Suburban Residences And How To Circumvent Them

Jane Ellen Panton, daughter of artist William Powell Frith, wrote a series of advice guides on domestic issues in the late 19th century. In her book "Suburban Residences And How To Circumvent Them," she offers tips for those with middle incomes on overcoming challenges of suburban life, such as choosing the right location, dealing with noise and neighbor disputes, and managing housekeeping. The book provides insight into the middle-class home and the use of domestic techniques to achieve the "perfect house." Panton draws on her own experience of suburban living and also discusses the option of hiring a servant. This book offers a glimpse into life in late 19th century England and may be of interest to historians and sociologists.

Jane Ellen Panton (1847-1923) was the second daughter of the artist William Powell Frith, and a journalist and author on domestic issues. First published in 1896, this was one of a series of advice guides written by Panton on life and work in the middle-class home. In it she offers ideas to those with 'middle sized incomes' for overcoming the pitfalls of suburban life, such as selecting the optimal location, avoiding noise and disputes between neighbours, decorating and furnishing the home, and employing various domestic techniques in order to achieve the 'perfect house and housekeeping'. Drawing on twelve years' experience of suburban living, the author makes suggestions for each part of the house, and the concluding chapter addresses the question of whether to employ a servant. Providing a revealing snapshot of life in late nineteenth-century England, this book will be of great interest to historians and sociologists.