Posted by John Nichols on April 15, 2003 at 14:27:16 from 165.91.199.202 user Mcneacail.
In Reply to: Re: BECKFOOT layout - arrangements for eating posted by Prue Eckett on April 15, 2003 at 08:53:14:
Ed,
This is an interesting argument to this point about water at Beckfoot.
First point: I tend to agree with you, and I only started to look at this point because I was looking for an English house book to show me how to design chimneys. I found two good books. One included a house at Windermere by a well known Architect who built simple houses (he liked low ceilings, said it made the rooms look bigger.)
Second Point: The Windermere house showed a WC and bathrooms up stairs and inside. This house was built about 1904.
Third Point: There is no way Ransome would have not known about an architect designed house in Windermere.
Fourth Point: I was searching for more stuff on English chimney design when I stumbled across a McGraw Hill Book in 1920 that was in a late edition that set out all the engineering for things like water supply. The details are sufficient that I could still teach quite a handy course from this book. I have a similar book on masonry design from 1909. The engineering in the 1920's was a lot more advanced than we typically credit. I am just as guilty as any as thinking that world history starts after WW2, because that is all I can remember.
Fifth point: James Blackett was interested in mining and from the mining engineers I know they have to solve little problems all the time such as water. My brother has destroyed much stuff in the mines including a large bore hole pump cause he left the reflux valve of one such pump. - I took some delight in telling him that if he had paid me to design it and I made such a mistake he could sue me for the loss, but as he did it, then he could sue himself. For some reason he did not see the humour, but then again he hates Ransome.
Sixth Point: I have found a book that show pictures of some English farm and town houses from the 1920's including a section on the Norfolk broads. The interesting thing is the appearance of drainage pipes for the guttering and downpipes, a lot of houses smaller than Beckfoot had it. So water pipe was available.
Seventh Point: From my memory in just about every scene where children are lying in bed and waking up, the first thing they hear is Mrs Dixon or someone similar bringing in the water for a morning wash. Even Mrs McGinty does it, if my memory stretches that far.
Eighth point: I can not remeber a single instance at Beckfoot of the mention of water being brought up in the mornings. And the reference is to Dot to get water from the bathroom for the flowers.
Ninth point: Architects have what they call negative spaces, which is an interesting concept once you get hold of it. But in the absence of something positive look at the negative concept. They use it in building construction. Ransome does not tell us directly but he does not show us the poorer side where the farmers could not afford water and had to take in visitors to make ends meet.
Tenth point: In a criminal action one needs to prove beyond reasonable doubt. I have no data to get to that level of proof, but the civil action is 50:50. I reckon on the balance of probability that Beckfoot may have had water.
Eleventh point: If once in the books Ransome carries water upstairs at Beckfoot I am wrong.
Last Point: It is good fun arguing with Ed about these points and often he uncovers the last bit of evidence such as on Captain Flint's bedroom location. He has the patience of Job and an electronic copy of the books. I merely have a faulty memory, and a copy of PP that has pages missing and yellowed, and a brother who is a mining engineer who tinkers with everything.
John Nichols.