Victorian Life

Well, it's been a while since I last posted.  A whole other chapter, in fact, as we have moved once again.  From suburbs to city.  From roomy to downsized.  From modern to classic.  We've been in our house about 6 weeks now, and here is

What I've Learned About Victorian Life from Living in a Hundred Year Old Home 

1. in the Victorian Age people didn't wear clothes.  That's the only explanation I have for a house with no closets.  Well that's not entirely true.  The master bedroom has a closet...about the size of a standard coat closet.  And one of the bedrooms has a closet...it's about 8 inches deep.  A standard hanger is about  17  inches.

2.  There's a reason they called the bathroom a "water closet."  Hey, maybe that's where our closet went.  When they got indoor plumbing they took the only real closet and made it into a bathroom.  The sink in said water closet is approximately the size of a football.

3.  Level is overrated.  There are no level floors or level walls in a Victorian house.

4.  Victorian parents didn't have to worry about their teenagers sneaking out of the house unnoticed.  Every stair and floor in a Victorian house squeaks.

5. Victorian people didn't have dishes.  Or store food.  there is almost no cupboard or pantry space in a Victorian house.  Our pantry is approximately 18 inches wide by 18 inches deep.  Our built in cupboard (butler's pantry) is approx. 8 inches deep.  Very few of our dishes fit here.

6.  Victorian people slept in small beds  mattresses and box springs don't fit up a Victorian staircase without surgery.

7. Victorians solved the problem (or hadn't invented it yet) of kids leaving the pantry door open.  If the pantry door is open you cannot get into the basement.  If the basement door is left open you cannot get to the kitchen from the front of the house.

8.  Clearly when electricity was added to the home (after market), the Victorian people didn't think they'd use this new-fangled invention much.  thus they only put one outlet per room.

9,  Lath and plaster walls and wood floors and trim absorb sound.  we cannot have a conversation unless we are in the same room.  And even then, we need to repeat ourselves.  Or maybe we are just getting old.

That being said, we are adjusting to, and loving, our Victorian house.  She's a grand old lady!  And I'm slowly starting to learn more about the history of the house and neighborhood.  And I'm sure there is some history here!

a few more images: