The Non-Elite Painting and Decorating Trade in Britain 1600-1800

The painter-decorators who whitewashed and wallpapered the homes of ordinary Britons between 1600 and 1800 have been largely written out of history. This doctoral project recovers their identity and work, shifting focus from the elite interiors that dominate accounts of the period to the lower-middle and lower-class houses, lodging houses, and boarding houses where most people actually lived. It also examines do-it-yourself decorating traditions that existed before the nineteenth century. The research fills a gap in knowledge about who painted, plastered, and applied wallpaper to non-elite homes, and how those tradespeople differed from elite painters, stainers, and plasterers. If successful, the thesis will transform understanding of painting and decorating before the nineteenth century by putting non-elite domestic interiors at the forefront. The findings will directly inform a museum’s upcoming remodelling of its early modern period rooms, ensuring they reflect a more diverse range of interiors from the era. This is primarily fundamental historical research, driven by curiosity about overlooked people and practices.