I am a firm believer that old houses need to be valued. Old houses are structures that held families who lived their lives there. Maybe my past life as an Army Brat, moving from house to house, brings about a sense of nostalgia for all homes. Each home has a narrative from its past but also has the chance to create a new story for its future.
Homes give us a chance to reflect on the rights and wrongs we have done as humans within a space. When some people look at historic homes they see simpler times and family dinners. Others might see a historic home as a grand statement of some cultural legacy to be celebrated, while others may see what they could not have due to prejudices within our society. Still others may look at historic homes as a past that is no longer and must be cleared from our view to make way for a new vision. Whatever your opinion might be, it is certainly valid.
My passion is obviously restoration. Not restoration to portray a past that needs to be re-lived, but restoration to repair. The definition of repair is “to set right” or “put right.” The repair of an old home can set right the need to once again open its doors to a new and possibly wider audience. The repairs that need to happen can not only keep the building preserved but to make the building a welcoming place for everyone. A repair that keeps the house healthy and liveable for all. Although all homes have their own history, they can be repaired to have a new narrative. A narrative of inclusiveness instead of exclusivity.
The Bank’s house has a history of opening its doors. It started as a medical practice for the community while the family lived upstairs. Just the research on who lived where and when inside the house shows doors that were open to many. This house welcomed extended family members and borders. The library showed evidence of “well read” residents who worked to understand how to make the world a better place. The house reflected its original family for over a hundred years and is now restored to welcome all. The history of this home is being honored by this new story and that’s exactly what the research into this home’s history tells us the original family likely would have welcomed.
We would love to have you for a stay at the Banks Bed and Breakfast and experience the historical beauty of this special home for yourself. View our rooms and book your stay with us today.
