History – House Historian

Spring adventures of a house historian

admin History June 22, 2017Edward Linley Sambourne, events, GlamUK, House Histories, Ideal Home Show, Jane Austen, Kensington, London, Lord Byron, Peterborough, Peterborough Cathedral, television, Wicked Inventions, Winston Churchill

It has been an exciting few months in the life of this house historian! The spring months have largely involved speaking engagements and interviews, including the Ideal Home Show and a television programme on the history of household inventions! It is certainly the fun side in the life of a house historian.

One of the most exciting events was speaking at the Ideal Home Show at Olympia London!

Speaking over several days, I told audiences stories I had uncovered researching the history of houses, which included houses with links to Jane Austen, Winston Churchill, and Lord Byron, as well as stories of houses linked with murder, spies, and scandal!

I have also recently been taking part in more filming and television, which included a new programme – ‘Wicked Inventions’ [Definition Media]! Now in its second series, it was broadcast in parts of Europe, but sadly has not been shown in the UK (yet!). However, a short clip of my sections featured throughout the series have been put together here:

In April this year, I was also privileged to be guest speaker at the glorious Peterborough Cathedral for the Peterborough Local History Society [visit their new website]! In the surroundings of the recently restored 13th century Knights’ Chamber, I spoke about my work researching the history of houses, plus stories I’d uncovered, and tips for the audience about researching the history of their own home.

Most recently, I have also taken part in an interview for GlamUK discussing the unique aspects of my role as a house historian, as well as one of my favourite houses in London – 18 Stafford Terrace, the former home of Edward Linley Sambourne. The full story can be seen on the GlamUK website: “Discovering London with House Historian Melanie Backe-Hansen” and the full filmed interview is also online here:

It is always fun speaking at events and taking part in interviews, but it has also been fantastic to get back to the research. Following all this, I can largely be found going through rolls of microfilm or transcribing pages of deeds and documents for the latest house history project! :-)

The house historian’s summer

admin History September 2, 2016September 2, 2016Bedford Park, Bromley, Chiswick, Cotswolds, Dartford, Hertfordshire, House Histories, Kent, London, Queen Elizabeth I, Soho, television

While many of you have been on summer holidays to far flung destinations (or in sunny Blighty!) the summer months have been rather busy for me (which explains the time since my last blog post)!

I have been completing a large project on the history of a house in the Cotswolds, which I was delighted to have traced back to Queen Elizabeth I in 1588 (which is currently being designed in preparation for being bound into a book), while also researching the fascinating stories in the history of a house in Soho in London – connected to a group of notorious gangsters during the 1930s and 40s!

I have been continuing work on the history of a house in a Hertfordshire, while also working on a new article for the Chelsea Society annual report. During August, I spoke to the Bromley branch of the North West Kent Family History Society about how to research the history of houses, and in October I will be speaking to the Dartford branch on the same subject!

I have also been branching out with a little television work and will soon feature on a programme (coming soon!) talking about the history of household objects and inventions!

Amongst all the reading and writing, I am also working with the Bedford Park Residents Association in Chiswick on an exciting new house history project. Here is the official announcement:

“The BPRA commissions house-historian Melanie Backe-Hansen to help Residents discover the hidden stories of Bedford Park”

I will be speaking at the official project launch at High Road House in Chiswick on 8 September, which will feature details of a unique online resource for homeowners and researchers. Tickets for the free event can be booked here – Bedford Park House History launch event

To promote the new house history project, I spent a day with the team from The Chiswick Calendar to produce a couple of short films talking about house histories!

‘Discover the history of your house with Melanie Backe-Hansen’

Know the stories of the people who lived in your house before you?
“Does it change your attitude towards a house to know the stories of the people who have lived there before you? Francis Cherry says it does.”

So, you see, it has been rather a busy summer for the house historian! More updates and stories uncovered researching the history of houses will be on the way soon!

Escape into the houses of the past

admin History September 1, 2015England, heritage, history, House Historian, House Histories, Scotland, UK, Wales 0 Comment

I have long believed (of course!) that houses are more than just a collection of walls, floors, and a roof – they are a literal doorway into our past. They reveal hidden stories of the lives of past residents, architectural gems, and offer us a window into how we used to live. This post is a little different to my usual blog posts as I have compiled a list of places to visit across the UK that offer fantastic insights into the history of houses. They will give you a glimpse into the world of our ancestors and perhaps make you think twice about the history of your own home.

