Through the Windows of an Ordinary House: A History of England

Through the Windows of an Ordinary House: A History of England by Ian Mortimer covers 900 years of English history, as told through the story of one house on the edge of Dartmoor. This book provides a unique look into England's past from the perspective of the people who lived in Mearsdon, a house in Moretonhampstead on the edge of Dartmoor, where the historian Ian Mortimer now resides.

The house is documented from the thirteenth century. However, through a judicious use of archaeological and written evidence, Mortimer successfully describes daily life in the area, tracing back from the arrival of the Saxons in the seventh century to the present day.

Mortimer blends broad national history with intimate local events and domestic situations. In doing so, he acquaints us with the building's inhabitants – from the first known owner, a thirteenth-century priest, to his own family living there today. Along the way, he illustrates significant social changes, such as the Norman Conquest, the Black Death, the Reformation, the discovery of the New World, the Industrial Revolution, and the two world wars, through the experiences of the house's inhabitants and their neighbours in deepest Devon.

The result is a unique and fascinating perspective on English social history. Mortimer demonstrates the brilliant imagination, thorough research, and storytelling ability that made his Time Traveller's Guides a huge success. He introduces us to lords and peasants, merchants and murderers, clergymen and shepherds, housewives and hoteliers, creating a continuously evolving story. By looking through the windows of his house, we not only witness the people who lived there over the ages, but we also see the world changing around them through their eyes.