The wall and the mysterious hole
I am about to write a post about a wall. Bear with me.
This is a wall with some history. It used to be the outer wall of an old farmhouse, part of which makes up half of our cottage. The farmhouse was a patchwork of a building and we’re not sure how old it might have been. The window in Miss P1’s room has been dated to the mid 1700s but the knobbly logs and branches cobbled together with wooden pegs in the roof space might speak of something much earlier. There are hints of another, lower roof apex in eldest’s bedroom wall. Was this a medieval longhouse?
The portion of the cottage beyond the wall was added in around 1850. The little hole in the wall is my favourite spot in the house.
What was it? A salt hole? A teeny window, blocked off when the 1850 ‘extension’ was added? The village used to be a port. Clunch was shipped out from the middle ages via a series of Roman lodes and ditches. Some of the Reach clunch was used to build Cambridge University colleges. There were fourteen inns here when the port was at its busiest, not all of which were legal.
I like to think this was a tiny window used to keep watch for the constabulary whilst the room was used as an illicit alehouse.
The shadows that fall here are some of the most beautiful in the house. When I’ve been photographing the patterns of light and shade I keep being drawn back to this small place, not least because of its historical riddle.
September 1st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
We used to have a similar hole, which was glazed (badly) in our old house. Which wasn’t half as pretty as yours. Look at the damn roof! How lovely!
I hate you.
September 1st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Illicit alehouse indeed. Are these secret plans you are revealing?!
You’ll be pleased to hear I am now fully first aidered up and can apply a triangular bandage to any of your appendages should you need it - you just need to shout.
September 1st, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Oh, you people and your magical ancient homes. My house was built about 1929. Whoopee! When my sister renovated her farmhouse (the first time) she put a couple of niches into the walls, and they looked quite tasteful with a single orchid or whatnot in them. Until the orchids died or got attacked by cats. You could try that (the orchids, not the cat attacks).
September 1st, 2010 at 6:50 pm
What an interesting house you have. I’d never heard of clunch either.
September 1st, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Hope you’ve been doing some illisit brewing with sloes or apples or something suitable seasonal. I’ve been trying to post a shadowy thing or two but photos are not playing properly. Am off to try again. I love that little nook. And the word clunch. Ax
September 1st, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Can’t spell illicit. Sorry. Ax
September 1st, 2010 at 7:56 pm
How wonderful to live in a house with some history! Your shadows are beautiful too.
September 1st, 2010 at 8:30 pm
What a beautiful post and such a lovely wall…..with a hole!
I like the last thought, like the smugglers caves down here. Good old fashioned naughtyness!!
Nina xxx
September 1st, 2010 at 9:20 pm
OOooooohhhh, I do like a riddle! If it was a window, I wonder what was witnessed through it! x
September 1st, 2010 at 9:23 pm
What a beautiful post…………….. sigh……………………..
September 1st, 2010 at 9:40 pm
I would like to think it was a little window too, there must be so many things that would have been seen through it. Lovely post and beautiful pictures!
x
September 1st, 2010 at 9:45 pm
I only knew clunch as a Farrow and Ball colour! Fascinating and wonderful shadows.
September 1st, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Clunch. Hahahahahahahaha.
September 2nd, 2010 at 3:01 am
Wow — what an amazing house you must live in Emma. Your wall — and window — are just beautiful. Now…what is a clunch and why is trashy laughing???
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:32 am
Fascinating bits of history, and your photos are fabulous! Penny x
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:05 pm
What a romantic tale - sadly, the only quirky holes in our walls have been caused by my offspring’s illicit use of sporting equipment indoors. It’s not quite the same, is it?
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:54 pm
I wonder if it was for a gas latern or candle?
You have a beautiful house and the shadow patterns are inspiring.
M x
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:17 pm
How fascinating, you just don’t get things like that in an 1980’s house!!
Vivienne x
September 3rd, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Beautiful photos and a beautiful house. You lucky lady
September 4th, 2010 at 11:21 am
What fabulous historicalness in your very own home! I’m jealous! ;o) Love the photos too! Lucy xx
September 15th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
What a fascinating history your cottage has Emma!
And more evocative shadows.
Jeanne
x