Switches and sockets in 1846 house

[beka]

Cavessign opinions here, the property we're buying dates from 1846, its an old industrial building (mill) divided up into tall thin houses. There are no original features inside although it does boast two cheap victorian grates which are possibly from the time of the conversion (around 1902).

Just plain walls and ceilings, no skirting boards in half the rooms, no architraves etc.

We're going for a modern/period mix. Reclaimed wood flooring, stripping the old beam back, exposing the stonework of the back wall and then letting those old materials shine by sitting them next to white walls (lime palster of course) simple shapes of furniture and great art.

But what on earth do we do about electrics? what would be authentic for 1846? we're thinking spotlight track or downlighters as we have very high ceilings (one room is 7.5ft x 9ft x 11.5ft and the last measurement is the height!!!) However we will want sidelighting, lighting for bedrooms and switches.

It either has to fit the white walls and be discreet, clean lined and modern; or go wiht the natural old materials of stone and wood. - HELP!

 

[Pford75]

I'll leave others to comment on the lighting (some very knowledgeable types on here).....but for the switches and sockets, I would suggest you have a look at Forbes and Lomax http://www.forbesandlomax.co.uk/default.php#/uk/

Their 'Invisible' lightswitch and painted socket range works well if you want to minimise the impact of the electrics. However, I personally prefer their 'unlaquered brass' finish which will gradually tarnish to a rather pleasing dull finish.

Their switches may seem a little pricey, but they I can vouch for the quality

 

[Flyfisher]

But what on earth do we do about electrics? what would be authentic for 1846?

Gas lamps?
According to this interesting site http://www.theiet.org/about/libarc/archives/exhibition/domestic/index.cfm, practical filament lamps were not produced until the late 1870s.

 

[plumbers mate]

Long after practical filament lamps were available, most houses seem to have been lit by gas. *
I've lived in 4 houses, one was 1930s and electric lit from the start, the other three didn't "get the electric" until after the 1st World War as evidenced by 1. my Mam and Dad had it put in 2. a neighbour telling us about it and 3. newspaper bits from 1935 found near the old wires and scraps of cable they didn't use under the floors.
This 1891 house had a gas light in the bathroom until 1980 when I became wary of the glowing mantle over the bath being in reach of a curious child.
It was a lovely soft and gentle light though.

* unless you were posh or lived at Cragside in Northumberland like Lord Armstrong who was the first to have electric lighting in his "house".

 

[FamilyWiggs]

But what on earth do we do about electrics? what would be authentic for 1846?

And whilst we're at it, pls can someone tell me what would be authentic original electrical fittings in my 16thC Welsh farmhouse?



Seriously though, Beka, I have just spent a small fortune with Jim Lawrence, he has some very nice forged brass sockets and switches.

http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/

The switches we have are dolly switches as below, and they have a lovely positive "clunk" as they switch - I could play with them all day. The sockets in the same antiqued brass look great. They are deep though - it has been quite a struggle to fit some of them into 25mm backboxes, and more often than not we've used 45mm backboxes. This has a corresponding impact upon the depth of your lime plaster - especially if like me you got fed up of chiselling out the very dense stone of the wall for the boxes.

Hope this helps.

Robin

 

[DaveBrigg]

Long after practical filament lamps were available, most houses seem to have been lit by gas. *
I've lived in 4 houses, one was 1930s and electric lit from the start, the other three didn't "get the electric" until after the 1st World War

You must have been from the posh part of the country. On a recent trip back to where my dad grew up in a council house in Reading, he mentioned that they didn't have electricity until the late 1940's, after the end of the war. One half of the close was converted first, and 'lit up like Blackpool' while his side waited for their turn.
We also wondered what fittings to use after a rewire, and came up with the same answer of mentioned above, that there were no electric fittings when the house was built. The TV and DVD player are not very historic either, neither are the lego and Builder toys which are often found decorating the floors. We ended up with what we liked, and then what we could afford. The Jim Lawrence switches do look nice though.

 

[MdB]

If you want an old style electrical switch then you need to get hold of some of these:

Unfortunately, you would also need to change your name to Igor and get yourself a manic laugh as well.

 

[biffvernon]

My village didn't get electricity until 1953 after the great east coast flood.

 

[Penners]

I think it's very easy to get terribly worried about making modern fittings, such as electrics, "compatible" with period properties. And in most cases, it's clearly impossible, because the property pre-dates electricity.

My own view is that, under such circumstances, the trick is to make the electrical fittings as "invisible" as possible. And - for me - that means using simple, straightforward modern white plastic. Its ubiquitousness means we're so used to seeing it all around us that we don't even notice it. It's just accepted as the norm.

Fancy brass stuff may try to have an old-fashioned look about it, but it shouts for attention and thus makes itself very noticeable.

 

[Penners]

My village didn't get electricity until 1953 after the great east coast flood.

It must be comforting to know that in the next great flood you'll risk electrocution as well as drowning.

