Conducting a biographical study of Clifton Croft using archival documents and landscape archaeology, Genevieve set out to understand the development of this complex of buildings within the history of suburban development and the nouveau riche of the 19th century.
Originally from Holly in Michigan, USA, Genevieve has a degree in History and Anthropology from the University of Michigan Flint. Wanting to live abroad, and a shift in her academic focus to buildings within an archaeological framework, the Master of Arts in Historic Buildings Course at the University of York fitted the bill. A mechanical engineer with a skilled labour visa, Genevieve's husband found employment in Stokesley and, together with their two children, they rented the stable block at Clifton Croft before arriving in York.
It was a fortunate choice, as Genevieve quickly became fascinated by the family’s new home and Grade II listed Clifton Croft. A country house in miniature, the whole complex includes a stable block and gardener’s cottage and signalled the rise of the middle classes with enough disposable income to aspire to the aesthetic of more aristocratic homes.
Genevieve commenting, “I am delighted to be awarded the Dissertation Prize. You could say it was a labour of love. Straight away I loved the stable block and the house. I immediately wanted to find out more; get to know the story of the land, the people who lived there and emergence of the complex of buildings we can see today. It has been really rewarding.”
Seen by many as unoriginal architecturally, these types of villas generally receive less attention, their use and flexibility, however, is testament to their worth and how they are appreciated by those that live in and around them. Genevieve's work now adds to our current understanding of this type of urban development and Clifton Croft in particular.
We delighted that Genevieve is also finding time to volunteer with the Trust to further her knowledge of historic buildings.
To read Genevieve's dissertation please follow the link below.
Genevieve Rainey, now volunteering with the Trust.
Clifton Croft in the 1920s, the earliest known image of the building (CYA Images: y_11571).
Clifton Croft Gardener's Cottage, 2023.
