ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. For many people, the intimacy of domestic dwelling is mediated by varying degrees of awareness that their home has been the residence of prior occupants whose traces remain in its physical fabric and in the objects left behind. The book explores this near-ubiquitous but overlooked experience in the context of a range of English households, framing home as a site of historical encounter, knowledge and imagination. It offers insights into the affective and embodied experiences of heritage at the level of everyday homemaking, exploring how the meanings and experiences of domestic space and dwelling are shaped by residents’ awareness of their home’s history and how this history informs, challenges or enhances feelings of belonging. The book examines people’s ideas of knowledge, imagination, emotion and belief in researching and otherwise engaging with the past of their homes.
