Are you watching A House Through Time written and presented by historian David Olusoga? Have you been inspired to research the history of your own house?
My home in West Swindon was built in the 1980s and while the surrounding area has plenty of fascinating history, the house itself has none. However, the house where I grew up in London has a long history.
Built in the 1850s when a property in Brixton was a most desirable residence, 5 St John's Road was the long time residence of the Nicholson family who lived alongside some salubrious neighbours.
In 1861 Thomas Quarm lived in a detached property called Rose Villa on the corner where St John's Road met Wiltshire Road. Thomas Quarm was born in Plymouth in about 1815 and had quite a chequered career. But by 1851 he had educated and reinvented himself and was employed as Clerk of Works on that most prestigious of new builds - the Palace of Westminster.
On October 16, 1858 the illustrated News of the World reported at great length the installation of the as yet unnamed bell, now known as Big Ben.
'The bell, placed on its side, rested on a stout oak bottom, as will be seen in the diagram, the sides of the cradle being added during its sojourn under the lower part of the shaft. All being completed, and the centre of gravity found, the cradle was then raised by means of a fine new crab, made for the purpose, placed immediately over the aperture of the shaft. Eight men, four to each handle, then drew it up. As the drum of the crab revolved and drew up its burden, the chains which accumulated upon it was passed from the drum to a smaller crab behind, so as to prevent any possible jerk arising from the slipping of the links, and also to avoid accumulation of weight. The cradle had attached to its sides four friction-wheels, which played upon the guide-timbers - as seen in the diagram - to ease the ascent. The chain was made expressly for the work, and was tested link by link. It is nearly 1800 feet long. It was made at Newcastle, by Messrs Crawshaye, and tested under the superintendence of Mr. Thomas Quarm, the clerk of the works to the new Palace of Westminster, and Mr James of Bradwall, Blackfriars. We believe we are right in saying that Mr. Quarm arranged the whole of the plan for the raising; and Mr. James has carried it out with his usual ability, aided by his able superintendent, Mr. Hart.'
Thomas moved across Lambeth to his new home at Rose Villa with his wife and five children. He died there on October 18, 1872 and was buried at Norwood Cemetery a week later. The family remained in occupancy until the death of Thomas's wife Mary Ann in 1887.
In 1899 Charles Booth's Poverty Mapdelineated the streets of Brixton in red and yellow, the homes of the upper middle and upper classes, the wealthy and the
well to do.
Additional building on the road had seen the houses renumbered in 1883 and in 1936 the road received an upgrade to a Crescent.
By 1939 my old home at No 10 was a lodging house run by three sisters, the heady days of Victorian prosperity long gone. With the dearth of postwar housing in London it continued to be a multi occupancy residence and was where I grew up in the 1950s. By the end of the 1970s it stood empty and derelict and only just escaped demolition.
The 21st century gentrification of the area has seen the price of property soar and a two bedroomed flat in Thomas Quarm's old house could set you back more than £500,000.
If you are interested in researching the history of your Swindon home contact Local Studies at Swindon Central Library where the team will get you started.
There is a book to accompany the series A House Through Time written by David Olusoga and Melanie Backe-Hansen.
And if you can't get enough of house histories you might enjoy Home: The Story of Everyone Who Ever Lived in Our House by Julie Myerson.
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Images courtesy of Lambeth Archives.
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My home in West Swindon was built in the 1980s and while the surrounding area has plenty of fascinating history, the house itself has none. However, the house where I grew up in London has a long history.
Built in the 1850s when a property in Brixton was a most desirable residence, 5 St John's Road was the long time residence of the Nicholson family who lived alongside some salubrious neighbours.
In 1861 Thomas Quarm lived in a detached property called Rose Villa on the corner where St John's Road met Wiltshire Road. Thomas Quarm was born in Plymouth in about 1815 and had quite a chequered career. But by 1851 he had educated and reinvented himself and was employed as Clerk of Works on that most prestigious of new builds - the Palace of Westminster.
On October 16, 1858 the illustrated News of the World reported at great length the installation of the as yet unnamed bell, now known as Big Ben.
'The bell, placed on its side, rested on a stout oak bottom, as will be seen in the diagram, the sides of the cradle being added during its sojourn under the lower part of the shaft. All being completed, and the centre of gravity found, the cradle was then raised by means of a fine new crab, made for the purpose, placed immediately over the aperture of the shaft. Eight men, four to each handle, then drew it up. As the drum of the crab revolved and drew up its burden, the chains which accumulated upon it was passed from the drum to a smaller crab behind, so as to prevent any possible jerk arising from the slipping of the links, and also to avoid accumulation of weight. The cradle had attached to its sides four friction-wheels, which played upon the guide-timbers - as seen in the diagram - to ease the ascent. The chain was made expressly for the work, and was tested link by link. It is nearly 1800 feet long. It was made at Newcastle, by Messrs Crawshaye, and tested under the superintendence of Mr. Thomas Quarm, the clerk of the works to the new Palace of Westminster, and Mr James of Bradwall, Blackfriars. We believe we are right in saying that Mr. Quarm arranged the whole of the plan for the raising; and Mr. James has carried it out with his usual ability, aided by his able superintendent, Mr. Hart.'
Thomas moved across Lambeth to his new home at Rose Villa with his wife and five children. He died there on October 18, 1872 and was buried at Norwood Cemetery a week later. The family remained in occupancy until the death of Thomas's wife Mary Ann in 1887.
In 1899 Charles Booth's Poverty Mapdelineated the streets of Brixton in red and yellow, the homes of the upper middle and upper classes, the wealthy and the
well to do.
Additional building on the road had seen the houses renumbered in 1883 and in 1936 the road received an upgrade to a Crescent.
By 1939 my old home at No 10 was a lodging house run by three sisters, the heady days of Victorian prosperity long gone. With the dearth of postwar housing in London it continued to be a multi occupancy residence and was where I grew up in the 1950s. By the end of the 1970s it stood empty and derelict and only just escaped demolition.
The 21st century gentrification of the area has seen the price of property soar and a two bedroomed flat in Thomas Quarm's old house could set you back more than £500,000.
If you are interested in researching the history of your Swindon home contact Local Studies at Swindon Central Library where the team will get you started.
There is a book to accompany the series A House Through Time written by David Olusoga and Melanie Backe-Hansen.
And if you can't get enough of house histories you might enjoy Home: The Story of Everyone Who Ever Lived in Our House by Julie Myerson.
Images courtesy of Lambeth Archives.
