Yes, it is in a chapter about the architecture of the Midlands when he is particularly focusing on Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Silas Hurry -------------- Original message -------------- From: Susan Walter <[log in to unmask]> > In ENGLAND? How interesting. > Thank you. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kate and Silas" > To: > Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 1:41 PM > Subject: Re: cow's blood in floors > > > > Interestingly enough, M. W. Barley in his classic "The English Farmhouse > and Cottage" ( 1961) says "It must long ago been discovered that clay mixed > with oxblood and ashes made a hard floor which might even be polished" (page > 82). So the blood and clay story has precedents in the UK. > > > > Silas Hurry > > HSMC > > > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > From: Susan Walter > > > > > June 28, 2008 > > > > > > Hello All, > > > Working in San Diego Old Town, we are bedeviled by trying to tease out > fact from > > > oral traditions... > > > > > > A current one we are dealing with regards the claim that cow's blood was > a > > > component of packed earthen floors. > > > > > > Long time residents of Baja that we know deny this as a fact. Their > packed > > > earthen floors are solidified simply with water. Other historians we > have > > > questioned have not found this blood addition was done. > > > > > > So, > > > 1. Has anyone in the Histarch community heard of this? > > > 2. Is there documentation of it? > > > 3. Where and who documented it? > > > > > > Many thanks, > > > S. Walter > > > > > > PS: Then, when you are finished with bloody floors, there is the story > that > > > roof tiles were shaped over maidens thighs... And we can follow up with > > > documenting the number of girl's petticoats that were torn up to make > American > > > flags... And, oh Lord save us from Ramona. > >