings in Cumbria that were examples of earth
construction: locally these buildings are often referred to as clay dabbins. Clay walling had
been described as: “the short lived material.” It was often covered with lime, render, brick or
stone and was only exposed if it collapsed and pushed the skin out. What remained of the
building would be whatever was being supported by the internal structure. Other examples
of earth buildings that had survived in North Cumbria were looked at to show how traditions
had slowly adapted through time.
The point was made that clay dabbins were not only found on the Solway Plain. Some of
these buildings survived in the Eden Valley. Some had been remodelled and some had no
traditional detailing. In some earth buildings there was evidence of where shuttering had
been used: the fact that pisé de terre had been employed was not common knowledge before
the surviving evidence was discovered recently.
Brickwork was reintroduced to Cumbria in the late 17
th
century by the Lowther family.
Brackenhill Tower was an example of an early brick cottage. This was the home of a member
of the Graham Clan and hence the cottage was attached to a tower. Adjacent to the cottage
was an apparently simple barn, built of handmade bricks on a rubble plinth. Messenger
showed photographs of the barn’s ‘experimental side wall’: the brick bonding was not readily
identifiable.
Messenger gave the delegates a brief historical context. In 1066 Cumbria was part of Scotland.
It did not become part of England until 1092, when the border moved from being south of
Kendal to being north of Carlisle.
The area closest to the border was fought over for the six hundred years, which obviously had
a huge impact on the lives of the local people and the vernacular buildings. In the villages and
towns that were frequently attacked, buildings were destroyed. Understandably many
defensive buildings were constructed at this time and it is examples of tower houses, stone
houses and bastles that have survived the longest. Askerton Castle, Brackenhill Tower and
the Bastle at Raughtonhead are examples of defensive buildings and delegates were show
photographs of their construction and detailing.
The Union of the Crowns in 1603 ushered in a ‘quieter period’ of history for the area. The
17th and 18th centuries sawmost buildings being constructed in a plain and simple vernacular
style. The buildings were heavily lime rendered to protect them against the climate, with
simple details for window and door surrounds and exposed quoins.
Some vernacular buildings dating from later in the 17
th
century included slightly different
features: for example large bank barns with unrendered rubble walling. Some tower houses
were remodelled in this period. Rather than defensible features being built, there is evidence
of architectural statements being added to buildings in this period.