ANDY Lowe was the speaker at Quest who took us on an illustrated journey inside a Lakeland farmhouse from around the 17th century.

The basis of the Lakeland farmhouse was simple architecture to provide protection from the elements.

The interior consisted of: the firehouse/living area, with a partition called a heck; a peat fire on an earth floor; and an unglazed fire window allowing air and light in. The spice cabinet was near to the warm fire and provisions were kept dry on the ceiling beam and away from the mice. The buttery was the dairy-working area and the parlour, for privacy and talk, was also the master bedroom.

In later years, ornate plasterwork was added as a sign of prosperity and ranges were fitted into the fireplaces providing cooking facilities, hot water and heat.

This talk gave an interesting insight into life in an old farmhouse.