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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Silmaril on Monday 18 July 22 14:19 BST (UK)

Title: Meaning of a turn of phrase
Post by: Silmaril on Monday 18 July 22 14:19 BST (UK)

Hi

Any ideas as to what "declining housekeeping" means?

I have found it used on the attached 1841 advertisement for an auction.

Any help most welcome.

Thanks
Doug.

Title: Re: Meaning of a turn of phrase
Post by: RJ_Paton on Monday 18 July 22 14:33 BST (UK)

the modern equivalent is possible the term "downsizing"

from the book "Stories from Home: English Domestic Interiors, 1750–1850" by Margaret Ponsonby

Title: Re: Meaning of a turn of phrase
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 18 July 22 14:37 BST (UK)

Seems to have been very common. 33,549 hits for this phrase in the FindMyPast/BNA newspaper database, most recent in 1984.

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Stories_from_Home/1JDeCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22declining+housekeeping%22+property+sale&pg=PT73&printsec=frontcover

Title: Re: Meaning of a turn of phrase
Post by: Silmaril on Monday 18 July 22 14:43 BST (UK)

OK great.

The individual concerned (Daniel Lucas jnr) had been married for only a few months prior to this "downsizing". Interesting.

Many thanks to all respondents !

Title: Re: Meaning of a turn of phrase
Post by: fiddlerslass on Monday 18 July 22 15:18 BST (UK)

Is this by your man, Daniel Lucas?

https://www.vandaimages.com/results.asp?txtkeys1=daniel+lucas+jr%2E

Title: Re: Meaning of a turn of phrase
Post by: Ray T on Monday 18 July 22 17:40 BST (UK)

Quote from: fiddlerslass on Monday 18 July 22 15:18 BST (UK)

Is this by your man, Daniel Lucas?

https://www.vandaimages.com/results.asp?txtkeys1=daniel+lucas+jr%2E

I might expect it from “Southerners” but not the V&A - where on earth is “Stroke”-on-Trent?

Title: Re: Meaning of a turn of phrase
Post by: Silmaril on Monday 18 July 22 22:00 BST (UK)

Thanks, yes, this is the man. A landscape painter of scenes on china ware.
Just like his father, of the same name, in Derby.

Thanks again.