The second is to arrange the "posts" in patterns by introducing curved beams amongst them, or other woodwork, forming a kind of tracery pattern.
The third is to adorn the "pans" (panels) either with stamped plaster-work called "pargeting," or with coloured plaster-work, or wood-carving.
The first of these methods is seen in the beautiful example which we have sketched at Newport in Essex: here it will be noticed that the bow window of the upper storey is adorned with wood tracery, and its corbel richly carved with figure subjects, all executed in oak. The "spurs," as they are called, which carry the projection of the upper storey, are richly moulded and rest upon elegant little colonnettes. The pans are filled in with brickwork laid in herring-bone patterns. The centre of the building is recessed back, but in order to preserve the severe and simple lines of the roof, the latter does not follow the line of the recess, but is supported upon an arched beam, from the centre of which projects a lifting-crane, a treatment quite peculiar to the home counties and the south of England.
Of course this building is far more elaborate than most cottages, and the tradition of the place accounts for this by the supposition that it was formerly the dwelling of a farm bailiff to the Abbot of Westminster.
The beautiful little village of Newport has several examples of interesting domestic work and a very noble church.
The building which we illustrate dates from the 15th century, and is still in excellent repair though not in any way restored.
The very elaborate cottage represented in our first sketch is an excellent example of pargeting, the surface of the pans being covered by a rich kind of shawl-pattern executed in hard plaster, like the Newport example. The constructive portions of the building are elaborately treated. We are unable to account for the amount of elaboration bestowed on this cottage, but as it is close to the church, which is a very handsome building and liberally endowed with chantries, it is very probable that this may have been the dwelling of one of the chantry priests.
Clare was an important place in the Middle Ages and possessed a castle, remains of which are still to be seen. Richard Strongbow, the Conqueror of Ireland, is said to have lived in it.
The Manor of Clare in later times belonged to Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. There was also a priory here, built in 1248 by Richard, Earl of Gloucester.
A very curious poem exists in the form of a dialogue, "betwixt a secular askyng and a frere answering at the grave of Dame Johan of Acris" (of Clare). It is a quaint example of Old English and begins in rather a curious manner.