Friday, 22 February 2013

Architectural Quiz

These little buildings are familiar up and down Britain and come in many styles. They always have a solid roof. Often they have a fancy finial on the top or a weathervane as can be seen in these images.
If you are in the UK you will know what they are, but fellow bloggers overseas may not be familiar with them.

They are not pixie, fairy or gnome houses!!!
Answer on Sunday morning GMT. If you get it correct your comment will be shown then.
all images courtesy wikipedia
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47 comments:

  1. Marina in Blue22 February 2013 at 08:57

    Is it a toll??

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  2. Parnassus22 February 2013 at 09:00

    Hello Rosemary, I'm pretty sure these are local hoosegows.

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  3. Paula22 February 2013 at 09:43

    Are they for defense purposes? Maybe to keep an eye on enemy manouvres from the inside?

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  4. Patricia22 February 2013 at 10:27

    I love this game! I am thinking they are hop houses, although the one on the bridge has me a little confused...

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  5. flowersandhome22 February 2013 at 10:36

    Aren't these lock-ups, small village prisons that were used until the 19th century? They come in all shapes and are entirely from brick. That brick roof was important so wrongdoers wouldn't be able to escape.
    Love your quizes Rosemary! But you probably already knew that ;-)
    Bye,
    Marian

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  6. paisleysummer22 February 2013 at 11:19

    No idea !

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  7. Kukkaiselämää22 February 2013 at 12:10

    Some kind of guardian shelters? Have a great weekend, Rosemary!

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  8. Patricia22 February 2013 at 12:15

    Lovely photos Rosemary. I've always known these little buildings as Follies and as you say often found in the grounds of large country houses but of course there could be another name for them? Have a great weekend.
    Patricia x

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  9. valerietilsten59.blogspot.com22 February 2013 at 12:45

    I am not sure about the era they were built in.!
    I am going to give two guesses, that they were -resting places for the monk's traveling ..from village to village. A place , where food would be left for them also.
    Thy might be for little guard houses for overnight ..
    very interesting.
    Here we have old white ones on some of the outlying hills around the country.. they are called ermitas..
    Dying to know the answer.
    Nice to be back..
    x

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  10. Gina22 February 2013 at 13:56

    Possibly a water tower or water regulator or measuring water flow? Happy Friday to you. ox, Gina

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  11. stardust22 February 2013 at 14:03

    Hello, rosemary! I guess it is a small roadside church. It would be equivalent to our stone Jizo Bodhisattva statue standing at the crossroads or a roadside altar which enshrines Jizo Bodhisattva, who is believed to protect mainly children and travellers.

    Yoko

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  12. darien22 February 2013 at 15:42

    Were they toll houses?

    Darien Reece
    darienkerr@gmail.com

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  13. organicgardendreams22 February 2013 at 16:34

    Hi Rosemary, no clue what the purpose of these buildings is and no time to research it, but one thing is for sure they are pretty and fit so well into the surrounding landscape. Looking forward when you are publishing the solution for your quiz.
    Christina

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  14. Anna22 February 2013 at 16:52

    It's probably wrong, but... is it a folly?

    Rosemary...there might well be pixies or little "Borrowers" living in there, you know?

    CIAO!

    ANNA
    xx

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  15. Rosemary22 February 2013 at 18:40

    Hello dear friends - I like your answers, some very imaginative - follies, toll houses, shrines, water regulators, resting places for monks, hop houses, defence for keeping an eye on the enemy - what a great selection of ideas. Several people mentioned guard houses, or guardian shelters, I am not sure what you mean by that, perhaps one of you would like to clarify that a bit more?

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  16. Yvette22 February 2013 at 18:55

    Whatever they are, they are certainly charming - in a rugged fairy tale kind of way. But then I always feel that way about a lot of things I saw in Britain when I was there many years ago. Such a gorgeous country...I always thought I'd return but I never got the chance. Still, I'm fortunate to have been there at least once.

    I'm curious as to what the answer will be, Rosemary. They look like gnome castles to me. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary22 February 2013 at 19:25

      Watch out for the answer on Sunday Yvette.

