School: Lisnabo, Newtownforbes (roll number 15460)

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1. Old Houses (continued)

   

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   to be a very dangerous as it would not take much to put it on fire.
   The floors were made of mud, and are still in a lot of country houses around.
   Rush candles were used to give light. The people had a sort of a little pan with three little feet on it, on which they melted fat. Then they would peel some rushes leaving one little strip of peel on the back of it, then they would dip them in grease and leave them up for a few weeks to dry, when they would dry they would use them as candles.
   In nearly all the old houses there was a large beam across at the fire place to keep the chimney up. then there was a strong stick across the chimney, from the beam into the wall called the "Crook Stick". to which there was a strong chain attached, on which to hang the crooks.
   At each end of the beam, there was a loft, and the people often stored their potatoes on them.
   My uncle William had the little pan business in which the people melted the fat for making the candles. His name and adress is as follows.
   William Wright, Curry, Newtownforbes, Longford.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. objects
      1. man-made structures
         1. buildings
            1. residential buildings (~2,723)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Dorothy Dixon

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Aghareagh, Co. Longford

   Informant

   William Wright

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Corry, Co. Longford