House Historian – House Historian

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.

The House Historian blog is back

admin Uncategorized March 24, 2015Berkshire, books, Hertfordshire, House Historian, House Histories, London, Royal Historical Society, Scotland, Somerset, South Kensington, University of Dundee, writing 2 Comments

Hello!! I know it has been a long time in the making, but yes, I’m back. After three years as an independent house historian, I’ve been itching to get back to the blogging. Since February 2012 I have been getting used to being my own boss, but also having the freedom to take on some varied and exciting house history projects.

A large part of my first year as a freelance house historian was taken up with completing my second book – Historic Streets and Squares – but since that time I’ve worked on several projects, including a complete history of a family estate in South Kensington in London, which is soon to be bound into a book, as well as house histories in Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Somerset, Scotland, and several in London.

I have also been regularly contributing to stories about the history of houses in national press and media; taking on speaking engagements; as well as tutoring a house history module for the University of Dundee; and in January 2015 I was accepted into the Royal Historical Society.

While all this continues in the background, I’ve been eager to get back into the blog writing – so here we are! This first post is a little introduction to get my feet wet, but watch this space for more blog posts about my adventures researching the history of houses and streets across the country!

Mel – The House Historian