The living room, the bathroom, the bedroom and the kitchen. All rooms that we know well, but that have undergone huge transformations while morphing from what came first to what we have now. Many of the facts will have been known by those who read historical books, but for many of us the changes are mind-blowing. For example, I didn't know that the first pipes laid in London were made of small trees that had been hollowed out. Can't remember the particular tree, but one that didn't warp on exposure to air - because the pipes were above-ground - or deteriorate because of the water being channelled through them. Topping and tailing in Britain was an eye-opener, as was the fact that the whole family slept in one room, particularly in the back-to-back houses that I didn't know about. And don't get me started on the laundry! I've just done 2 loads in my automatic washing machine, and to see that the laundry took so long, mainly by long poles with feet for agitating, to rinsing, then laying out on the grass or branches to dry - well, I know which laundry I prefer! Haven't seen the kitchen yet, but am looking forward to this as I was a Home Science teacher before I retired, and I have a bit of knowledge about kitchens in olden times, especially the ones shown in Downton Abbey. But I'm sure I'll find out lots of new and interesting information when this episode goes to air. I thoroughly recommend this series, and make a plea that the powers that be release the series on DVD.