      Delete
  17. Mr Paul22 February 2013 at 19:17

    Are they the naughty rooms where one is sent to after misbehaving at the dinner table?!

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary22 February 2013 at 19:47

      Good question Paul - I suppose that it depends on how naughty!!!

      Delete
  18. Mark D. Ruffner22 February 2013 at 20:15

    Dear Rosemary,

    After much research and consultation, I have it on good word that 17th century English tax collectors would accept bundled shortbread in lieu of taxes. They'd store the goodies in these little warehouses, which is where they'd also have lunch. Eventually the practice was outlawed because the tax collectors focused on the shortbread to the exclusion of the taxes. Even back then there were pesky whistleblowers in government!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary22 February 2013 at 22:21

      Dear Mark - very plausible, but to my knowledge definitely untrue in England. However, it may be true of Scotland where shortbread is their national delicacy.

      Delete
  19. Marijke22 February 2013 at 20:50

    I have really no idea. I will read it on sunday.
    Have a wonderful weekend Rosemary

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  20. Parvum Opus22 February 2013 at 20:59

    Hello Rosemary!
    Could they be police men's shelters? Most intriguing!
    Best regards,
    Erika

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary22 February 2013 at 22:04

      Not policemen's shelters, but a good try Erika.

      Delete
  21. helen tilston22 February 2013 at 23:52

    Hello Rosemary

    It is called a "Leave me Alone House"

    Helenxx

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  22. Tina @ Girl-Meets-Globe23 February 2013 at 07:46

    I'm enjoying your quizzes!! So fun! I look forward to finding out the answer!

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary23 February 2013 at 08:42

      Once you know what they are you can watch out for them.

      Delete
  23. Anna23 February 2013 at 08:07

    Just had an idea! Could it be a tollhouse?

    CIAO!

    ANNA

    xxx

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  24. Filip and Kristel23 February 2013 at 13:43

    People must have been a lot shorter in the past.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary23 February 2013 at 18:06

      I think you are right they were definitely not so tall in the 18th and 19th centuries.

      Delete
  25. Carolyn23 February 2013 at 16:16

    R has suggested that these buildings were old village prisons.

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  26. Jana23 February 2013 at 17:53

    how beautiful+different, thats for showing them to us:-) happy weekend from very cold+windy tulipland!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary23 February 2013 at 18:07

      Good weekend to you too Jana in tulipland.

      Delete
  27. Wasabi Honey Bee23 February 2013 at 18:42

    I love these little houses!! I don't know, I'm not sure what they are, but I imagine maybe for travling knights??? Maybe that is way too silly… But they are darling to look at!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary23 February 2013 at 22:33

      Good attempt Marica - correct answer tomorrow.

      Delete
  28. oldthings23 February 2013 at 22:30

    I have no idea but i can imagine that is a little space for the people to protect from bad weather ,snow or rain ?? I shall wait for the answer !!!
    Have a nice Sunday !
    Olympia

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary23 February 2013 at 22:34

      Dear Olympia - they are well built and would keep the weather out, but that is not their purpose.

      Delete
  29. Antonio Machado23 February 2013 at 22:37

    Hello Rosemary,
    really seem to house elves, an enchanted world!
    Beautiful pictures, as always.
    a hug

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary23 February 2013 at 22:41

      Hello Antonio - not even elves alas - thanks for trying.

      Delete
  30. DIMI23 February 2013 at 22:48

    Dear Rosemary,i can't guess about those little buildings!I'll wait tomorrow for the answer!Have a lovely weekend!
    Dimi..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary23 February 2013 at 23:05

      Dear Dimi - tomorrow all will be revealed.

      Delete
  31. Margaret D24 February 2013 at 00:29

    I have seen photos of these buildings and some with a tap on the outside, so therefore something to do with water, but I don't know what they are called..that is my guess :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary24 February 2013 at 08:11

      There are little buildings, much smaller, but which share a similarity to these. Some were built over well heads or springs and are called drinking fountains - good thoughts.

      Delete
  32. A Tale of Two Cities24 February 2013 at 02:22

    Hmmmm...... Still guessing and wondering--tomorrow's reveal should be very interesting, and enlightening both.

    ReplyDelete

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