Novel Research on period features of late 19thC house

[Skylark]

Hi, I'm new here and I'm hoping that someone can help with some novel research I'm doing. I've already tried to post this once but I think I must have got it wrong as it hasn't appeared anywhere - apologies if it's ended up in the wrong place. Anyway, it's a bit of a longshot but if anyone can help or redirect me, I'd be very grateful. I am not renovating a property or have a problem with one but I am writing a novel that features a largeish detached house on the edge of the Peak District, built sometime in the 1880s-1890s, and I am trying to find out what the original period features of such a house would be. For example, would there be tiles or flagstones on the kitchen floor, would the walls have wood panelling or wallpaper (or both) and what sort of wallpaper would it be and what about picture rails? Would the front door have stained glass and/or a fanlight? Fireplaces? Range in the kitchen? etc.etc. My hour of googling has done nothing but provide me with a list of potential houses to buy! If you are not able to help but can direct me to any useful historical websites or museums, I'd be most grateful. Thank you very much.

 

[LadyArowana]

How about something like this book? http://www.countrysidebooks.co.uk/book-catalogue-book-details.php?book=54 Not a big investment moneywise. I just bought the one "Georgian and Regency Houses Explained" but havn't had a chance to do more than glance at it.

 

[another_richard]

Just a tip with google.

If you are searching for something in particular (for example period houses) and your search comes back with 10000000zillion hits all from estate agents try typing:

period houses, -agents, -sale, -buy, -offer, agency, -aspect, -restored

and keep adding the , -something until you can see the difference in the results. every time you type you will notice a new metadata tag to include to refine your search

and eventually you may find google has summit to offer your research.

Hope this helps and ggod luck

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hi, I'm new here and I'm hoping that someone can help with some novel research I'm doing. I've already tried to post this once but I think I must have got it wrong as it hasn't appeared anywhere - apologies if it's ended up in the wrong place. Anyway, it's a bit of a longshot but if anyone can help or redirect me, I'd be very grateful. I am not renovating a property or have a problem with one but I am writing a novel that features a largeish detached house on the edge of the Peak District, built sometime in the 1880s-1890s, and I am trying to find out what the original period features of such a house would be. For example, would there be tiles or flagstones on the kitchen floor, would the walls have wood panelling or wallpaper (or both) and what sort of wallpaper would it be and what about picture rails? Would the front door have stained glass and/or a fanlight? Fireplaces? Range in the kitchen? etc.etc. My hour of googling has done nothing but provide me with a list of potential houses to buy! If you are not able to help but can direct me to any useful historical websites or museums, I'd be most grateful. Thank you very much.

I can't recommend Osbert Lancaster highly enough. He's hilarious, and it will take you all of ten minutes to read. You need two slim volumes - "Homes Sweet Homes" and "Pillar to Post". The first deals with interiors and the second with exteriors. As in every period there are a lot of things going on at once. Houses built in the 1880s could be Gothic Revival

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gargoyleg/4695526404/

or Scottish Baronial, or influenced by the Aesthetic movement (The opening chapters of A.S. Byatt's " The Children's Book" imaginatively and successfully create the mood and style of this movement). The mood of the outside will filter through to interior detailing.

But broadly speaking, you'll be thinking about high ceilings, sash windows, wooden floors with rugs, encaustic tiles in hallways, hallway doors with stained glass panels, perhaps quarry tiles in the kitchen, fireplaces with either wooden or marble surrounds, with metal inserts (have a look at Britain's Heritage website for fireplaces), vibrant floral wallpapers (look at David's Skinner's website for reproduction wallpapers), dado rails and picture rails, and rich velvet and brocade, or chintz curtains with swags and tails.
http://www.originalfeatures.co.uk/news/decorating-with-encaustic-tiles-in-the-victorian-era
http://www.skinnerwallpaper.com/patterns.htm
http://www.britainsheritage.co.uk/antique-fireplaces/antique-castiron.htm
http://www.merrick-day.com/acatalog/Le_Porte-Feuille_Pratique.html
The quality and level of detailing would depend on the status of the house and its occupants, but it was a much more highly wrought era. Have a look at Wightwick Manor, go to the V&A, read a couple of late Victorian novels. Good luck!

 

[Skylark]

Thank you LadyArowana - that book looks precisely what I need. And thank you another_richard for the googling tips. I didn't know you could do that - very useful! And thank you JoceAndChris for all the helpful info and links. I finally feel like I've got a starting point to explore ideas. Thank you all so much

 

[Moo]

And when the book is published you will let us know what it's called, won't you? Then we can all rush out and get a copy.

 

[Moo]

PS
Do remember that the real cutting-edge styles tended to happen in the cities; the provinces would quite likely have been ten or fifteen years behind the times.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

PS
Do remember that the real cutting-edge styles tended to happen in the cities; the provinces would quite likely have been ten or fifteen years behind the times.

I agree - in Wales we are about to celebrate Easter 1983. :roll:

 

[Nigel Watts]

 

[Skylark]

Thank you, Moo, that's a good point to remember. And yes *if* I manage to get it published I'll let you know ....I'm still working on getting the first one published....
FamilyWatts, I live in rural Derbyshire and also a bit behind the times - fine by me!
Thank you Nigel for the images - really, really useful. You've all been very helpful

 

[Feltwell]

I agree - in Wales we are about to celebrate Easter 1983. :roll:

No No No - get it right man:-

I agree - in Wales we are about to celebrate Easter 1893. :roll:

That's better!

(Says Feltwell, sat unwisely within a stone's throwing distance of the border! 8) :lol: )

 

[LadyArowana]

(Says Feltwell, sat unwisely within a stone's throwing distance of the border! 8) :lol: )

Lucky for you that they are so far behind the times weapon wise, if they were armed with something more 21st Century you could be in real trouble.

 

[Feltwell]

Oh I don't know - I saw a rather impressive demonstration of a full size trebuchet a couple of weeks ago. That could do it!

(Fast forward to about one minute)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thiTa8wfZsc

Man's ingenuity for chucking dangerous things at other people has been developed over a long time!