Victorian house room purposes

[hiplainsyank]

I enjoy reading Anne Perry mystery novels, which she obviously has researched diligently to give an excellent impression of mid- to late- nineteenth century British Victorian culture. I've read two in a row now set in the wealthier parts of London and am a bit bewildered about the various rooms each home had and particularly their purposes. I've read about morning rooms, withdrawing rooms, boudoirs, and others. There were apparently strict customs about which room was used when and for what purpose.

Presuming that this also was the case for ACW era wealthy Americans, can someone give me a quick rundown on some of the common rooms in large homes and their purposes? Or, if not, point me out to an easy to access source to brush up on this so that I can understand the action in the novels and overall culture a little better.

Thanks for your help.

[redleggeddevil]

Re: Victorian house room purposes

The only short work on the subject I can think of is "What Jane Austen Ate and What Dickens Knew" (I think that's the title). It is a broad overview of early 19th century British culture, designed to answer just the sort of questions you raise.

As for America, I can only say that, from personal experience, Victorian homes can be a bit of a puzzle. I worked in a house museum that had once belonged to a wealthy merchant. Built in 1851, it featured two tiny parlors off the main hall. They were exact mirror images of one another except that one had its own exterior door.

Records of the house and family offered no explanation. We know that the owner was directly involved in the design of the house, so it must have met some need of his. One theory is that he may have transacted business in the parlor with the outside door, the other parlor being reserved for family and guests.

[toccoa42]

Re: Victorian house room purposes

One theory is that he may have transacted business in the parlor with the outside door, the other parlor being reserved for family and guests.

Correct. Not a theory. The extra door was an addition of convenience.

[Drygoods]

Re: Victorian house room purposes

Inside the Victorian Home by Judith Flanders (2006)will answer all of your questions of function of every room of the house, plus the contents. Another book that jumps to mind is (title guess) "Victorian Babylon" which about homes in London and how life was conducted in a large city....sorry can't recall the author at the moment and don't have the book handy, however, Flanders' book is quite good.

[Edwin Carl Erwin]

Re: Victorian floor plans

Here is a link to 8 books on Victorian floor plans: http://architecture.about.com/od/pla...orianplans.htm. Explore the links on the page to the world of Victorian architectural design.

See also:

https://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/archov.html

https://www.victorianstation.com/vicarch.html

https://www.aspenhistory.org/advarch.html

https://www.archaeolink.com/victorian_architecture.htm

You'll doubtless have to sort out the difference between the English & American languages regarding some of the architectural/domestic terminology. As George Bernard Shaw said, "Two peoples separated by a common language":

Regards,