The 1900 House
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1900 House is a historical reality television programme made by Wall to Wall/Channel 4 in 1999. The show is about a modern family that tries to the live in the way of the late Victorians in 1900 for three months in a modified house. It was shown on Channel 4 in the UK and PBS in America (with American commentary).
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The programme was originally going to be a documentary about late Victorian domestic life, but the idea of a living family doing it was suggested. The concept of reality television at the time was relatively new. After 400 applications, the Bowler family was selected & the house was “made”.
[edit] The House
The 1900 House in question is 50 Elliscombe Road, Charlton, South-East London. An 1890's-built two-storey terraced house with a drawing room, a dining room, a kitchen, a scullery, a bathroom, three bedrooms (there were actually four, but one was used as a safety room with a telephone) and an outside loo. To make it the 1900 house, major changes were made, such the electricity being taken out and a copper installed.
[edit] The Bowler Family
[edit] Joyce Bowler
Joyce was the mother of the family. In her normal life, she was a civil servant for Somerset Social Services. She looked after the family and later in her free time she looked at the growing suffragette movement. She had problems with her hair (shampoo wasn't invented) and difficulty with her vegetarian lifestyle.
[edit] Paul Bowler
Paul was the father of the family. In normal life, he was a Warrant Officer in the Royal Marines. In the house, he worked in the recruiting office in London (for two months after that he had to go to his regular job in the Marines). He felt that the role of 'Man of the House' was difficult to act.
[edit] Kathryn Bowler
Kathryn was a 16-year-old performing-arts student. In the house, she missed her friends and her social life.
[edit] Ruth & Hilary Bowler
Ruth & Hilary were 11-year-old twins. In the house, they missed their friends and their music.
[edit] Joe Bowler
Joe was an 9-year-old boy. In the house, he had difficulty with a loss of sweets and fast-food.
[edit] Other People
[edit] Daru Rooke
Daru was the resident historian (he helped by post), who helped the family with the 1900 lifestyle. He later visited the house for a dinner party with the family.
[edit] Elizabeth Lillington
Because looking after the house became difficult, the Bowlers decided to hire a maid-of-all-work. Elizabeth was chosen, however after a few weeks the family sacked her as the mother decided that she could not agree with woman's emancipation but at the same time hire a woman as domestic house. Being 'liberated' was not the view Elizabeth herself took of her dismissal. It was pointed out that a woman in Elizabeth's position in 1900 would have faced desperate poverty had she been denied housekeeping work.
[edit] Afterwards
The show was a ratings winner for Channel 4, so much so that after the programme had finished another series was commissioned, The 1940's House.
[edit] Sequels
[edit] UK
- The 1940's House – a family “living” through the Second World War.
- The Edwardian Country House
- The Regency House Party
[edit] USA
- Frontier House – three families live as 1883 frontier settlers in Montana
- Manor House - family of five and staff of 14 live in a 1900 English manor house (re-presentation of The Edwardian Country House)
- Colonial House - set in the American frontier of 1628 (shown in the UK as Pioneer House)
- Texas Ranch House - set in the American frontier of 1867
