Edinburgh History - Painting of Houses in Leith and Elsewhere

Question

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Frank Ferri wrote:

Window Frames and Down Pipes

"Does anyone know when and why window frames, doors and external drainage down pipes were always painted green or brown, instead of the present white?

I think the Victorian logic was to blend in with the green and brown that represented nature's plant-life in the outside world.

I could be wrong"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: May 1, 2008

If you know the answer to this question, please email me, then I'll pass your comments on to Frank.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: May 4, 2008

Question 1.

Reply 1.

David King

Trinity, Edinburgh

David King for replied to Frank Ferri's question above:

Window Frames and Down Pipes

"I don’t think the reason for green and brown being used for exterior paintwork was for any other reason than practicality.

Until recent years, these were the only colours that were reasonably stable when exposed to ultra-violet light. Red and blue were notorious for fading quickly, and white discoloured to a dirty cream. So these colours were kept for indoors, where they would not be affected by sunlight, particularly in the days when most households had heavy curtains, and window blinds that could be pulled down on a sunny day."

Frank Ferri, Trinity, Edinburgh: June 25, 2011

Question 1.

Reply 2.

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Frank Ferri (who asked the original question at the top of this page) replied to David King's comments above:

Exterior House Paint

"Sorry Dave King, I can’t concur. I was referring to old Victorian tenements and properties of the Art Nuevo era, 1890 to 1910 and even those of the Art Deco period.

Victorians were very interested in organics, which was prolifically expressed in their art and architectural décor, and many used plants such as aspidistras to decorate their homes and this influenced the external painting of their properties, green and brown for basic plant life in the outdoors. In my time (born 1935) this colour scheme was traditionally carried on for many years, probably up to the late-1960s.

The negative effects of ultraviolet light on paint is possibly true, but since ultraviolet light wasn’t discovered until 1801, I doubt your average DIY man in the late-1800s was aware of this effect on paint. I doubt this information (long before the internet) would have been available to your average lay person. *

If Dave's rationale is correct, then why have we ignored the effects of ultraviolet light today, since at least 90% of properties now use white on the exterior of properties?" **

Frank Ferri, Trinity, Edinburgh: June 26, 2011

Comments

* Perhaps the DIY man in the late-1800s just knew that some colours of paint faded, so avoided them. (He would not need to know whether the cause was due to ultraviolet light or any other cause.)

** Perhaps paint has improved in recent years and white paint is now less likely to become discoloured, or perhaps it's just fashion that has caused more people to choose white recently.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh, June 26, 2011

Interior House Paint

"My recall of interior paintwork, as a child, was of varnished wood. Victorian interiors never used white. There were thick flock papers, or heavy varnish paper with dark coloured flowers and fruits. I remember in the late-1950s when people started to cover up door panels with hardboard and the popular colour was mushroom.

I remember my father coating our doors with varnish and whilst still wet, he would go over it with a hair comb with some of the teeth removed and simulate a wood grain, likewise for skirting.

White was never an interior option. ***

Many working class houses only had a square of linoleum on the floor and the surrounding wooden border was varnished and polished. An old advert for Mansion polish comes to mind showing a couple of rats holding a tin of the polish, and a gleaming floor surround. Why rats were used in the advert, I can't recall !"

Frank Ferri, Trinity, Edinburgh: June 26, 2011

Comments

*** In Victorian times, and for some time after that, there would have been gas lamps and coal fires indoors, so if white paint had been used then, it might have stained badly after a short period.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh, June 26, 2011

Question

Frances Murray

Broomhouse, Edinburgh

Frances Murray wrote:

Sloan Street

Temporary Housing

"My dad, Hamish McGlynn, b 1928, was brought up in Sloan Street. I remember him describing temporary housing being put up in the concrete play park, possibly during the war years.

I cannot seem to find any information about this and wonder if any of your contributors can help."

Frances Murray, Broomhouse, Edinburgh: May 4, 2011

If you know the answer to this question, please email me, then I'll pass your comments on to Frances.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: May 4, 2011

Question 2.

Reply 2.

John Dickson

Broughton, Edinburgh

John wrote:

Iona Street

"Frances Murray was looking for old photos of wooden huts in Sloan Street.

This old newspaper cutting shows wooden huts in Iona street, the caption reads: 'Wooden Hutments occupied as dwelling-houses are being demolished by Edinburgh Corporation'.

The picture shows the wooden houses and also the style of tenement which is being erected in their place."

John Dickson, Broughton, Edinburgh: June 27, 2011

I have now passed on John Dickie's message to Frances Murray.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: June 27, 2011

Recollection

Moira Cowan (nee Smith)

Edinburgh

Moira Cowan wrote:

Duke Street

"I was born in Duke Street, Leith, and then moved to Lasswade Road. I remember the stair in Duke Street. It scared me to death. It still had the gas lighting with a long dark lobby.

The house built out to Gilmerton was a much better place to live."

Moira Cowan (nee Smith), Edinburgh: Reply posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, June 21, 2011