House Historian
@househistorian.bsky.social
Historian • author • speaker • TV consultant • presenter. Specialist in researching the history of houses. Otherwise known as Mel Backe-Hansen. Books incl. #AHouseThroughTime and #HouseHistories Rep #PastPreservers http://www.house-historian.co.uk/
Pinned
I research the social histories of houses across the UK! Most of my time is spent completing private commissions for homeowners but I also write books, give talks, write articles & do a little TV consulting. I also like to spread uplifting, encouraging & happy vibes out into the world [2/2] ☺️👋
Today’s #househistory feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times is a fantastic Georgian house in Spitalfields, London! Home to silk weavers and also a former ‘Home for Working Boys’! #househistories #London
November 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Today’s #househistory feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times is a fantastic Georgian house in Spitalfields, London! Home to silk weavers and also a former ‘Home for Working Boys’! #househistories #London
For Dad’s Army fans - and #househistory fans 😉 Today’s house history feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times was the childhood home of John Le Mesurier - aka Sergeant Wilson! 😀 #househistories #dadsarmy
November 21, 2025 at 6:31 PM
For Dad’s Army fans - and #househistory fans 😉 Today’s house history feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times was the childhood home of John Le Mesurier - aka Sergeant Wilson! 😀 #househistories #dadsarmy
Have been rather quiet as I've been busy juggling multiple projects including the history of a house in Essex! This shows the house as looked in 1833...but was completely altered and renovated in the 1860s so looks nothing like this anymore 😊 #househistory #househistories #history
November 21, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Have been rather quiet as I've been busy juggling multiple projects including the history of a house in Essex! This shows the house as looked in 1833...but was completely altered and renovated in the 1860s so looks nothing like this anymore 😊 #househistory #househistories #history
Reposted by House Historian
#AdoorableThursday Foredale Farm, Helwith Bridge, North Yorkshire.
November 6, 2025 at 8:52 AM
#AdoorableThursday Foredale Farm, Helwith Bridge, North Yorkshire.
Reposted by House Historian
The Dome, Brompton Oratory' (1936) by Charles Ginner
(Private collection)
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🎵 'Brompton Oratory' by Nick Cave
youtu.be/oovJ0EK_LNk?...
(Private collection)
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🎵 'Brompton Oratory' by Nick Cave
youtu.be/oovJ0EK_LNk?...
November 18, 2025 at 8:27 AM
The Dome, Brompton Oratory' (1936) by Charles Ginner
(Private collection)
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🎵 'Brompton Oratory' by Nick Cave
youtu.be/oovJ0EK_LNk?...
(Private collection)
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🎵 'Brompton Oratory' by Nick Cave
youtu.be/oovJ0EK_LNk?...
Today’s #househistory feature in The Times is a lovely late-Georgian house between Brixton and Clapham in London! 😀 #househistories #history
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Today’s #househistory feature in The Times is a lovely late-Georgian house between Brixton and Clapham in London! 😀 #househistories #history
Reposted by House Historian
The house in question - in #MaidenBradley - will be included in our forthcoming @wiltshistory.bsky.social volume XIX.
You can read draft material here:
You can read draft material here:
November 7, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The house in question - in #MaidenBradley - will be included in our forthcoming @wiltshistory.bsky.social volume XIX.
You can read draft material here:
You can read draft material here:
Today’s #househistory feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times is a fantastic historic home in Wiltshire! 😀 #househistories #history #Wiltshire
November 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Today’s #househistory feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times is a fantastic historic home in Wiltshire! 😀 #househistories #history #Wiltshire
Reposted by House Historian
Stopped off at @waterstones.bsky.social Piccadilly yesterday and chuffed to see two of my books on display! 😄😁 #AHouseThroughTime #DoorsofLondon @davidolusoga.bsky.social @cathlondon.bsky.social @picadorbooks.bsky.social @sheldrakepress.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Stopped off at @waterstones.bsky.social Piccadilly yesterday and chuffed to see two of my books on display! 😄😁 #AHouseThroughTime #DoorsofLondon @davidolusoga.bsky.social @cathlondon.bsky.social @picadorbooks.bsky.social @sheldrakepress.bsky.social
A fantastic story in today’s #househistory feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times! A house often visited by former PM Herbert Asquith and where his infatuation with Venetia Stanley began! #househistories
October 31, 2025 at 6:08 PM
A fantastic story in today’s #househistory feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times! A house often visited by former PM Herbert Asquith and where his infatuation with Venetia Stanley began! #househistories
Reposted by House Historian
Fleet Street seen from the top of a bus at Ludgate Circus, in today's new post "London Rebuilt - 1897 to 1926" at alondoninheritance.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Fleet Street seen from the top of a bus at Ludgate Circus, in today's new post "London Rebuilt - 1897 to 1926" at alondoninheritance.com
