Rosemary Lowndes

This holds a book within a book, within a 3D model of a typical nineteenth century town house.
The story itself is pleasant enough; charting the day to day lives of Dr. and Mrs. Middleton, their children and the house staff. The true nature of this book however is the model itself, which represents a slightly distorted (for practical purposes) view of an Upper Middle class, late nineteen hundreds house.
Putting these things together however, involves destroying the original book in the process; which, as a sentimental old man, I now lack the heart to do. However, as a boy, I remember fondly putting together a similar book of a haunted house, which I loved for one whole glorious summer. It was magnificent, and my pride an joy at the time! I have absolutely no recollection what became of it after that...
And there is my reasoning for leaving this wonderful paper structure intact.
Perhaps, standing at a modest 12¼ inches high I will one day find a safe spot to house the completed house, such as a display cabinet alongside some of my finds from that period; but until such a day, I will settle to flick through this extraordinary book from time to time, marvelling over the detail in such rooms as the Scullery and the Servants Hall - a reminder that this seven bedroom house, with it's separate Dining Rooms, Drawing Room, Study and network of furnished landings heading off from no less than eight flights of stairs; not to mention madam's conservatory, represented a lifestyle few of the period would have enjoyed let alone ever have stepped foot in; although to be fair, this book does mention this in passing.
Perhaps because nothing of the Victorian slums exist to this day, compared to so many of these bourjois domiciles which now enjoy listed building status, we are sometimes left with a false sense of nostalgia; or, perhaps when it comes down to it, that is all nostalgia really is.… (mehr)