Houses were often thatched, which means that vegetation was tightly bound together in a number of layers at an angle to allow rain water to drain off the roof. In gable-walled homes, the thatch is frequently held by gables extending above the level of the thatch or by mud or plaster connected to the walls. The gables may be made of wood or metal. They can also be found on old buildings without roofs, such as castles, where they function as shelter for people living in the building's interior.
During the early years of English settlement in Ireland, most buildings were made from timber, because there were no suitable materials available for construction at the time. As settlers moved into more populated areas and needed better housing, they began to use stone when constructing homes. Up until then, the only way to build a permanent home out of stone was to go back to your homeland with a group of builders and hope there was enough rock available.
By the 18th century, large numbers of houses were being built in Ireland out of brick or stone. This is when the term "Irish house" comes into play. These were usually two-story structures with rooms on either side of a central hallway opening onto a front porch. There might be a third floor with attic rooms. People lived on the first floor while guests slept on the second.
Wattle and daub, which were wood strips or sticks smeared with mud and manure, were used to make the walls between the wooden frame. The walls were often whitewashed. Although wealthy individuals could buy tiles, most Tudor dwellings had thatched roofs. Tiles would have been too expensive for most people.
The floors of a Tudor house were usually made of boards. Sometimes they were covered in carpets. In wealthier homes, the floor might be made of stone or brick.
There were no locks on doors in the 15th century, so people made their houses secure by hiding inside them! Doors were only locked after the Black Death when people started hiding away to avoid being killed by the plague.
Tudor houses had only one room, called a hall. It was where everyone ate and spent time together. Living rooms were not invented yet.
Houses like this one were built all over England during the Tudor period.
It's a cottage, not a castle! English castles were mostly built during the 13th century wars between France and England. They were used as military fortresses. Cottages were usually only one story high with just a roof instead of walls around them. They were usually only meant for storage or shelter.
The one-room home with an optional divider inside is composed of wooden planks connected to a framework and supported by large boulders or concrete blocks to allow rainwater to pass below. The house itself is not built up, like a Western dwelling, but rests on rock bases or even drains into a dry well.
They are usually only about 10 feet (3 m) wide and 20 feet (6 m) long, but some are larger. There's no such thing as a small Caribbean house, since most islands have areas where homes can be found in all sizes from tiny shacks to huge castles!
Most commonly, Caribbean houses are made out of wood, although other materials are used as well. Wood is the easiest material with which to work, so most builders use this substance when constructing their homes. But if you want your house to last forever, you should also use metal for the frames of your house. These days, many people choose to use corrugated iron for their roofs because it is easy to find and cheap. But if you want to save money but still want your house to look nice, you can also buy pre-made roofing panels that come in various colors and styles.
Caribbean houses do not have bathrooms or kitchens, because these facilities would take up too much space.
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