Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian) header
Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian) profile picture

Melanie Backe-Hansen

@HouseHistorian

Historian • speaker • TV consultant • presenter • author. Specialist researching the history of houses. Books include #AHouseThroughTime and #HouseHistories

 London and the UK
house-historian.co.uk/
Joined April 2009
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Crazy how time flies - particularly the last few years! 😲😵 I can't quite believe it was three years ago that the book I co-wrote with @DavidOlusoga - #AHouseThroughTime - was released! 😁 #househistory #househistories #history #books
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Just on my way back from a three day research trip in Dorset!! Fun and games reading through C17th and C18th manorial records for a lovely C17th house!! 😀 But now exhausted! 🥱#beforeandafter #researchtripselfie #HappyFriday #househistories #househistory
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
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Andrew Locking@andrewswalksOct 27
Loweswater gold @loweswatergold
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian) profile picture
Melanie Backe-Hansen@HouseHistorianOct 16
Today’s #househistories feature in The Times is a wonderful Georgian house in Soho! Built in 1736, it has been home to many Londoners, including a family of jewellers to Queen Victoria & was previously rented by Johnny Depp!! 😀 #househistory #history
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Today’s #househistories feature in The Times is a wonderful Georgian house in Soho! Built in 1736, it has been home to many Londoners, including a family of jewellers to Queen Victoria & was previously rented by Johnny Depp!! 😀 #househistory #history
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA) profile picture
Historia – the HWA@HistoriaHWAOct 14
In case you missed it: The shortlists for the 2026 HWA Crown Awards are announced! 👑📚18 of the best historical fiction and non-fiction books published in 2025-6. Find out what they are and why our judges love them at historiamag.com/2026-crowns-… Which have you read? #HWACrowns26
Image from Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA)
Image from Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA)
Image from Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA)
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It was such a privilege to be a judge for the HWA Non-fiction Crown Awards this year w/ @AnnieWHistory @MattLewisAuthor, Matthew Lyons, Charlie Corn, Jo Romero, & Philippa Lacy! 😀 There were so many fantastic books! It was tough choosing a top six! @HistoriaHWA @RobertsonImogen
Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA) profile pictureHistoria – the HWA@HistoriaHWAOct 14
Replying to @HistoriaHWA @RobertsonImogen @thebookseller @histbookclubpod @AspectsHistory @waltscottprize @HistoryExtra @shereadsnovels @Shotsblog @AlisonJoseph1 @thebooktrailer @QuercusBooks @watsonlittle @canelo_co @iconbooks @HouseHistorian @MattLewisAuthor @AtlanticBooks @PeterCozzens @VikingBooksUK @ProfileBooks @DrAlwynTurner @orionbooks @AmyMc_Books @EAlpsten_Author @alockettHG @MirandaMalins @ThomasMogford @AndreinaCordani @dgjones @HoZ_Books @ArielLawhon @_SwiftPress @LauraSRobinson
The HWA Non-fiction Crown Award judges for 2026: Annie Whitehead (chair), Melanie Backe-Hansen, Charlie Corn, Philippa Lacey, Matt Lewis, Mathew Lyons, Jo Romero #HWACrowns26 24/
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Sorry @MathewJLyons - I was struggling to find everyone last night 🤦‍♀️
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
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Melanie Backe-Hansen@HouseHistorianOct 12
I had quite a weekend!! Firstly, doing a little filming with the wonderful Lucy Alexander (more details to come)! And secondly, speaking to a lovely crowd at The National Archives!! 😄😁😎 #househistories #househistory #history
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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I had quite a weekend!! Firstly, doing a little filming with the wonderful Lucy Alexander (more details to come)! And secondly, speaking to a lovely crowd at The National Archives!! 😄😁😎 #househistories #househistory #history
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
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Melanie Backe-Hansen@HouseHistorianOct 5
Working on my presentation on #househistories for Discover your family history day at @UkNatArchives this Sunday!! Will be a full day of talks with experts on a range of genealogy & research subjects!! There are a handful of tickets left! 😀 #househistory #familyhistory
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Working on my presentation on #househistories for Discover your family history day at @UkNatArchives this Sunday!! Will be a full day of talks with experts on a range of genealogy & research subjects!! There are a handful of tickets left! 😀 #househistory #familyhistory
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Having fun (and a slightly frustrating time with gaps in the records) researching in Dorset! 😀😁 #househistory #househistories #history #Dorset #archives
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Today’s #househistory feature in Bricks & Mortar in The Times tells the story of a cottage formerly part of a larger row of houses used as the parish workhouse! A tricky one to research online (many changes & not clearly labelled until mid-20thC!)…but a fascinating story! 😊
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Morning! It has been a while, with a break over the summer, but the #househistory feature in The Times is back!! 😀 This week, the story of two houses in Rye - one the former home of author Radclyffe Hall, the other linked to an infamous murder!! #househistories #history
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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Really excited to be speaking about #househistories at ‘Discover your family history day’ at @UkNatArchives on 11 October!! 😁😊 There’ll be loads of great speakers and experts! More details, the full schedule, and tickets here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/discover-… #archives #familyhistory
Discover your family history day

