Britain has many earth buildings across the country, going by different names in different regions. They need to be repaired with the correct materials and well maintained and they can last hundreds of years. Cob is the term used in the west country.

Devon has more cob buildings than any other county. Last estimate was 40,000 The oldest cob building is thought to date from around the 14th century

The earliest buildings tended to be built on a stone plinth perhaps just 18" above ground level Some later buildings can have a stone plinth extending as high as the 1st floor joist level

There are no exact figures but certainly hundreds of cob buildings have been lost in the last dozen years due to poor maintenance or the wrong materials such as this example.