Visit The Geffrye: Museum of the Home in London
Discover the history of houses through the period rooms, including 17th century hall and parlour, Georgian parlour, and Edwardian drawing room.
http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/

Walk through No.1 Royal Crescent in Bath
Step back into the world of Georgian Bath and walk through the preserved rooms of the most famous crescent in the world.
http://no1royalcrescent.org.uk/

Find yourself in Medieval England at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum
Experience the extraordinary collection of re-erected and conserved old houses from across the country and now situated in the West Sussex countryside.
http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

Smell and hear the history of Spitalfields in Denis Severs’ House in London
Walk through the living history of a home of Huguenot weavers from 1724 to 1914. Why not try the exclusive Silent Night tour, which includes champagne and curatorial staff on hand to discuss the history of the house.
http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/

Walk in the footsteps of kings and queens
Visit Hampton Court Palace in the year of its 500th anniversary and take yourself back to the world of Henry VIII, as well as other monarchs, including Charles I, and William III and Mary II.
http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/

Peek into the world of Gladstone’s Land in Edinburgh
Get a glimpse of how the people of 17th century Edinburgh lived in the tall tenements of the old town.
http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Gladstones-Land/

Delve into the literary world of 19th century Chelsea
Tucked away in the quiet streets of Chelsea is the former home of Thomas and Jane Carlyle. Take note of the early kitchen with its basic facilities.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carlyles-house/

Escape into the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy
Visit the former home of Jane Austen and her mother and sister, at Chawton House, in Hampshire.
http://www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk/

See the newly opened private apartments of Sir John Soane in London
Explore the fascinating art and antiquities collection of architect Sir John Soane within his very own home in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
http://www.soane.org/

Be Duchess for a day at Chatsworth House
Walk through the exquisite country house of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Dating back to the 16th century and you can also see one of Europe’s greatest art collections.
http://www.chatsworth.org/

Step back into historic rural Wales at the Swtan Heritage Museum
Get a fascinating insight into the lives of rural Welsh cottagers on the west coast of the Isle of Anglesey. Swtan, built in the 17th century, has been carefully restored back to how it would have been in the early 1900s.
http://www.swtan.co.uk/

Escape into the luxurious world of Frederic, Lord Leighton
The uniquely designed former home of artist Lord Leighton, where ‘east meets west’, is an extraordinary house, with highlights including the ornate tiled Arab Hall and many of Lord Leighton’s works of art.
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/museums/leightonhousemuseum1.aspx

There are a great many other places across the country that give you an insight into the way our ancestors lived, with many amazing historic houses (large and small) open to the public, but I hope this list will offer something new or inspire you to delve a little further into the history of our houses.

Looking to the past to find soul in your home today

admin History July 4, 2015House Historian, House Histories 0 Comment

I am often asked to comment on the history of how we used to live in our houses – most often to gain understanding of the social history of houses and how the changes in our homes impacts the way we live in our houses today. However, most recently I was asked to take part in an online forum ‘Give Your Property Soul’ and how the history of houses can guide the emotional and ‘soulful’ connections to our homes.

We all have close connections to our homes – whether it is the house we grew up in, an ancestral home, or perhaps the first home we lived in with a partner. Having a greater understanding of the history of our houses can add a greater depth to these personal connections. This understanding of the way we have lived in our homes in the past – how different rooms were used and how each generation changed them – can also help us with how we live in our houses today. Whether it is understanding why the kitchen is at the back of the house or why the hallway has decorative tiles, each clue can provide guidance on the way we use or decorate our homes today.

The Give Your Property Soul online event organised by Klara Goldy runs for 21 days from today – Monday 6th July – and features interviews with 21 experts (including my interview towards the end of this week!) speaking about a range of different elements influencing our homes. The other experts, including design consultants, coaches, and interior designers, will be speaking about how you can “transform your home into a space that connects with your soul”. Follow the link – http://www.givepropertysoul.com/MBH – which will take you to the entry page requiring a very quick free registration.

Whether you’d just like to hear my interview talking about the history of houses and the changes in our homes over time, or you would like to delve further and listen to the other experts, the online event starts today!

The history of houses can provide access to so many elements whether you’re an interior designer, an historian, or a property developer. You can always find something that will help give a greater understanding of our homes.