100.—A Northamptonshire Cottage.
The gable is one of the characteristic features of the period. As a rule it was of steep pitch—indeed, in many thatched barns and cottages the apex is very acute (Fig. [100]). In such cases the cottages generally had attic-rooms in the roof, which were lighted by dormer windows, over which the thatch was worked in such a way that they appeared to be a growth out the main roof rather than an extraneous window applied to it. In stone and brick houses the gable wall rose above the roof, and was coped with stone to prevent the wet penetrating into it. The coping rested at the bottom on a kneeler, which projected sufficiently to accommodate itself to the projection of the eaves, and at the apex it was usually crowned by a finial. A considerable amount of variety was introduced into the design of the kneelers and finials, and many a small house and cottage is redeemed from insignificance by the possession of one or two of these features (Fig. [101]). Even where there was no finial, the mere fact of the apex of the coping projecting above the line of the ridge produced a point that showed against the sky, and helped towards the general picturesqueness of effect. In some of the more important houses the finials were worked with greater elaboration, and were placed not only on the apex of the gable but on the kneelers at its foot (see Fig. [108]), and the dormer on Fig. [113]; also Plate [XXX].). The effect of plain gables contrasted with those having simple finials is shown on Plate [XXXV]., while examples of larger and more important finials may be seen at Kirby and Rushton (Figs. [107], [113]), the prevailing forms being some variety of the obelisk.
101.—Stone Finials and Kneelers.
102.—Manor House, Finstock, Oxfordshire.
103.—Cottage at Rothwell, Northamptonshire.(1660.)
Plate XXXVa.