France in Focus

You do wonder how they built this house, interesting construction.
Do you know why it's so small on the ground floor?

I have no idea, but I don't think I would like to sleep in the last bed on the left, top floor.

Fascinating photo though.

There are a lot of examples like this in York down the "Shambles" built 1300/1400 centuries, I assume they built outwards as there was no space to increase the footprint of the building, or to watch the TV across the road

I agree with Spectrum - it's likely that they built outwards on the upper floors to gain more space. They couldn't expand on the ground floor and concept of balconies didn't exist.

Also in the uk anyhow there used to be a tax on the footprint as well as number of windows.
Don't think its the case on this one though.

Hi banjobob welcome to the forum.

I was going to say the same as Doug - but my question would be, how on earth is it staying up, it looks like it should fall down.

An interesting photo - thanks for sharing.

Looks as if falling over but I think its because of the fall in the path/ lane.

The timbers supporting that upper story overhang certainly don't look as if they will bear weight much longer.

Doug wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 8:57 am Also in the uk anyhow there used to be a tax on the footprint as well as number of windows.
Don't think its the case on this one though.

As Doug said above back in the 1200s, property tax was based on the ground floor size.

banjobob wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:00 pm

Doug wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 8:57 am Also in the uk anyhow there used to be a tax on the footprint as well as number of windows.
Don't think its the case on this one though.

As Doug said above back in the 1200s, property tax was based on the ground floor size.

Just out of interest banjobob, where is it?