(no subject)

[changeling]

Where would one have a bath in a large country house in Victorian England (circa 1899)? Would there be a bathroom, or would it be the tin-tub-and-hot-water option? Bear in mind that this is a resident, not a servant.

(crossposted to nanonifty)

Comments

[folk.livejournal.com]

Hmm. When I think of Gosford Park (c.1932), there were actual bathrooms. *racks brain* Sorry, not my time period.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Good lord, you're fast! Here's another question for you, because you know this sort of thing. How do the titles "Lord" and "Lady" whatsit work? Are they hereditary? The whole "Right Hon. Venetia Coombs" thingie is the daughter of Lords/Ladies, right? If her parents die, she'd become a Lady, wouldn't she?

[folk.livejournal.com]

Q1) Complicatedly. The Peerage is the overall term, but then there are Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons. See Wikipedia, and also Debrett's.
Q2) In the time period you're talking about, yes.
Q3) No, Rt Hon is an MP. The Honourable (Hon.) is what you're looking for, I think. Of course, you're also looking at courtesy titles, which is a whole different ball game. Search Wikipedia for "courtesy title" and if you're still uncertain give me a tinkle.
Q4) Depends on who she is (and who her parents are).

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

I loff you so very, very much. Thank you enormously.

[scott-wells.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I'm at work and don't have any of my reference material here. I'll check at lunch, assuming no one answers you before that.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! ^___^

[scott-wells.livejournal.com]

Wow... I reread my last response and found it was almost incomprehensible.

Let me try this again, shall I?

BATHROOMS were generally set up in converted bedrooms, and had water both hot and cold pumped to them via a large tank or cistern that was either mounted on the roof or in the attic. Gas was used to heat water for baths. By the 1870's, enameled cast-iron tubs were common, with overhead shower fixtures found in the wealthier homes. Also found were ceramic sinks, either wall- or pedastal- mounted, each with a brass or nickel tap for either hot or cold water.

Roof mounted tanks sometimes provided 'extras' in the water... rust, dead earwigs and bluebottle flies, etc, and the heating of the water didn't always work very well. Some of the tubs were considerably larger than those today, and could probably accomodate more than one person.

It is the laying of gaslines that made these sorts of baths possible. With gas, one didn't have to heat the water and then carry it to the tub. If a Country house DIDN'T have gas, it was unlikely to have one of these tubs, however, by the time period you are talking about, this is unlikely.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Ah, excellent! Thanks.