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Original poster

Would you find it weird if you were given this?

99 replies

SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 22:32

Ok I just want a consensus of whether you’d find this weird.

I’ve always been interested in family/building history and I spent a great amount of my childhood in my grandparents old house, which they had most of their lives, playing hide and seek in the many hidden nooks with my siblings, telling ghost stories down in the cellar, sitting playing the piano with my grandad etc and so when my Grandad died and my Grandmother got too ill to care for such a big house, I was happy the house was sold to a family member.

At this point I’d already done a history of who lived in the house since it was built in the early 1800s and I then started to do more on the house, including information about my Grandparents and photos of the house over the decades. Then this relative got too old and ill to look after the house properly too and so it went on the market.

It was bought by some renovators, who basically blocked up or knocked out all the original fireplaces (except one), carpeted over the original parquet flooring in the hall and boarded up a door ?? (saw it on right move) Thankfully they kept the stained glass in the inner porch, the tiles leading to the house and a few other features on the ceilings. (I know, it’s theirs to do with as they please, still was sad to see though).

Anyway, the point of this thread… it went on the market again and it’s just sold.

I am considering making a copy of what I’ve compiled about the house and giving it to the new owners (minus any personal photos).

Do you think this is a weird thing to do, DH says maybe, verging more on yes. My Mum (who grew up in the house) thinks it’s a nice idea (but she’s my Mum so she would say that 😊).

I need the opinions of strangers. What do you think? Would you like it? The more I think about it, the more I think a random woman turning up with a history of the house you’ve bought is a bit weird. I think I’d like it if I received one though.

I live in a new build several years old and as the first owners, I have started compiling a history (with pics) for the next owners. So I understand I may be a bit weird in this respect 🤣

🤔

OP posts:
Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 22:45

@BramStoker

Our house is very old and must have lots of history so I would be pleased to receive something similar

How long have the new owners been in the house?

If they've only just moved in then I would leave it a few months so they are properly settled in before you approach them. You don't want to give them the impression that you have an unhealthy obsession with the house and are going to appear on their doorstep on a regular basis!

Can’t be more than a few weeks. I think if they agree I’ll post it 😊
OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 26/05/2021 22:46

It's lovely

But why aren't you living there? It clearly really means something to you

catfeets · 26/05/2021 22:46

I wish someone would do this for me! I know next to nothing about the history of my new house - but next door did give me a photo from approx 100yrs ago of my house.
Maybe leave a note for them or knock and ask if they're interested in the history.

Jobsharenightmare · 26/05/2021 22:47

Personally I'd really like this. Even if they find it weird so what, they can just throw it away. I'd just leave it on their doorstep one day no fuss with a note saying as above.

Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 22:48

@MazDazzle

I think it’s a lovely thing to do.

We bought our house from a couple who basically flipped it. They only owned it for 1 year. The family who owned it before that had it for 80 years. One of the family members for in touch and passed on her (deceased) mother’s notes on the house and all of the changes over the 80 years as well as some original artefacts from the house.

I intend to pass everything on to the next owners.

A kindred spirit! 😊

My Grandad was an architect and the iron gates at the front were designed and built by him.

OP posts:
ServeTheServants · 26/05/2021 22:49

I’d be delighted, but would likely wonder what the catch was!

Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 22:49

@LaurieFairyCake

It's lovely

But why aren't you living there? It clearly really means something to you

I know, I joked about buying it to DH but we live and work hours away and it’s just too big for us. It’s a 6 bed, four floor house. Me and as my DH live in a little 3 bed semi 😊
OP posts:
goose1964 · 26/05/2021 22:50

I'd love it.

FartleBarfle · 26/05/2021 22:50

I was given a scrappy page with a history of an apartment I was just renting and I loved it! A book or pictures and history would have been amazing! I think you should definitely been go for it, maybe pop by in the first couple of days after they move in. You tend to get a couple of neighbours bringing wishes then anyway so it's not weird.

Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 22:51

@ServeTheServants

I’d be delighted, but would likely wonder what the catch was!
Yes this is my worry, that they will think there are strings. That’s why I think asking and then sending by post is the best option. Keeps it one step removed.
OP posts:
4fingerKitKat · 26/05/2021 22:52

I would love it!

Worst case scenario they think you are weird and bin it, best case it is something they treasure and brings them a lot of joy. Definitely worth the risk of the worst case for the chance of the best case.

wonkylegs · 26/05/2021 22:54

I'd love it - I have been trying to find out more about our house and know it's origin story (quite interesting) the bundle of deeds we were given were a real treasure trove and we have the gorgeous original indenture for the original purchase (1869) framed on the wall.

