If walls could speak, what would they say? It's a question that crosses the
mind of every period home buyer. The older the property, the stronger the
desire to delve into its past. Did it once play host to legendary dinner
parties? Who were the former occupants, and were they happy there? More
importantly, were they famous? Unless the former inhabitants are in the
ultra-famous, former-prime-minister league, the answers are usually less
than forthcoming. Neighbourhood hearsay is intriguing, but often inaccurate
- and although amateur local historians are useful their knowledge of
individual properties can be sketchy.
Sensing a growing demand among buyers for a home that is a piece of history as
well as a nice place to live, one London estate agent, Chesterton, now
employs the professional historian Melanie Backe-Hansen to research house
histories. "Knowing the history of your home can give life to the
bricks and mortar and tell a unique story of your place in the history of
the house," she explains.
Backe-Hansen is offering the chance for one Times reader to win an overview of
the history of their home.
The history will feature details of when the house was built, former residents
and where documents allow, the original value of the house, what was on the
site before the house was built and as much as possible that tells the story
of the life of your house and the people who have also called it home.
The history will be presented in a folder with a written overview and where
possible images of historic maps, census records, directory page listings
and other historic documents. Completing a house history will be different
for each individual house and the contents of the folder related to your
home will be reliant on available resources.
To enter, send an email with "Win a house history" in the subject
box to property@thetimes.co.uk
and tell us in no more than 50 words why your home deserves to be the
winner.
Terms and Conditions
1. The competition will run on www.timesonline.co.uk website from December 5th
2008 to January 9th, 2009
2. Closing date for entries is noon, January 9th, 2009.
3. Unless otherwise stated, the competition is open to all residents of the
UK aged 18 or over, except employees of Times Newspapers Limited (“TNL”) and
Chesterton Estate Agents and their associated, affiliated or subsidiary
companies, and their families, agents, or anyone connected with this
competition, including the third party promotional partners.
4. Entry limited to one per person. The winner is responsible for ensuring
they are able to accept the prize as set out and in accordance with these
terms and conditions, in the event they are unable to do so then the TNL
reserves the right to re-judge the prize.
5. Entry is free but entrants should be aware that they may be subject to
local call charges depending on their own individual arrangements for
Internet access.
6. An eligible entrant must be an individual and must submit an entry in the
form provided by TNL under this promotion including their name, address and
e-mail address.
7. By entering, all eligible entrants agree to abide by each and all these
terms and conditions. TNL reserves the right, with or without cause, to
exclude entrants and withhold prizes for violating any of these terms and
conditions. TNL reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions. Any
amendments will be published on the Website.
8. There is one prize. Entries must be the original work of the author and
not previously published. Entrants must state in 50 words or less why the
history of their house deserves investigation. Entrants should include the
name, email address and daytime contact number. The winner will be the
entrant whose entry in the opinion of the judges, sets out the most
compelling and interesting reasons as to why their home should be
investigated. Winners will be notified within seven days after the closing
date. All reasonable endeavours will be made to contact the winner during
this time. If a winner cannot be contacted or is not available, TNL reserves
the right to select another winner from the correct entries, which were
received before the closing date. TNL reserves the right to reject any entry
if for any reason they in their sole discretion deem it unsuitable.
9. The winner will receive an overview of the history of their home completed
by professional house historian, Melanie Backe-Hansen. The History will
feature details of when the house was built, former residents and where
documents allow, the original value of the house, what was on the site
before the house was built and as much as possible tells the story of the
life of the house and the people who have also called it home. The history
will be presented in a folder with a written overview and where possible
images of historic maps, census records, directory page listings and other
historic documents. Completing a house history will be different for each
individual house and the contents of the folder related to the winner’s home
will be reliant on available resources. No guarantee is given as to size or
content of the information. The winner must be willing to be named and
photographed inside and outside their home and may be featured in a
follow-up article. Please also see clause 14. In order to receive the prize
the winner must provide access to their home and should allow approximately
one month from the date of the home visit for Melanie Backe-Hansen to
complete and produce the house history. The home visit must be arranged
within two months of the prize being awarded.
10. There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated and the prize
is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for
other benefits, items or additions.
11. The winner may be required to submit valid identification before
receiving their prize.
12. The judge's decision is final and binding on the entrants. No
correspondence will be entered into.
13. TNL will not be liable for technical, hardware, or software failures of
any kind or lost or unavailable network connections which may limit or
prohibit an eligible entrant's ability to participate in the competition.
Other than death or personal injury arising from the acts or omissions of
TNL, or their employees, TNL will not be liable for any loss or damage
arising out of the winner’s enjoyment of the prize
14. By entering, any subsequent prize winners agree to allow the free use of
their names, photographs and general locations for publicity and news
purposes during this and future promotions by TNL or any associated or
subsidiary company of News International Limited.
15. Uses of personal data received by TNL in the course of the promotion are
subject to the privacy policy found on the Website. Winners' names may be
published on the Website.
16. Completion and submission of a registration slip or e-mail will be deemed
acceptance of these terms and conditions.
17. TNL reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the
competition (including altering prizes) if, in their sole discretion, a
competition is not capable for being conducted as specified. TNL reserves
the right to substitute a prize of equal value in the event that
circumstances beyond their control make this unavoidable.
18. TNL reserves the right to publish all or parts of entries other than the
winning entry, and publication does not necessarily mean that the entrant
has won a prize. TNL reserves the right to edit entries in its discretion
for publication. Entrants will retain copyright in their submitted entries;
however, by entering, all entrants give TNL a worldwide royalty free
perpetual licence to edit, publish and use all or segments of each entry in
any and all media (including print and online) for publicity and news
purposes. In particular, all entrants license TNL the right to print their
entry on Times online and in print
19. The promoter of this prize draw is Times Newspapers Limited (address
below)
20. For a list of winners, please send a stamped envelope to Times Newspapers
Limited Competitions Department, 1 Virginia Street, London E98 1RL, stating
for which competition you would like winners’ details.
21. Terms and Conditions printed in The Times/The Sunday Times newspaper or
on Times Online form a part of these terms and conditions.
