Labourer's Cottages, in which there was very little improvement from London to Warwick, assumed a somewhat more comfortable aspect about Birmingham, and thence to Manchester. There are still, however, a great many of the inferior cottages of 1805 between Ormskirk and the lakes. There, in the villages at least, they are more picturesque in appearance, and some of the chimney tops would form as fine studies for a cottage architect, as the rocks, ground, natural wood, and waters do for a young landscape-gardener. Between Penrith and Dumfries, the cottages are more improved than they have been on any part of our journey. We are informed that these cottages have been chiefly built by labourers and working tradesmen, for their own occupation. They are of squared stone, with facings to the doors and windows; the floor is raised two or three steps; they contain two rooms and a large light closet, with a garret for lumber, and a lean-to kitchen for washing, &c. The garden is behind, and a peat stack (peat being the usual fuel) is generally placed against the end of the house. The roof is covered with slates; and the windows are generally composed of two sashes, one of which, at least, is hung.
