Posted by RichardG on April 16, 2003 at 17:04:12 from 213.120.126.213 user RichardG.
In Reply to: Re: not BECKFOOT layout - Mr Farland's bathroom arrangements posted by John Nichols on April 16, 2003 at 15:15:32:
I don't know for sure about the Lake District, but in Mid Wales (not dissimilar geology) the norm for isolated houses was/is to trap a spring on the hillside above, and build a masonry tank to act as a small reservoir. This could provide a good head of water and a reserve for dry spells. As Pigeon Post was set in the middle of a dry spell, a swim in the river rather than a bath would have helped to conserve a limited supply. I recall a ban on baths in our house in Wales during dry spells in the '60s when the spring almost dried up (we just swam in the sea instead). Oh yes - and the spring water tasted delicious, especially when compared to the treated stuff that came out of the mains !