The model village and its cottages

by William Alexander Harvey

Plate [lvi.] gives a single cottage of a plan similar to the last, with enlarged accommodation and somewhat different treatment, namely:—

Rough-cast from ground, with tarred plinth; oriel window to first floor, with the introduction of a little colour in parquetry, which is also applied round the small window over the entrance, and a half-timber porch glazed with leaded lights, having coloured centres of rich glass. The cloak space is here converted into a china pantry.

A separate view of the porch is shown on Plate [lvii.]

PLATE LVII.
PORCH OF SINGLE COTTAGE.
SEE PAGE [50].

GENERAL NOTES.

THE PATENT ADJUSTABLE CABINET BATH.

The Bath.—The bath, without which no house is nowadays regarded as complete, should be supplied in all cottages, however small. At Bournville, wherever there is no bathroom, the bath is placed in the kitchen, this room being considered the most suitable: hot water is here at hand, and, as there is usually a fire in winter, it is both more convenient and comfortable than in one of the bedrooms, where the space can be ill-spared, especially where there are children. Even in the kitchens of these small cottages there is necessarily none too much space, and various devices have been employed to prevent the bath being an inconvenience when not in use. One way of disposing of it is to sink it into the floor near the hearth, the boarded covering serving as a standing or draining board when the bath is in use. Another way, where there is a little more room to spare, is to fix it on the usual floor level, and make its cover serve as a settle or table. The introduction of the Patent Adjustable Cabinet Bath, however, is better than either of these methods. In this arrangement the bath is hinged at the bottom of one end in order that it may be easily lowered from and raised back into the cabinet, where in its vertical position it is no inconvenience when not in use. In the hinge a waste pipe is introduced. With this bath not only is there a gain of space, but the bath may be used with a saving of time and labour, and without fear of deluging the floor. Above the cupboard in which the bath is kept are convenient shelves. The cost of the bath and cabinet is about £3 5s. The illustration on the last page shows a bath of this kind fitted in one of the Bournville cottages.