This “story of everyone who ever lived in our house” is fascinating and inspiring. Julie’s house is in Clapham, London, and was built in 1872. With careful detective work she tracks down descendents of those who had lived there and learns their stories. I found it captivating and was often reminded of my early genealogical research, and the thrill I got when making a new connection.
The author suggests we leave our emotional and spiritual fingerprints on buildings and places. This is thought-provoking when we think of the many buildings that have been lost in Christchurch. Have our emotional and spiritual fingerprints been obliterated by the earthquakes? What is the difference between leaving a place voluntarily and being force out by circumstances beyond your control? In 2002 when I left an office I’d occupied for more than seven years, I felt compelled to write my name inside a cupboard, to leave some tangible relic of the time I’d spent there. I remarked to a colleague that I’d been there long enough to have shed my skin completely – she was not impressed! When the February 2012 earthquake forced me from another office, there was no opportunity to leave a deliberate mark, and the memories have a very different flavour.
When we first bought our Cottage (built in the 1860s) we obtained a title where the earliest owner shown was in 1877. The City Council had no earlier records. After reading this book I’m inspired to do more research – when I have time! Perhaps you’ll read about this in a future blog post.
The book is long, 450 pages, but never boring.
“More people have called this house home
enough to fill a lengthy tome.”
my grandparents lived in Clapham. London SW4. and I remember the house so well, Victorian with steps up to it, if I get home to London next year, I will see if I can find the house, grandparents married in Clapham as well, we were in Streatham just a few miles away. Now when I was in Carterton library some years back a couple came in and asked the librarian how to find an ancestor’s home, they said the name, I said I have it!!! built 1885, said an Ordish family had given me the Deeds and he was also related to Dakin, I have all the history of the home and it’s a lovely old place (old for NZ that is!) Now if I wasn’t in the library that day looking at newspapers, the folk could still be looking and we are still in touch as they live near Feilding. I have the photograph of Charles Dakin as well.. and now know who has lived in it since it was built and met many of the descendants of the folk who have lived here.. seen a ghost from time to time… but still love it! Which road in Clapham are we talking about?? Dakin came from Tutbury in Staffordshire in 1857, married there and bought his bride to New Zealand on the Libertas.
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Adele, Julie Myerson’s house is at 34 Lillieshall Road, Clapham.
I envy you your knowledge of your house’s history.
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Do hope you can find out more of the history of your house. Have you read the archaeology blog for Christchurch? They are doing some good work, in my opinion; making sure we don’t lose every single fingerprint from our built heritage http://blog.underoverarch.co.nz/
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We do have some photos of the people who were in our house in the 1950’s, and some other interesting facts. It’s the original building date and owner/s I’d be keen to unearth (in a manner of speaking). Yes, I’ve seen the archaeology site, and it’s fascinating. Great to know that so much is being recorded as buildings are demolished.
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Best of luck with your searching.
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Thanks, G.
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