The Saturday briefing
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Is there anything you’re yearning to know? Send your questions, on any subject, to the contacts given below, and we will do our best to answer them... Q What makes a cottage, a cottage? I always thought it was a small, old house, but many “cottages” are huge!
Anne Twine, Washington, Tyne and Wear
A There is no technical definition; which means if they are rural, built to a traditional design and are relatively small, they can claim to be one.Add in extensions and renovations and cottages can seem more like palaces.
Originally they were the simple home of a medieval cotter, or cottager, who was allowed to live there in exchange for working the land for the lord of the manor. They had two rooms upstairs, two downstairs and low ceilings.
Most traditional stone cottages sprang up around the 16th and 17th centuries, driven by the maritime and wool industries putting more money into the pockets of the lower classes. They were built from local stone and roofs were often thatched.
They continued to be built for workers into the 20th century, such as terraced cottages for miners and fishermen, and the 700 cottages from ‘Soap King’ Lord Leverhulme for his staff at the model village Port Sunlight.
Cottages have gone from being the homes of peasants to the homes of royalty. Twobedroom Nottingham Cottage, in the grounds of Kensington Palace, was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first shared house and is where Prince Harry proposed to Meghan. The couple later moved to Frogmore Cottage, which was a gift from the Queen. Frogmore Cottage has now been extended to 10 bedrooms.
Q A very expensive Brexit border control centre near Ashford has been called a “white elephant” in the news recently. Why do we say white elephant anyway?
Phil Bourke, Sevenoaks, Kent
A It’s been used for centuries to describe something unwanted – pricey yet pointless and a burden. It has its roots in Siam – now Thailand – when white elephants were so rare they were all deemed the property of the king, a bit like swans and our monarch. Possession of white elephants by a ruler was seen as proof of legitimacy. But if the king gifted you a white elephant, it was more of a nuisance, as they were sacred animals, so required a lot of extra care and couldn’t be put to work to make money. Its upkeep could even lead to financial ruin. In Thai culture they are called “chang samkhan”, meaning “auspicious elephant” and they have always been powerful religious symbols – Airavata is a mythological white elephant that carries the Hindu God Indra.
The white elephant featured on the nation’s flag until 1917 and when the new king of Thailand was crowned in 2019, 11 elephants were painted white for a parade. White elephants are often just very pale – true albino elephants are more patchy pink.
Q In the 1950s there was a tradition where there would be a knock on the door and a child would answer and a toy was left on the step. Many of my older friends remember this but can’t remember what it was about – one suggested it was to do with Valentine’s Day?
A Lincoln, Norwich
A This sweet, some might say strange, Valentine’s tradition seems to be unique to Norfolk and parts of Suffolk, and dates back a couple of centuries.
It’s to do with Jack Valentine, also known as Old Father Valentine or Old Mother Valentine – the Santa of love. On February 13, Jack would visit homes, knocking on doors then dashing off, leaving presents on doorsteps. Gifts were not just for lovers, they were for children too.
There’s a rich history of Valentine’s traditions where you grew up. In the 19th century, Valentine’s Day Eve was more exciting than Christmas Eve.
There was mischief in the air as well as love, with people teased with an exciting, large gift left on their step, which they’d rip open and unwrap, only to find a mean note or lump of coal.
Presents were also attached to string and would be pulled away when a child went to reach for it.
Another Valentine’s tradition in Norfolk from a century ago saw children hammering on doors in richer neighbourhoods and singing “Old Mother Valentine, draw up your window blind, you be the giver, I’ll be the taker”.
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● Unfortunately we cannot reply individually, but we will feature the best questions on this page.