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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
AlmostSummer21 · 26/05/2021 23:06

I thinks it's lovely & I'd be thrilled to have it

I'd like to meet you and hear about your connection to the house etc. I'd even buy buy nice biscuits!!

People IRL are far less weird about pretty much anything meeting people, opening their front door, inviting people in etc.

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SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:07

@WithLargeTableMouse

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!
😯😢 Oh no, could you find this book again do you think?
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SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:09

@Locationlocationfan

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.
You’re not in Somerset are you, one of my drunkard ancestors in the 1800s had a fight in a pub and then fell in the river and drowned on the walk home! 😯
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Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:11

@AlmostSummer21

I thinks it's lovely & I'd be thrilled to have it

I'd like to meet you and hear about your connection to the house etc. I'd even buy buy nice biscuits!!

People IRL are far less weird about pretty much anything meeting people, opening their front door, inviting people in etc.

Biscuits? Well I’m in! 😊

I’m really surprised by this thread, I thought I’d get a different response. I think I’ve made up my mind that I will share it. 🙂

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sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 26/05/2021 23:14

I would absolutely love this! I grew up in a Victorian semi that had been 'improved' by the previous owners, and they had ripped the heart out of it. Totally by chance, my mum & I got talking one day to an elderly woman in a park & it turned out she'd grown up in the other semi, so could tell us all about the original rooms, how the house had been laid out etc. Mum then set about restoring the house as best she could to how it would originally have been. I really wish we'd actually taken notes on what she told us about the family who lived there originally, and what they were like.

aibubaby · 26/05/2021 23:16

Oh I'd LOVE this!

RaspberryCoulis · 26/05/2021 23:18

I'm a genealogist and I'd love it. I would also invite you in to have a look.

You do know people pay £££ for a properly researched and compiled house history?

Locationlocationfan · 26/05/2021 23:18

“You’re not in Somerset are you, one of my drunkard ancestors in the 1800s had a fight in a pub and then fell in the river and drowned on the walk home! 😯”

Sorry I can’t do quotes properly! No we are in Yorkshire, I suspect it was a more common issue than we are aware of...

BrilliantBetty · 26/05/2021 23:19

How lovely. Yes please!!

I have tried researching the history of my 1900 property. I can't find much out about it at all. I'd even like to know about the street / area in general but there's not much info on it. I think victorian terraces are so common they're not thought very interesting. I'm interested though.

Do give it to them. They don't have to pay it any mind if it's of no interest, but perhaps they'd set it aside for the next residents or ones after that... someone will love it.

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 26/05/2021 23:20

It's a lovely thing to do.

When we bought this house it came with a ring binder of historical stuff related to our house and the associated houses that had been compiled by a relative of the previous owners. She was a retired historian and must have spent hours at the local records office. It's all beautifully presented and indexed. I love it.

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SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:20

@RaspberryCoulis

I'm a genealogist and I'd love it. I would also invite you in to have a look.

You do know people pay £££ for a properly researched and compiled house history?

No, I had no idea, do you mean local archives or private buyers (of the house in question?)
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Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:22

@sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea

I would absolutely love this! I grew up in a Victorian semi that had been 'improved' by the previous owners, and they had ripped the heart out of it. Totally by chance, my mum & I got talking one day to an elderly woman in a park & it turned out she'd grown up in the other semi, so could tell us all about the original rooms, how the house had been laid out etc. Mum then set about restoring the house as best she could to how it would originally have been. I really wish we'd actually taken notes on what she told us about the family who lived there originally, and what they were like.
Your improved in quotes made me laugh, yup 😆

Bless your Mum for restoring it, I’d do the same. Carpeting over beautiful flooring should a crime! 🤭

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

@Locationlocationfan

“You’re not in Somerset are you, one of my drunkard ancestors in the 1800s had a fight in a pub and then fell in the river and drowned on the walk home! 😯”

Sorry I can’t do quotes properly! No we are in Yorkshire, I suspect it was a more common issue than we are aware of...

