History of our house

My House History

I look forward getting back to crafting - this week I didn't have much time to do any, but I have put together a scrapbook page about our house and displayed as a picture in our hallway. I found quite a bit about our house, including who lived there in the first 20 years after it was build and know that the house was occupied by a plumber Henry J Bell and his wife and two children (the third child sadly died before the 1911 census record). I love history anyway, but to research place where you live is quite something special. I also find out about all the houses on our street and draw how they were build during the first few years and who lived there.


I'm planning to add more to the picture as I progress with my research, but the paper you can see is taken from our bathroom, which until the 60s was a bedroom and behind the hot water tank I would about 4 different layers of walpaper - I tried to identified them through the walpaper archive, but as this house was never owned by rich people, the walpaper would be quite cheap and I could not find exact match anywhere. If anyone knows, the maker I would love to know or perhaps you have a walpaper similar to this one?

The oldest wallpaper in the 3rd bedroom was plain neutral colour with white and gold stars (centre - but very small), then I found the Chinese inspired wallpaper and then the pretty pink flowery one.  

In 1900, there were only 4 houses on our side of the street and by 1903 six more were build. The sketches are based on the real houses - I walked the street to keep everything in proportion and to get the details right.

Our house was No.2 Izane Villas (in colour) and was not build between 1903-1905

1911 Census and old wallpaper from the 3rd bedroom

Anyway, as I'm just in time to join Hadmade Monday, I shall just do that and then I'm off to enjoy my birthday!


10 comments:

  1. I bet your had lots of fun with your research and I love how you have made a montage of the houses and wallpaper. It certainly provides a talking point. Strawberries, what can I say but YUM!

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    1. Yes, I have enjoyed researching the house history - it was a great fun, especially as there was very little I could actually find.

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  2. What a fantastic thing to have the history of your house displayed in the hall, and the bits of wallpaper and census data too. Sounds like you're really busy. I've just realised you live quite near to me - might have to check out some of your classes.

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    1. Thank you Lucy! And yes, by all means pop in to see us at the next craft fair or you are welcome to book in to any of our baking or chocolate making courses.

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  3. Oh, this post was so enjoyable to read about the history of your home. My dream is to live in a Vistorian era home one day. I hope you have a great day!

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    1. Thank you Lilly! I love a house with a bit of history - I lived in modern houses before, but this just feels right - I'm very oldfashioned person in heart...

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  4. What a wonderful piece of research. It was lovely to read the post and see your sketches and pieces of wallpaper, amazing.
    Ali x

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    1. It really just started with me getting an old map of where we live and then I just got sucked into a time tunnel! The best bit was to discover the old wallpaper.

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  5. Such lovely pieces about your house, I wish I'd done something similar for some of the houses I've lived in as they have nearly all been very ancient. Sadly I am now in a house that was built this century!

    Congratulations on all the successes of your businesses, they must keep you very busy!

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  6. I love living history - our house is just an ordinary house, so it feels quite special to know so much about it.

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