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House names


A recent post on Julie's always excellent Sydney Eye blog got me thinking about the old houses in Lawson which also have names. So I am going to get started for the year by running a series on the named houses of Lawson and while I am at it you will get a chance to see some traditional Blue Mountains homes ... starting with our own home Burnbrae built around 1896. During renovations a postcard was found ... dated 1897, addressed to:

Miss Chrystal,
Burnbrae,
Lawson,
Blue Mountains,
New South wales, Australia

Miss Elizabeth Chrystal was the original owner according to the land title so I guess the house has always had this name. Maybe she had Scottish links.

Comments

  1. Julie24 January 2011 at 09:05

    I have been hanging out for this series.

    Off to a rattling good start. Recognise the second image, and adore the first one. Makes a difference when one doesn't have to shoot from outside the fence.

    Now consider the word and the presentation: this one suits, right. Scottish, minimal, straight-forward. And topped with CI of a similar ilk.

    Goodie goodie ... I have collected more since the original couple of posts. Let's see what I can dream up as I go about my day. I have a day of 'ma-care' today but the poor petal has a bit of a cold.

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  2. Vicki24 January 2011 at 09:37

    Wonderful. Giving a property a name gives it an identity. No longer is it just a house, it's a place.

    I'd love to see a photo/scan of the postcard. :)

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  3. Leeds daily photo24 January 2011 at 21:11

    I think Chrystal is a Scottish surname and with the name of the house meaning something like hill with a stream. I too would be interested in the 100 year old postcard, where was it from, what was the picture?

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  4. Anonymous25 January 2011 at 18:33

    Looking forward to your series of the named houses of Lawson. Burnbrae looks lovely.

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  5. Joan Elizabeth25 January 2011 at 20:38

    I will post a scan of the postcard at the end of series ... it is currently mounted in a frame which I will have to dismantle somewhat.

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  6. Peter25 January 2011 at 20:46

    well done, intriguing start, Crhystal sounds new age, SoCal.

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  7. Unknown26 January 2011 at 05:29

    Great details! I bet this will be a wonderful series.

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  8. freefalling27 January 2011 at 11:28

    That's a great story.
    Did you put it in a little frame?
    Oh yes, I see you say it is.
    Instead of taking it out to scan it - why don't you just take a photo of it?

    You're so lucky to live in a house like Burnbrae.
    It is exactly the type of house I would love to own.
    There was a lovely old home down the street from us that was beautiful but it had no yard!
    There is a fantastic home across the road from us - I just have to wait until the current owners shuffle off this mortal coil.

    I'd love a house name for my house.
    I'll have to start thinking.
    I did quite like "Diggers" coz we are on the old gold diggings but I'm not sure.

    I love your tin roof edges and the round bluestone(?) steps.

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  9. Joan Elizabeth27 January 2011 at 19:46

    Letty, the previous owners framed the bits they found behind the fireplace and left it for us. I need to remove it to show both sides ... I think I am going to run a series on them after this series has had its run.

    Diggers sounds like a grand and very appropriate name ... given that you are also keen on digging the garden. The steps are sandstone gone grey with age.

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  10. ELK28 January 2011 at 09:40

    this is such a fabulous post .. what amazing history here ...

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