Yes I think so 🙂
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RaspberryCoulis · 26/05/2021 23:24

The lady you need to follow on Twitter is Melanie Backe-Hansen, she's the research brains behind "A House Through Time" - David Olusoga presents but she does the research slog.

I listened to a podcast with her and she started off working for high-end estate agents, compiling house histories for big stately piles they were struggling to shift. But she found that an increasing number of ordinary people living in ordinary houses are interested in the people who lived in their house over its history, even if they're not Dukes or Lords or anything.

Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:25

@BrilliantBetty

How lovely. Yes please!!

I have tried researching the history of my 1900 property. I can't find much out about it at all. I'd even like to know about the street / area in general but there's not much info on it. I think victorian terraces are so common they're not thought very interesting. I'm interested though.

Do give it to them. They don't have to pay it any mind if it's of no interest, but perhaps they'd set it aside for the next residents or ones after that... someone will love it.

Victorian terraces are my favourite type of house, the fireplaces, the tiles, just love the character!
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MilduraS · 26/05/2021 23:25

I'd love that. I worked with a conveyancing solicitor who sold his very old cottage. It was registered online but he had the original deeds from 200 years ago which served no use in the sale . He framed them and left them in the cottage for the new owners with a note. They were so pleased they sent him the loveliest thank you email with a photo of the deeds hung up in the living room. For a good few years he had new clients telling him that their friends lived in his old house and had recommended him.

Tambourinetunes · 26/05/2021 23:26

We had been in our house about 10 years when someone posted the for sale details to us from about 15 years earlier. It was nice to receive, there was a note that said I thought you may like this. In your case I think it would be good to explain your family links to the house. I would love to know (apart from the fact our house has a sad history!)

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

@RaspberryCoulis

The lady you need to follow on Twitter is Melanie Backe-Hansen, she's the research brains behind "A House Through Time" - David Olusoga presents but she does the research slog.

I listened to a podcast with her and she started off working for high-end estate agents, compiling house histories for big stately piles they were struggling to shift. But she found that an increasing number of ordinary people living in ordinary houses are interested in the people who lived in their house over its history, even if they're not Dukes or Lords or anything.

Brilliant thank you so much, I’ll give her a follow!

I’d love to go it as a job, or even just put more time into it as a hobby 😊

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RaspberryCoulis · 26/05/2021 23:26

Meant to add - house histories are a popular gift for people who are moving into an older property, or celebrating an anniversary or something.

MrsEricBana · 26/05/2021 23:26

@ICouldHaveCheckedFirst

I'd contact them to explain, and offer. I wouldn't just rock up to their door!
Good idea
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SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:28

@MilduraS

I'd love that. I worked with a conveyancing solicitor who sold his very old cottage. It was registered online but he had the original deeds from 200 years ago which served no use in the sale . He framed them and left them in the cottage for the new owners with a note. They were so pleased they sent him the loveliest thank you email with a photo of the deeds hung up in the living room. For a good few years he had new clients telling him that their friends lived in his old house and had recommended him.
That is so so nice. I’d frame our deeds but they’re from 2013 😂
OP posts:
TheRebelle · 26/05/2021 23:28

I think it depends, is it an architecturally interesting building or is there anything special about it or is it a big standard Victorian terrace?

Original poster
SallyCinnabon · 26/05/2021 23:33

@TheRebelle

I think it depends, is it an architecturally interesting building or is there anything special about it or is it a big standard Victorian terrace?
I suppose that’s subjective and I’m biased. It’s a Georgian property, 4 floors and a cellar. My Grandad was an architect and did some bits on the house, he has a street named after him do maybe there’s a local significance? (I doubt it though, lots of people have streets names after them 🤣)

I would say yes but there are lots of houses similar in this area, so there’s nothing special about it in that way. No one of significance lived in or built the house ☺️

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Blueberry40 · 26/05/2021 23:38

I think it’s a lovely thing to do. Can’t imagine why they wouldn’t be interested in the history of their new home- unless the house has just been sold to property investors.

Chimboo · 26/05/2021 23:39

Someone did this for us, she spent a lot of time in our house with her grandparents in the 1930s. I absolutely loved it.