Why is the top floor of period houses shorter?

dan_first_time_buyer

Hi All,

I've been noticing the top floor of period houses is often shorter (e.g. shorter windows). Why is that?

I heard that is because the house servants lived there. Is that true?

If so, why would the servants stay on the top floor? I thought the top floor was the best: e.g. better views, no sounds from upstairs.

Thanks,
Dan

AdrianC

dan_first_time_buyer wrote: »

I've been noticing the top floor of period houses is often shorter (e.g. shorter windows). Why is that?

I heard that is because the house servants lived there. Is that true?

Depending on the house, absolutely possible. Remember, even a lot of middle-class families would have had staff back in Victorian times and earlier.

If so, why would the servants stay on the top floor? I thought the top floor was the best: e.g. better views, no sounds from upstairs.

Poor insulation in the roof, so wider temperature swings. Restricted headroom in the eaves.
And - most importantly - it means the family don't have to pass the servants' quarters to retire for the night...

LandyAndy

Maybe because it was desirable for 'public' (ground floor) rooms to have high ceilings to make a more impressive show to visitors?

Davesnave

dan_first_time_buyer wrote: »

If so, why would the servants stay on the top floor? I thought the top floor was the best: e.g. better views, no sounds from upstairs.

Having lived on one of the servants'-type top floors, I'd echo heat gain in summer, making it unbearably hot. (Good for growing tomatoes in the lead-lined space between the two roofs though!)

Nobody gave a stuff about the views in those days, as these were town houses, used by the gentry for the 'season.' Access to the gardens, parks and streets, where people could show off their finery was much more important. One could have views elsewhere.

The number of stairs would have been another factor against upper floor living. Many of the wealthy were old, had gout etc. Even as a young chap, I was sometimes known to utter profanities when realising I'd forgotten something in the Spar shop opposite!

jimbog

It gives the perspective of the building being taller (and so grander)

AnotherJoe

dan_first_time_buyer wrote: »

If so, why would the servants stay on the top floor? I thought the top floor was the best: e.g. better views, no sounds from upstairs.

The servants wouldnt "stay on the top floor" thats where they would sleep.

Rest of the day they'd be in the kitchen or cleaning in the house or out shopping etc.(dont forget shopping would be an everyday intensive activity, no one-stop shops, no refrigeration, etc) and so on.

Owain_Moneysaver

It's cheaper, and it looks nicer from outside.

The public rooms on the ground and first floor had higher ceilings (partly to help the air quality with open fires, smoking and oil or gas lighting) but as you went up the building not only did ceiling heights decrease in bedroom floors but so did the cost of cornicing, style of fireplaces etc. Visitors didn't see those rooms, and people didn't spend much time there.

Servants would be squeezed in anywhere else - attics (female) or basement (male).

hazyjo

AnotherJoe wrote: »

The servants wouldnt "stay on the top floor" thats where they would sleep.

Also being pedantic, I'm guessing Dan may be Scottish. They tend to say 'where do you stay' when asking 'where do you live'. I work with lots and 'stay' is used all the time. He prob just meant it as where they slept/lived

martindow

Until the invention of lifts lower floors of a building were always more desirable. In hotels trudging up to the 6th floor got you to the cheapest rooms. After lifts were installed hotels turned upside down so the best rooms were high up and also had the best views.

davidmcn

Even if there were a basement, it would often be used for kitchens or storage rather than accommodation.

ToasterScheme

jimbog wrote: »

It gives the perspective of the building being taller (and so grander)

This. It's a very clever optical illusion that, counter-intuitively, fools you into thinking the building is taller than it really is. Most Disney (etc) theme parks use it to excellent effect, although it's probably not the reason that period house-builders were thinking of.