What's the most interesting link to the past you've found in your Period Property?

[ElectronicFur]

Up in the loft I found 6 empty cans of Strongbow.

Interesting, as it explained the dodgy electrics done about 10 years ago. Almost fell through the ceiling too. Stepped onto a joist, and only just noticed in time that the electrician had cut through the joist, to install a spot in that location. Must have cut holes for the spots in the ceiling from below first... Loft insulation had been ripped up in the whole area too and not put back.

Did warn previous owners not to use that electrician again in their new place. He smelled of alcohol apparently, so clearly had a problem.

[Kearn]

On the timber joints in the roof, there are Roman numerals on one side and Arabic numerals on the other side to help with the order of construction, as apparently they constructed roof structures on the ground, marked them up, took them apart then reassembled in situ.

interesting to have both sides marked, is it the same throughout and do the numbers correspond on either side? - usually there are only marks on one edge, the same edge for each bay, as the frame was laid in one direction on the ground, with the upper surface being annotated. I can’t see a good reason to mark both sides?!

We live in very early flat pack houses!

[Flyfisher]

Could it have been dismantled, re-marked during that process and then re-assembled perhaps?

I’ve not noticed any such markings on our roof timbers but some show signs of being previously used elsewhere . . . unless the original builders just liked to practice cutting mortises that were not used.

[Kearn]

Could it have been dismantled, re-marked during that process and then re-assembled perhaps?

I’ve not noticed any such markings on our roof timbers but some show signs of being previously used elsewhere . . . unless the original builders just liked to practice cutting mortises that were not used.

Interesting, but you'd assume that if one side’s were still visible then why not use them and add extra where not legible? Might be an option though for later the-use given different styles of marking are used to determine age of construction (can’t remember off hand which and when!).

Our house throws me as our timber was cut for the building, yet there are a few scars of joints that don’t quite make sense - never worked out if some timbers were recycled, or more likely replaced at a later stage with second hand oak, or if there were extra components that have now lapses as the building has changed over the centuries...

[Flyfisher]

Could it have been dismantled, re-marked during that process and then re-assembled perhaps?

Interesting, but you'd assume that if one side’s were still visible then why not use them and add extra where not legible? Might be an option though for later the-use given different styles of marking are used to determine age of construction (can’t remember off hand which and when!).

. . . also assuming the later workers understood Roman numerals

[MatthewC]

On stripping wallpaper where there had been a cupboard, we found a pencilled note from 1879 saying who had done the papering! We found some later ones from the 1940/50s all by one chap with a local surname (also seen on a memorial in church), plus one from 1975 by the same chap and (presumably) his son.

A set of cupboards in the kitchen had loose paper laid on them - newspaper from the 1950s including adverts for the films at the local cinema - Marx Brothers "Duck Soup", and "Calamity Jane"

We only found one coin - a halfpenny dated in the 1950s - quite disappointing!

[LeeL82]

Weve found a late 19th century belgian coin.
The original key for the front door under the floor boards the rim lock was still on the door and it now works!
A lot of 60's porn under the floor boards in the eaves cupboards and wine bottles with pants sutffed inside
plety of writing on the walls and one drawing of what looks like the star of david (the house belonged to free masonry back in the day)
some dodgey electrics including live wres simply tucked into walls
unliimted mice and wasp nests
we found the old iron deadlight and skylights in the woods in the garden and put them back in the roof too

no doubt when we come to do the last two rooms this list will grow!

[overlander matt]

I found an old plasterer's hawk in a recess below the floor boards that probably dates back to the original construction but other than that, there have been old newspaper articles that have helped to date when certain changes were carried out - often contradicting the stories told by the previous owners.

The lead sheets on the dormers were signed by various workers who carried out repairs to the house. Most after a fire burned the roof off in the 1950s. I quite like the general scribblings to be found under the wall paper although they're not always complimentary...

The previous owner had found a lot of letters written to the Italian prisoners held in the house at the end of WW2 (allegedly it was classified as a POW camp) but we were unable to find any.

[Flyfisher]

The previous owner had found a lot of letters written to the Italian prisoners held in the house at the end of WW2 (allegedly it was classified as a POW camp) but we were unable to find any.

Have you checked under the wallpaper for any elaborate paintings by the Italian PoWs . . . like these WW2 nissan huts:
https://www.orkney.com/listings/the-italian-chapel

[overlander matt]

Have you checked under the wallpaper for any elaborate paintings by the Italian PoWs . . . like these WW2 nissan huts:
https://www.orkney.com/listings/the-italian-chapel

It sounds like they should have come to Derbyshire. Sadly there was nothing of interest done to the house during the POW years that I am aware of. Another house in the village may have had some plasterwork repaired by some of the POWs the rumour has it.

[CliffordPope]

wine bottles with pants stuffed inside

A kind of Molotov cocktail, the petrol long evaporated?

[Pennyviz]

Could it have been dismantled, re-marked during that process and then re-assembled perhaps?

I’ve not noticed any such markings on our roof timbers but some show signs of being previously used elsewhere . . . unless the original builders just liked to practice cutting mortises that were not used.

The numbers make sense and in order. as I say carpenters marks like this are a recognised feature in some buildings:

https://rakinglight.co.uk/uk/arabic-ass ... buildings/

Dan Miles did my Dendro dating, and it was someone from VAG who contacted him.

[JBean]

We lifted the astroturf and concrete slabs in our tiny back garden - and found some large and beautiful stone steps, still in situ, showing that we once had a different exit down onto the street.

Nearby we found a small pond with a fountain. That finally explained a switch in the kitchen that didn't seem to do anything. Now and again I'd turn it on and wonder what it was powering. When we found the fountain we found the answer - the pump had been pushing the water round under the astroturf...

[Feltwell]

When we found the fountain we found the answer - the pump had been pushing the water round under the astroturf...

Sounds like a quality job, Astroturf straight over the top! The mind boggles at what some folks think are "improvements".

Stone steps sounds like a great discovery though!

Alas very, very little here. Previous owners gave us a bag of coins and bits they'd found, but I've found next to nothing. I tell a lie - I did find where the Victorians had been burying their rubbish in the garden, that yielded some complete bottles and of course lots of broken pottery and things like shoe buckles. It does make you think though just how little of what they disposed of, with no rubbish collected, did not rot away - compared to what we throw away now.

[Roger111]

For us (Grade 2 listed terrace).

1 Pair of childs gloves lace
several letters, one with post mark on envelope form 1863


Bit of a mystery:

Behind the fireplace behind brickwork in all the dust and rubble is letters and newspapers from 1860s cant see how they didnt burn

!