1900 House Author:Mark McCrum, Matthew Sturgis On 14 March 1999 an ordinary family embarked upon an extraordinary journey. Paul and Joyce Bowler with their children Kathryn, Ruth, Hilary and Joe wee selected to travel back in time to the world of their great-grandparents. Their destination was a Victorian house in the suburbs of London which had been restored to the way it would ... more »have been in 1900.
The Bowler's challenge was to live for three months as a Victorian family. We all know that life has changed radically over the past hundred years, but exactly how have those changes affected our everyday lives? Many things that we consider necessities were not even dreamt of at the turn of the century. We may be able to visualize Victorian life, but how does it feel? What are the smells and sounds created by gas lighting? With no refrigeration, how do you keep food fresh? What is it like going to bed by candlelight?
The grueling routine left Joyce with a strong admiration for her Victorian counterparts and a desire to learn more about female emancipation, Paul had to adapt to being 'master of the house' and all the Victorian assumptions of the duties of a husband and father that this entailed. On the children, living without television, pop music and fast food, the impact of 1900 was perhaps most keenly felt. Nevertheless each of them responded to the experience with new-found maturity and developed skills that even surprised their parents.
The story of the 1900 House didn't start when the Bowlers moved in. When the production team found the house it was two run-down flats. Converting this building into the period house that the Bowlers were to live in was a labour of love for the team of experts who spent months painstakingly creating an accurate reconstruction, down to the very last details.
In 1900 House the authors describe the restoration of the house and set this unique experiment in its historical context. Drawing on the Bowlers' written and video diaries they followed them on their illumiating journey.« less