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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

What Lies Beneath...


Unfortunately the smell in the hearth could not be remediated by scrubbing with solution alone so it had to come up...
and so did the one beneath that.....
and then the 3" of dirt...
and the inch or so of brick rubble....
revealing horizontal short boards spanning the subfloor and footings.
The dirt and rubble were of course extra fireproofing beneath the hearth.

What lies beneath though is fascinating!


Bluestone footings and pristine red convict bricks.
AND


an amazing brick "tunnel" that stretches from just below the original sandstone slab hearth beneath the sceondary modern cement within the open fire place, right through to the opposite corner in the house where an iron vent sits in the footings. 




As the fire burns and the chimney draws, warm air rises and I imagine air is also pulled through this tunnel creating a very deliberate cross ventilation so vital for healthy houses. Not only would this be a benefit to the fire burn but it creates air current beneath the house keeping it dry and stable.


Even chimneys and staircases are specific design elements for healthy house ventilation. When restoring or modifying old houses it is vital to ensure these functions remain. Even blocking chimneys can have a knock on detrimental effect to house health.
This house has stood for nearly 200 years and is in excellent shape structurally. 

All the convict bricks I have ever seen are a bit chalky and rounded through wear and tear, worn smooth but I was so shocked to see these bricks in a condition that looked like new modern ones. Loving the bones of this Georgian cottage.



Thursday, September 10, 2015

Lost and Found


Spring is bursting out in glorious blossom at our new home. Bees are pollinating "surprise" fruit trees as I impatiently wait the swell and bud and delight as the soft breeze lifts the petals like drifting snow flakes. 


Although there is still snow on the mountains, the days are definitely lengthening and the ckooks are contentedly laying again. We have the beginnings of our produce garden mapped out and spring planting is under way.


At the northern end of our property are the ruins of two working mens' cottages from the mid 1800's. This area contains lots of treasure still I'm sure. Certainly there are lots of interesting bottles and several old files.


Lost....
A little grave made from salvaged stone and inscribed in the sandstone headstone,
"Teddy Bear xxx"
The grave is tiny and I'm sure Teddy was probably one of the previous owners cats.


Found...
fragments of china to excite this china enthusiast 
and what a find!
A penny token!
Before currency when the colony was so new, some businesses commissioned the manufacture of penny tokens for their stores. These were made in England.
This particular token was commissioned by Thomas White of the White House in Westbury and bears the date 1855.

I suspect this garden will keep us engaged and excited for many years to come.

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