... the principal dictators of style' in vernacular architecture.4 The use of unbaked earth as a building material for permanent homes was quite widespread from around the late 15th century. Different methods of construction were used across Britain including clay bat5 and pise.6 Another method, particularly used in the West Country, was cob. Cob was essentially made up of earth which included clay, chalk, grit, silt and sand. This mixture was built up layer by layer, with each layer being left to dry before adding the next. To give the walling extra strength 'large quantities of straw [...] were mixed in to provide fibrous reinforcement and to minimise shrinkage cracks.'7 Cob walls varied in colour depending on where the material was extracted. For example, the cob would be a red/pinky colour if extracted from the Permian Sandstones or grey if from the Culm Measures. Cob building tended to be confined to the south ...

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