Reposted by House Historian
The Society are deeply saddened that despite our objections and concerns from HB&P, the Church Buildings Council and the local Council, the Diocese of Chichester Consistory Court have given permission to remove most of the choir stalls from Holy Trinity Church in Hastings. 🧵 📷 Connor McNeill
October 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The Society are deeply saddened that despite our objections and concerns from HB&P, the Church Buildings Council and the local Council, the Diocese of Chichester Consistory Court have given permission to remove most of the choir stalls from Holy Trinity Church in Hastings. 🧵 📷 Connor McNeill
Reposted by House Historian
'The Visit', St John's Wood (c.1909) by Sir George Clausen
(Private collection)
(Private collection)
October 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
'The Visit', St John's Wood (c.1909) by Sir George Clausen
(Private collection)
(Private collection)
Reposted by House Historian
'Evening Magnolia, St James's Church' (2024) by Melissa Scott-Miller
chrisbeetles.com/artist/816/melissa-scott-miller-rba-rp-neac
chrisbeetles.com/artist/816/melissa-scott-miller-rba-rp-neac
October 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
'Evening Magnolia, St James's Church' (2024) by Melissa Scott-Miller
chrisbeetles.com/artist/816/melissa-scott-miller-rba-rp-neac
chrisbeetles.com/artist/816/melissa-scott-miller-rba-rp-neac
Reposted by House Historian
Seeking Situations, painting by Ralph Hedley, 1848-1913 (Shipley Art Gallery). Best known for portraying scenes of everyday life in north-east England. #NorthernArt
October 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Seeking Situations, painting by Ralph Hedley, 1848-1913 (Shipley Art Gallery). Best known for portraying scenes of everyday life in north-east England. #NorthernArt
Chuffed 😊 #AHouseThroughTime #DoorsofLondon
Stopped off at @waterstones.bsky.social Piccadilly yesterday and chuffed to see two of my books on display! 😄😁 #AHouseThroughTime #DoorsofLondon @davidolusoga.bsky.social @cathlondon.bsky.social @picadorbooks.bsky.social @sheldrakepress.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Chuffed 😊 #AHouseThroughTime #DoorsofLondon
Stopped off at @waterstones.bsky.social Piccadilly yesterday and chuffed to see two of my books on display! 😄😁 #AHouseThroughTime #DoorsofLondon @davidolusoga.bsky.social @cathlondon.bsky.social @picadorbooks.bsky.social @sheldrakepress.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Stopped off at @waterstones.bsky.social Piccadilly yesterday and chuffed to see two of my books on display! 😄😁 #AHouseThroughTime #DoorsofLondon @davidolusoga.bsky.social @cathlondon.bsky.social @picadorbooks.bsky.social @sheldrakepress.bsky.social
Reposted by House Historian
October 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM
October 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Busy days running around visiting archives…incl. The London Archives today to view insurance records and deeds…including a huge mortgage document from 1781! 😀🙈 #househistories #househistory #archives
October 23, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Busy days running around visiting archives…incl. The London Archives today to view insurance records and deeds…including a huge mortgage document from 1781! 😀🙈 #househistories #househistory #archives
Reposted by House Historian
A wonderful house in the Peak District in today’s #househistory feature in The Times - with links to Charlotte Brontë and Jane Eyre!! 😀😄 #househistories #history #Derbyshire #JaneEyre
October 17, 2025 at 12:12 PM
A wonderful house in the Peak District in today’s #househistory feature in The Times - with links to Charlotte Brontë and Jane Eyre!! 😀😄 #househistories #history #Derbyshire #JaneEyre
A wonderful house in the Peak District in today’s #househistory feature in The Times - with links to Charlotte Brontë and Jane Eyre!! 😀😄 #househistories #history #Derbyshire #JaneEyre
October 17, 2025 at 12:12 PM
A wonderful house in the Peak District in today’s #househistory feature in The Times - with links to Charlotte Brontë and Jane Eyre!! 😀😄 #househistories #history #Derbyshire #JaneEyre
Having fun in the archives! Starting with land tax records on microfiche!! 😄😁 #archives #househistory #househistories #history @essexarchive.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Having fun in the archives! Starting with land tax records on microfiche!! 😄😁 #archives #househistory #househistories #history @essexarchive.bsky.social
Reposted by House Historian
"I am still here till something better turns up which I hope will not be long."
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Postmark: 24 May 1906
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Postmark: 24 May 1906
June 13, 2025 at 8:27 AM
"I am still here till something better turns up which I hope will not be long."
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Postmark: 24 May 1906
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Postmark: 24 May 1906
Reposted by House Historian
The Manor House, Micklethwaite is perhaps more complex than it first appears. Built in stone—a common choice in the North of England, where timber was scarce but stone plentiful it follows a traditional two-cell, two-storey plan. The left-hand half dates from the late
September 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The Manor House, Micklethwaite is perhaps more complex than it first appears. Built in stone—a common choice in the North of England, where timber was scarce but stone plentiful it follows a traditional two-cell, two-storey plan. The left-hand half dates from the late