House history sleuthing help needed!

[JillJ72]

We moved into this house at the end of last year. The previous owners left the deeds for us today, dating back to 1906 (fascinating reading!). A quick skim through points to the land being sold in 1911 for the purpose of building the semi-detached building (2 houses) that is here now, one of which we own.

We thought the house was Victorian, but if it was indeed built in 1911 it's past that, and also past Edwardian. So what interior design era would it fall into? Can you help?!

Also, a number of the houses on this part of the street have names. Ours is Rosslyn, the adjoining neighbour's is Malvern. Any clues as to why houses would be named as such?

Tnanks!

George V was king then. That's all i know!

Well, Edwardian style housing was just still being built in 1911, but it may shade into the more Tudorbethan styles of the 20s and 30s - a bit of a transitional era. Late Victorian/Edwardian housing is a bit more up and down and 'tall' with varied classical detailing. Whereas as you move towards the 20s and 30s the Arts and Crafts influence becomes more obvious (reviving Tudor/Elizabethan details for example) with its naturalistic overtones. So you may see more plant and animal details in plasterwork, the rooflines and doors and frontages become more 'cottage' like rather than 'stately home' like... Naming of houses after upmarket country places is also quite Arts & Crafty - creating links to an idea of an idllic English past. There's probably some link to politics in those names also but buggered if I know what it is...

Have a look at my M o n k e y b i r d's old blog - there's a page on there about the naming of houses etc...

I can't help because I have almost the same questions myself, including deeds relating to the sale of the land, and all the changes of ownership. Wasn't there a BBC series a couple of years ago about this?

Your local Archives or County Records Service will probably love to help you with your query.