Clay Bat, Cob or Clunch

zoom

These are basic definitions used locally.

Clunch

Clunch is solid blocks of chalk cut directly from the stone. In Ashwell this is the Lower Chalk or Totternhoe Stone.

Cob

Cob is a mixture of Clay, Chalk and Straw similar to Clay Bats but the structures are made monolithically. Wall are built ‘wet’ by raising in stages when the bottom layer is dry enough to hold the next.

Clay Bat

Clay Bat is a mixture of Clay, Chalk and Straw moulded into a block and allowed to dry in the sun. buildings are then made with these bricks,

Clay bat is the local name but ‘Clay Lump’ is more common in East Anglia