A cottage loaf is a traditional type of bread originating in England.

[1] The origins of the name and shape are unknown but possibly extend back hundreds of years.

[2] Elizabeth David, who described the cottage loaf in her English Bread and Yeast Cookery, surmised that the shape may have arisen as a way of saving 'floor space' in old-fashioned bread ovens.

[3] It was formerly possible to find an oblong version, known as a "cottage brick", and common in the London area.

[3] Cottage loaves, while formerly common, are now rarely found in bakeries, as they are relatively time-consuming and difficult to make, and in common with other round loaves are less convenient for slicing into consistent sizes.