Most of the houses are without ovens but have a “bakstone” for baking. The stone floors are sanded, furniture is plain and sparse: “in some houses there is an oaken chest or kist—a family heirloom, or a small cupboard fastened up in a corner, and a delfcase for pots and plates”. Water is scarce, and on wash-days queues of twenty or thirty may form at the wells. Coal and candles are dear, and in the winter neighbours gather to share each others’ fires. Baking and brewing are done at home; white bread and meat are regarded as luxuries: “oatcake, brown bread, porridge pudding, skimmed milk,
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