CHANGING SPACES Hallways

Author Bill Bryson wrote, ‘No room has fallen further in history than the hall.’ A slight exaggeration perhaps, but the point made in his book At Home somewhat accurately conveys the history of the space. While the hall has been an integral part of the home throughout history, it has changed form several times, in line with fashions, and social and technological advancements.

In our earliest ‘hall houses’, the hall made up the entire home, but with the upward expansions of architecture it was eventually reduced to a humble space for hanging coats and wiping feet, while allowing access to more important rooms. Yet hallways remain an integral and fascinating part of period homes, and can be fabulous spaces to display and convey our interests and tastes. The hallway is