Oxfordshire Woodland Group

One of the major problems that needs to be overcome when building in a woodland enviroment, especially in the Chiltern Hills, South Oxfordshire, is that there are very few streams, rivers or ponds from which a good supply of potable water can be obtained. A historic technique employed in the Chilterns was to construct an underground cistern known coloquially as a "Chilterns Flask" that collected rainwater from the roof via a system of gutters and pipes or if the building roof was thatched then a system of paving and sloped gullies on the ground was employed.

The early picture below of the Boarded Houses at Checkendon shows that these cottages were probably formed from a subdivided 3 bay timber-framed house. Two doors are visible but its likely that there was another door at the left next to an outshot. Only one chimney stack is visible on the right but based of the smoke arising this has two flues and it is known that these cottages were inhabited by at least 2 families in 1861 - The Strongs (3 off) and the Kings (6 off) with it likely that The Strongs occupied a single bay (one up one down) on the right with The Kings occupying 2 bays on the left (two up two down).

When a woodland building was lost due to fire, neglect or demolition then not much is left today that might reveal the former existence of a domestic building however the presence of overgrown laurel often provides a sign of former human occupation together with a Chilterns flask water collection facility.

Because a Chilterns Flask was built underground then when no longer required this just tended to be infilled with bricks, tile and rubble to ensure the safety of children playing in the woods in order to prevent them from falling into the flask and drowning or being unable to get out if the water level was low.

The interior of the flask was constructed in much the same fashion as well except that it need to be lined with render to prevent loss of water due to leakage through the walls. The location and direction of the water inlet to the flask provides a clue as to the location of the lost Boarded Houses.

It was traditional to clean the flask out about once a year in order to remove the build up of any sludge that settled out at the bottom of the flask.

A recent account of the cleanout and recommissioning of a Chilterns Flask was recorded by Miles Golding demonstrating that this system of rain water collection and storage is still valid and in an urban area with a good water supply this reservoir could be used to provide untreated toilet flushing water thereby reducing metered water bills.

Angela Spencer-Harper provides a good account of historic domestic water supply in The South Oxfordshire Chilterns in her book "Dipping into the Wells" with some of the people mentioned in her book (Sam King - woodman p186) having been brought up in The Boarded Houses at Checkendon featured above.

Ken Hume