Local History

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Laird's Cottage, Rothbury, Northumberland on the edge of the Northumberland National Park                                                                   </B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lairds Cottage, Rothbury, Northumberland"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cottage features"><U>Cottage features</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photographs"><U>Photographs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Local attractions"><U>Local attractions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Location"><U>Location</U></A>   |   <B>Local History</B>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Visitors Comments"><U>Visitors Comments</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Booking the cottage/Prices 2008"><U>Booking the cottage/Prices 2008</U></A></div> <div> Local History</div> <div> <I><B>Recent history of the cottage</B></I></div> <bR> <div> The original `old' stone cottage is believed to have been built between 1600 and 1750.</div> <bR> <div>  Prior to that time it is likely that some form of dwelling existed on the site but it would not have been substantial enough to last more than a generation. Few peasants could afford to build houses that lasted longer.  The earliest huts would have been either circular (rather like a wigwam, possibly with poles supported on low walls of earth or stone to give more headroom) or rectangular. The roof would have been covered with turf, heather or straw with a central hearth for heating. </div> <bR> <div> The original stone structure consisted of what is now the `parlour' with its late 19<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century/early 20<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century range, the hallway and the downstairs toilet. It is likely that this structure was in fact two `one room' dwellings built and owned by the local `lord of the manor' and occupied by his own landless labourers. The evidence that this was two dwellings can be seen by viewing the old part of the cottage from the cottage  garden; in addition to the front door  still in use, the outline of a further door can be seen to the RHS of the building nearer to the road. This would have been the other entrance. It is likely that in those days, the present opening into the `parlour' from the hall would have been a solid wall.</div> <div> In addition ladders would have been used to give access to the roof space which was probably used for storage and sleeping. The openings into the loft remained until the cottage was renovated in 2003/5 and had still been used together with simple access ladders until 2001. Prior to renovation, the roof was of the collar beam and king post type (which provided more headroom on the upper floor) which was common from the late 16th century until the early 18th century.   </div> <div> The chimney opening which can now be seen in the hallway would be mirrored by that in the parlour if the range were removed and it is likely that the original cooking arrangements would have been over an open fire in each of the two dwellings. The location of the chimney stack in the cross passage further confirms the likely age of the original surviving building. </div> <div> It is also possible that the original dwellings were built not only on the verge of the road but also on the edge of a still unenclosed common.  By the 16<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century rural poverty and squalor was a serious problem in Britain and in 1588 an Act of  Parliament  was passed to control the building of cottages - however it seems to have had little effect.</div> <div> The use of stone in the construction of the cottage also helps to date the original construction.  The stone can be seen to be coursed rubble with rough ashlar quoins which was a cheaper method of construction commonly used from the mid seventeenth century.</div> <div> The Window Tax of 1695 would also have applied until it was repealed in the late 18th century and is likely to have influenced the number and size of the windows. It can be seen that the original part of the house had few windows, some being very small.</div> <bR> <div> It should be noted that the roof of the existing cottage was raised by approximately 0.5m during the renovation works which took place in 2004/5.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Some history of the village of Burradon</B></I></div> <bR> <div> In 1325 the manor of Borouden (Burradon) was held by John de Borouden by service of a knight's fee, 13s 4d for guard of the said castle, and 15d cornage. He rendered knight's service and suit at his court of Hirbotell (Harbottle), and two water-mills, all held of the heirs of Vesci in chief of the barony of Alnewyck (Alnwick) by service of 2 knights' fees, and doing suit at the court of Alnewyck.</div> <bR> <div> Burradon was originally one of the ten townships in Coquetdale and was believed to be under an obligation<B> </B>to serve in defence of Alnwick and in later years, Harbottle. This is most clearly expressed in the 1604 Border Survey.</div> <bR> <div> For more information visit: <A HREF="http://www.northumberland-national-park.org.uk/VisitorGuide/TimesPast/HistoricVillageAtlas/Harbottle/HarbottleTheHistory.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.northumberland-national-park."><U>Northumberland National Park - Times Past</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>