
[These cavities in old granite walls, Devon hedges and in natural clitter and tors, especially those with lintels or doorstops are referred to amongst many of my friends (almost all incomers, though some have been here for 50 years or so) as Pixie or Piskie Houses. My wife says that in Cornwall sometimes doorsteps into houses are purposely built raised up to make a little gap, so that the pixies have their own house and don't come into yours and cause trouble. The one she knew well in Helland, Cornwall, had a little wooden door, but she was expressly told not to interfere with it. Another she saw not in Helland was a proper linlted doorway, but just with a rough stone placed against it In Chagford, Devon, when a local community recycling center erected a new straw bale barn the big barn doors had a smaller door set into it for people to get in and out more easily. The then boss also installed in this an even smaller door for the pixies. I will try and photograph it and put it on this blog.]
