Wiltshire Houses
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Good examples of simple cottages and fine houses to be found in Wiltshire spanning the period from the 14th Century to Victorian times, along with occasional examples of good, or at least interesting, modern homes. Having been involved, both professionally and personally, in property for nearly 40 years I thought that I knew how to date a property fairly accurately. For example the fine glazing bars of the Georgian period, which come almost to a point, as opposed to the flatter fronted ones typical of the Victorian period, or the giveaway of the date over the front door. However those big windows with fine glazing bars in the Georgian frontage may actually be hiding a medieval timber frame, and that date carved in stone may actually commemorate an alteration to the building, or even a marriage. Just as the upvc windows in a Victorian house don't date it. When the Wiltshire Buildings Record had the opportunity to exam the roof of No.11 High Street, Corsham, a building officially Grade II Listed as 17th century, it found evidence of it actually being a 15th century timber framed building that had later been updated, so even experts can get it wrong, often due to not getting full access.
15th Century
16th Century
17th Century
"The wealth of fine houses hidden down picturesque lanes were derived from the woollen industry in the 17th and 18th centuries. West Wiltshire was dominated by a small group of entrepreneurs who controlled the woollen industry as landholders, buyers and employers." (Wiltshire Buildings Record)
18th Century
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