JackieTheFart · 26/05/2021 22:54

I’d love it if it were me. We live in a Victorian terrace, I’d love to see some pictures through the ages.

MrsTulipTattsyrup · 26/05/2021 22:55

I work as an architectural historian and have found over the years that people can be odd about this sort of thing. They might be suspicious that you’re angling to come in and see what they’ve done to it, and worry that you will be oddly attached and want to be a regular visitor. So I’d think carefully about it!

As a researcher - please lodge a copy with your local archives, or local studies library, though! It would be really useful for someone doing their research in years to come. You could even drop the new owners a note, once it’s been catalogued, to tell them that it’s there if they ever want to read it. Then it’s at one remove, and less personal than a gift directly from you to them.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 26/05/2021 22:56

A few years ago we saw an older man loitering near our drive - DH went to speak to him and it turns out he used to live here so we invited him in for a cuppa and he told us loads about it.
Lovely idea OP!

Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 22:56

@wonkylegs

I'd love it - I have been trying to find out more about our house and know it's origin story (quite interesting) the bundle of deeds we were given were a real treasure trove and we have the gorgeous original indenture for the original purchase (1869) framed on the wall.
Wow that’s amazing 😍
OP posts:
hauntedcomputer · 26/05/2021 22:59

I agree with PP that it might startle me, but once I understood that you were only trying to share interesting information about the history of the house, I'd be thrilled!

I would prefer mail to a knock on the door, and I'd always appreciate a note explaining why you have all this information Grin and why you wanted to share it, but I'm sure you'd do that, anyway! (Otherwise, I'd be concerned that you were obsessed with a random house for no obvious reason, which would make me nervous.)

MustardRose · 26/05/2021 23:00

If I bought a period house, then I would love to be given something like this about its history.

WithLargeTableMouse · 26/05/2021 23:01

Oh I’d really love that. I grew up in an old Victorian house with a cellar and nooks and crannies and I have such happy memories of that house. I saw a bit about it in a local history book in a second hand bookshop once but I didn’t have my purse with me & my parents wouldn’t lend me the money to buy the book and I’ve never quite forgiven them. There was a photo in the book of a Victorian family stood around our sitting room fireplace!
Definitely get in touch and offer it to the new owners, although they might be disappointed to see all the beautiful original features that should have been in your old house and were ripped out!

Locationlocationfan · 26/05/2021 23:02

I’d love this. We live in a very old house (well the original bits are very old) and it has been a pub in the past. We have the deeds which are really interesting, and contain lots of information, but I’d love to know more. I have found records online of fights when people left the pub in the early 20th century as well as one report of a man who sadly drowned on his way home in the late 19th century.

3Britnee · 26/05/2021 23:03

I'd love it too. I'd add to it for the next people too.

BumCat · 26/05/2021 23:03

I’d think that was cool af.

Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:04

@MrsTulipTattsyrup

I work as an architectural historian and have found over the years that people can be odd about this sort of thing. They might be suspicious that you’re angling to come in and see what they’ve done to it, and worry that you will be oddly attached and want to be a regular visitor. So I’d think carefully about it!

As a researcher - please lodge a copy with your local archives, or local studies library, though! It would be really useful for someone doing their research in years to come. You could even drop the new owners a note, once it’s been catalogued, to tell them that it’s there if they ever want to read it. Then it’s at one remove, and less personal than a gift directly from you to them.

Oh I already know what the ‘restorers’ have done thanks to Rightmove 🤣🤭 I’m sure the current owners will yank up the grey carpet in the hallway to reveal the original flooring underneath with or without my pics 🤣

That’s a great idea thank you, I wouldn’t have thought of this. It’s a good idea to point them to if they want to read it then too! 😊

My Grandad was an architect and as well as doing bits on the house he has a street named after him in the town so I suppose it could be of local significance? 😊

OP posts:
steff13 · 26/05/2021 23:04

I would love it so much.

Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:05

@hauntedcomputer

I agree with PP that it might startle me, but once I understood that you were only trying to share interesting information about the history of the house, I'd be thrilled!

I would prefer mail to a knock on the door, and I'd always appreciate a note explaining why you have all this information Grin and why you wanted to share it, but I'm sure you'd do that, anyway! (Otherwise, I'd be concerned that you were obsessed with a random house for no obvious reason, which would make me nervous.)

🤣🤣🤣 Definitely do not want this. Does sound like start if a horror film.

I’ll definitely ask and then of course either post it, or as a PP has said, give it to local archives and tell them it’s there if they want to see.

OP posts:
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