Archaeological discoveries

What materials were used for a poor Victorian house?

Poor Victorian houses were often made from cheap, readily available materials, such as:

Clay and wood: Used to construct cob; this was a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water. Half-timbered walls would be created using wooden frames filled with these materials.

Stone: This was more common in rural areas, where it was plentiful.

Brick: This was a popular material, particularly for houses built in urban areas, where space was limited.

Slate or corrugated metal: These materials were used for roofing. Thatched roofing with straw was also used until the end of the Victorian period.

Lime and sand mortar: This was used for plastering the interior walls and ceilings, or to hold together stones in walls.