 

[rogerh]

I remember the gas lighting in the old Birmingham Rep in the late 1960s. There were also a few gas streetlights still in use.

Back on message, TLC have a good range of reasonably-priced electrical fittings, including toggle switches:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk

Even wooden ones:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_In...ndex/Wiring_Accessories_Wood_Index/index.html

Free delivery if you're close to one of their stores.

 

[chuckey]

We went with "victorian" fancy 3 bulb chandeliers and matching wall lights, took 104 miles, 7 lighting shops and a whole day to find a good place (Stockton). I had spent many hours on the web trying to find something but to no avail, all the big stores sell the same junk.
Good tip if the ceiling "rose" is wider then the width of the joists:- Get a piece of scrap wood with matching grain to the ceiling joists, sufficiently thick to make up the lacking width. Set up a router with an end cutting bit. Get two pieces of scrap( 1/2" chipboard?) and mark out an arc = diam of "rose" + amount bit is sticking out of the router~ 1"(?). Now cut along your marks with a jig saw, screw these jigs to the end of your new filler wood. By running the router over the top of the jigs, you can finish the out side of your filler to the correct diameter. Cut unwanted wood off and put a slot in it so the cable runs down the side of the joist through the filler into the rose.
Frank

 

[Nigel Watts]

If you are going for a modern/period mix the answer is simple: use someting modern for the electrics. Personally I prefer stainless steel over brass for a modern look.

I have a four storey semi dating from 1840. The top floor (children's beedrooms) and the basement (kitchen, dining room, study, workshop) have few original features and I have given them a fairly modern treatment, using a cheaper stainless steel range for sockets and switches.

On the ground floor (hall and double living room), which is decorated in an authenically gloomy early Victorian style (dark green damask wallpaper, fake oak woodwork, dark wood furniture etc) I have used Forbes & Lomax "invisible" light switches and a more expensive, but simple type of flat brass plate sockets. These match better with my fake oak skirtings in which they are set than stainless would have done.

On the first floor (main bedroom and future main bathroom) I have used a mix of the Forbes & Lomax swirtches and the cheaper stainless steel sockets.

 

[Roger H]

Not wanting to chase wiring through limewashed stone and exposed brick walls, I've surface-mounted galvanised metal lighting and electric switches, with wires ducted through galvanised conduit. Looks ok in an industrial sort of way.

 

[ljn]

A friend renovated a georgian house and used the Forbes & Lomax invisible switches, and then replaced them with standard white ones. I think he felt the F&L ones attracted too much attention.

I have mostly used the flat-plate brushed chrome sockets and switches, but to fit them well, the wall needs to be flat. they look awful with bits of filler around them and

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/92901/Electrical/Switches-Sockets/Stainless-Steel/Volex-Flat-Plate/Volex-3G-2W-Toggle-Sw-Satin-Stainless-Flat-Plate;jsessionid=KN2BNTT3DZTTWCSTHZOCFFA?ts=71452

That's £5.39 for a single switch and around £7 for a double socket

I agree that "period style" fittings can be wrong.

I do like those old brass ones posted by Robin "FamilyWiggs". Way beyond my budget, though.

 

[beka]

thanks all, love some of the handforges type ones but now way would the budget stretch to that price!

we'll go for brushed/matt chrome

 

[jon]

I got something similar from B&Q of all places but in something called iridium black (they aren't that black) and to my eye blend in well in a period setting. Could be worth a look.
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9374695&fh_view_size=6&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=lightswitch&fh_eds=ß&fh_refview=search&ts=1220339794206&isSearch=true

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I do like those old brass ones posted by Robin "FamilyWiggs". Way beyond my budget, though.

Everytime we go over the (revised, "no really this is it this time, honest, no more, that'll have to do") budget, we just eBay another of the kids. This is now happening with such regularity, that just like Gordon Brown selling off our gold reserves, we have depressed the price to such an extent that there is no value left in the commodity.

Anyone fancy buying our cat? She fits through a 16.5cm wide gap, if anyone has read the other thread... :lol:

 

[shelli]

I think it's very easy to get terribly worried about making modern fittings, such as electrics, "compatible" with period properties. And in most cases, it's clearly impossible, because the property pre-dates electricity.

My own view is that, under such circumstances, the trick is to make the electrical fittings as "invisible" as possible. And - for me - that means using simple, straightforward modern white plastic. Its ubiquitousness means we're so used to seeing it all around us that we don't even notice it. It's just accepted as the norm.

Fancy brass stuff may try to have an old-fashioned look about it, but it shouts for attention and thus makes itself very noticeable.

I agree with Penners 100% - we ran out of money for the brass light fittings i had circled in the brochure(!) which meant using white plastic sockets and switches but now we don't notice them and (at least at the moment) think we'll stick with them. our place is 1740

 

[Hatster]

Anyone fancy buying our cat? She fits through a 16.5cm wide gap, if anyone has read the other thread... :lol:

But the point is I need the 16.5cm gap before I go ahead and buy the cat!