The Lacemaker's Cottage, a pretty timbered building with an outside staircase, looks attractive enough from the outside. Inside, it was a different story. Children, mainly but not exclusively girls, from the age of five upwards, would labour for long hours in the thin light of a candle to produce a fine lace for fine people.
   These were cold places. Fires remained unlit for fear the smoke would discolour the lace, though occasionally pots of hot ashes, brought from the baker's, would be placed under the worker's stools.