In some villages the cob walls have been built direct on the rock, after the side has been roughly hewn to a vertical or slightly battering face, and top made level for the cob. When of a rocky character this natural foundation seems to have taken the place of the usual base of stone or brick. Upon it was built the cob wall in layers of about 18 ins. of mud, gravel, or small gritty stone, trodden down by the feet, and battered with a wooden beater. A wisp of straw was carried by the workman under his arm, who, as needed, strewed it beneath his feet. After the wall was up the surface was chopped down, faced with plaster, and then white-washed. The base was generally tarred, […].

[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]