finding stuff. *warning picture heavy*

[robgil]

this is one of the more interesting finds ive uncovered so far.

this is the kitchen , see the square steel boiler in the far corner with a wooden box around it?

while stripping out the kitchen i noticed a layer of cement render was covering what seemed to be a void of some sort.

after pulling out the boiler and attacking the render with my bare hands i found an old door.

it was the back door in the kitchen that had been blocked up at some point.

the interesting thing is what is carved into the door.

there are two dates with what seem to be peoples names , 1912 and 1918. also a series of dots about which i am completely in the dark .

so , all in all a lovely find, and a beautiful back door.

 

[Juju]

That's fantastic! Amazing that they left the door there and just covered it over.
Is one of the names Rust? That was my grandmother's maiden name - I'm not sure it's that common? You're not in west London are you - one of my ancestors might have carved that!

 

[robgil]

its in suffolk im afraid , but you never know. i am pretty lucky in that they decided to cover over stuff in my house rather than take it away, usually with cement.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Looks fun. Great pictures, thanks for posting.

 

[Juju]

Rust is a common name in Suffolk I believe. My family were there in the early 1800s but then moved to London.

Is the door in good enough nick to keep? Presumably you're happy to have a doorway there now you've found it!

 

[robgil]

the door is fine , the frame has suffered from rot but may be ok. the tread board below the door has disintegrated but considering its been encased in cement for some time i am really impressed with its general condition. i will have to do a bit of work on the frame to make it usable and as draught free as i can get it but thats the original back door to the lean to kitchen so its being re-instated back to its original status , as the back door to the house.
i just have to move the big tree on the other side of it.

 

[Flyfisher]

Seems like a masterclass in how to preserve original fabric when making alterations.

Was the outside of the door covered over in some way as well?

Amazing to think you may have been the first person to open that door in almost 100 years.

 

[robgil]

the outside has a big fir tree in front of it. i think the door was in use until someone decided that was the only place to put the boiler , so the door was blocked up. i dont know why cement was used , it was only covering the top ha\lf of the door , the bottom was covered in a bit of hard board then the whole thing was battened and a fake tongue and groove type covering was glued ontop.

 

[judrop]

Isnt that amazing ! Feels like discovering treasure. Well done for returning the door to its rightful place in your house.
We went today to see D W B,(Jaqy and Steve) s home, it was a mind blowing, eye opening experience, the fireplace they "found" behind several others,and SO much more, truly a labour of love what they have done .and SUCH hard work, they, and those of you who have done similar things, deserve medals ! WELL DONE XX Ju

 

[robgil]

i am in the process of finding the other half of an inglenook , you can see here the huge lintel that has been cemented over.

there may be some structural issues to sort before i can get it completely opened up but it looks to be in good shape.

this is the other side.

 

[fjpdesigns]

Just checked the 1881 census ( the free one) and there is a Rust family living in your village in Church Street. The family includes Arthur Rust who would have been 52 in 1918 so it may have been another generation of the family who carved their name. The family are listed as agricultural labourers.
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=uki1881&indiv=try&h=20016273

 

[robgil]

Just checked the 1881 census ( the free one) and there is a Rust family living in your village in Church Street. The family includes Arthur Rust who would have been 52 in 1918 so it may have been another generation of the family who carved their name. The family are listed as agricultural labourers.
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=uki1881&indiv=try&h=20016273

waw , thank you.
so it looks like Arthur may have had something to do with this cottage? or someone nicked his back door.

 

[Feltwell]

What a great find! The closest I've come is finding that B Jones built my (collapsing, now demolished) timber and asbestos garage in 1958! Not quite as exciting as your find!

Lucky that the previous owner took the lazy option and didn't just rip the door out and fill the hole with breeze blocks.

 

[Jon Maine]

We found the original builder had signed his still wet topcoat plaster in fresco fashion.



Always interesting to find references to our predecessors.

 

[Penners]

there are two dates with what seem to be peoples names , 1912 and 1918. also a series of dots about which i am completely in the dark.

Ah - I think I can help, there. The dots say "Jewson" in braille








And if you believe that, you'll believe anything.

 

[robgil]

ha ha , i was thinking it might be morse code for ''help , ive got my fingers trapped in your door''.

 

[Flyfisher]

Looking again at the writing on the door it looks to me to be in relief and raised quite a bit, especially the "L B".

Is this just a trick of the lighting?

 

[robgil]

its just the lighting , it is carved into the wood. it will be interesting to see what lies underneath when i strip off the old paint.

 

[bigdoozer]

I half expected at least one skeling'ton :x