Clay and Cob Buildings

Habitations have been fashioned from unfired earth since antiquity, and with the technique continuing to be widely employed in Britain until the nineteenth century there is a tremendous range of historical examples available for viewing and study. They are to be found across the islands— though known by various names, such as East Anglia's 'clay lump' and Buckinghamshire's 'witchert' —and their ubiquity means that an appreciation of these often-overlooked buildings can greatly contribute to the general pleasures of travel in Britain. John McCann here describes the various processes of building with earth, examines the regional patterns and terminologies, and illustrates standing buildings of clay and cob in many parts of Britain.

John McCann was an Inspector of Historic Buildings for Essex County Council and English Heritage. He has tutored numerous courses for Cambridge University and has published widely on various aspects of vernacular architecture.