Abstract

To identify the nature of the decoration applied to the windows
and other associated joinery elements in three significant rooms
within the building. Samples
were removed from the box
frames, sashes, architrave, shutters and skirting boards and in
the case of Mr Gaskell’s study, a bookcase thought have been
installed at about the time the Gaskell’s took up residence in
1850. The bookcase provided a useful reference when
compared to other samples, helping to identify the target period
of interest. The three rooms are identified as follows: Mr
Gaskell’s Study (window 24), t
he dining room (window 17) and
the living room (window 19).

The client’s brief required identification of the appearance of all
three windows during the period of occupation by the
nineteenth century novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, resident from
1850 to 1865.

The house remained with the Gaskell family until 1913 (see
fig.1) and this report will analyse the decorative schemes only
up to the early C20 – the period when the family vacated the
property.