Discover your family history day

Want to research your family history but don’t know where to start? Or have you hit a brick wall piecing together your ancestors’ stories?

eventbrite.co.uk
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian) profile picture
Melanie Backe-Hansen@HouseHistorianSep 16
Was such an honour to be asked to be a judge for the HWA Non-fiction Crown this year!!! The long list has just been announced 😀 An amazing list of books with an array of themes and time periods! Follow the @HistoriaHWA posts for more details! 👏👇😁 #HWACrowns26
Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA) profile pictureHistoria – the HWA@HistoriaHWASep 16
Replying to @HistoriaHWA @QuercusBooks @watsonlittle @canelo_co @eriu_books @Shotsblog @thebooktrailer @AlisonJoseph1 @iconbooks @AtlanticBooks @PeterCozzens @DoubledayUK @History_Lauren @HoZ_Books @TheBodleyHead @VikingBooksUK @AllenLaneBooks @HutchHeinemann @FelicityBryan @OneworldNews @ProfileBooks @DrAlwynTurner
Those are the 12 books longlisted for the 2026 HWA Non-fiction Crown. Congratulations to all! Next, the longlist for this year’s Gold Crown Award #HWACrowns26 28/
Image from Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA)
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA) profile picture
Historia – the HWA@HistoriaHWASep 16
Replying to @HistoriaHWA @QuercusBooks @watsonlittle @canelo_co @eriu_books @Shotsblog @thebooktrailer @AlisonJoseph1 @iconbooks @AtlanticBooks @PeterCozzens @DoubledayUK @History_Lauren @HoZ_Books @TheBodleyHead @VikingBooksUK @AllenLaneBooks @HutchHeinemann @FelicityBryan @OneworldNews @ProfileBooks @DrAlwynTurner @AmyMc_Books @EAlpsten_Author @alockettHG @MirandaMalins @ThomasMogford @HarperCollinsUK @DHHlitagency @bonnierbooks_uk @orionbooks @AndreinaCordani @dgjones @ArielLawhon @_SwiftPress @LauraSRobinson
The HWA Non-fiction Crown Award judges for 2026: Annie Whitehead (chair), Melanie Backe-Hansen, Charlie Corn, Philippa Lacey, Matt Lewis, Mathew Lyons, Jo Romero #HWACrowns26 43/
Image from Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA)
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA) profile picture
Historia – the HWA@HistoriaHWASep 16
Replying to @HistoriaHWA @QuercusBooks @watsonlittle @canelo_co @eriu_books @Shotsblog @thebooktrailer @AlisonJoseph1 @iconbooks @AtlanticBooks @PeterCozzens @DoubledayUK @History_Lauren @HoZ_Books @TheBodleyHead @VikingBooksUK @AllenLaneBooks @HutchHeinemann @FelicityBryan @OneworldNews @ProfileBooks @DrAlwynTurner @AmyMc_Books @EAlpsten_Author @alockettHG @MirandaMalins @ThomasMogford @HarperCollinsUK @DHHlitagency @bonnierbooks_uk @orionbooks @AndreinaCordani @dgjones @ArielLawhon @_SwiftPress @LauraSRobinson @HouseHistorian @MattLewisAuthor @RobertsonImogen
👑📚Historia has further details of all 36 books, their publishers, and longer versions of the judges’ comments. Go to historiamag.com/hwa-crowns-2… #HWACrowns26 45/ends
Image from Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA)
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Was such an honour to be asked to be a judge for the HWA Non-fiction Crown this year!!! The long list has just been announced 😀 An amazing list of books with an array of themes and time periods! Follow the @HistoriaHWA posts for more details! 👏👇😁 #HWACrowns26
Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA) profile pictureHistoria – the HWA@HistoriaHWASep 16
Replying to @HistoriaHWA @QuercusBooks @watsonlittle @canelo_co @eriu_books @Shotsblog @thebooktrailer @AlisonJoseph1 @iconbooks @AtlanticBooks @PeterCozzens @DoubledayUK @History_Lauren @HoZ_Books @TheBodleyHead @VikingBooksUK @AllenLaneBooks @HutchHeinemann @FelicityBryan @OneworldNews @ProfileBooks @DrAlwynTurner
Those are the 12 books longlisted for the 2026 HWA Non-fiction Crown. Congratulations to all! Next, the longlist for this year’s Gold Crown Award #HWACrowns26 28/
Image from Historia – the HWA (@HistoriaHWA)
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Melanie Backe-Hansen retweeted
Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian) profile picture
Melanie Backe-Hansen@HouseHistorianSep 10
Hayfever was certainly not the plan for today😪😩 Meanwhile, I have been having fun with piles of deeds in the archives! 😀 #househistory #househistories #archives #history
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
Image from Melanie Backe-Hansen (@HouseHistorian)
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