“Ingle” likely comes from the Scottish Gaelic “aingeal,” meaning “light, fire,” and “nook” is a Middle English word that refers to a corner or fragment. An inglenook originated as a partially enclosed hearth area that was part of a larger room. The hearth was used to cook food, and the alcove became a natural gathering place to seek warmth. Inglenooks were traditionally found in monasteries and wealthy homes, but the cozy architectural feature reached peak popularity in the Arts and Crafts movement around the mid-18th century in Great Britain.. Later, 19th- and 20th-century American architects, including Henry Hobson Richardson and Frank Lloyd Wright, continued to incorporate inglenooks into their designs.