Going Back To My Roots - A Tour Of My Childhood Home

Be warned- this post is on the photo-heavy side!
This is the house where I grew up. I took a surveyor to visit today and he was rendered speechless by how many of the original features have remained intact since it was built in 1910.

It's been in my life for so long that I've become oblivious to the intricacies of the Arts and Crafts design but, after seeing it though the eyes of a stranger today, the details I've overlooked for far too long have taken on renewed interest.

After a dash over the road (our house is opposite my parental home) to collect my camera I'm afraid I got a bit carried away. Feel free to comment "Nice shoes" if you can't be arsed to wade through the entire tour. 

The architect who designed the house was obsessed with then fashionable Arts and Crafts movement, as the details testify. 

The bell for summonsing the kitchen maid.

The fancy plaster frieze on the ceiling.

The original doors still with keys in each.

French windows with leaded lights.

The vestibule with oak timbered beams, stained glass and original wrought iron light fitting. The walls are still covered with the Anaglypta used in 1910.

There's wood parquet flooring under the carpet but Mum wasn't into housework and all the polishing it entailed, getting a carpet fitted in 1976 sorted that headache out.

 The Bakelite switches work just fine - but scared the surveyor to death.

Old school coat hooks in the box room under the stairs.

The fireplace in the front lounge.

Tudor-influenced plasterwork.

Medieval inspired shelves.

Built-in storage.

Oak beams and plate racks.

Most of the plates belonged to the original owner, a wealthy timber tradesman who died childless  in the 1950s, leaving the house empty for years.

The glazed cabinet and the contents were also already in the house.

As was the American clock, too.

The staircase window.

The original pedestal sink - the psychedelic wallpaper and pink lino were the few modern touches my parents added. Neither my Mum or Dad were in the least bit interested in DIY.

There's functioning fireplaces in each bedroom. I grew up without central heating so was a dab hand at lighting a fire from a very early age!

The porch lantern - another original feature.

Cast iron hopper and drainpipes. 

The tradesman's entrance.

The veranda is on it's last legs.

I used to hate using the outside loo as a kid but can appreciate the design now.

Not that I'd dare use it!

There's a freshwater stream in the cellar, this water pump brings it up to the kitchen. It's backbreaking work. 

The back of the house - the window on the top left was my childhood bedroom.

The garden extends for a third of an acre and is ridiculously overgrown. 

The wooden summer house is set on a revolving platform that could be turned to face the sun.

The cellar is enormous and truly terrifying, I haven't been in for years!

Phew, that was an epic post. 

1960s leather coat (the divine Lucy Nation), 1960s hot pants suit (£5, Vintage Village @ Clothes Show), 1960s leather boots (£4.95, BHF charity)

Now the courts have appointed me Guardian of Dad's affairs I'm allowed to start the long, hard slog in restoring it to its former glory. It might take some time.

Thanks for sticking with me if you read this far!

See you soon.