U3a Jan-Feb Challenge. Modesty Helena Hewston 905 words, Dictionary and Thesaurus

The quality of being modest. Humble, diffident, lowly, plain, self effacing, simple, unassuming, unobtrusive, restraint.

Feels like reservation and or restraint in dialogue and situations. Tastes bland, unassuming, Smells of scentless roses. Looks include muted colours . None threatening

It was a modest house, as were all the terraced houses in the street. Could be anywhere in England where the Victorian building programmes provided dwellings for the masses. No 123 Burt Terrace. Lindley Yorks. Opening on to a paved section beneath the front sash window, bounded by a red, three foot high, brick wall with a metal gate which was latched. Once it had “boasted” of being two up, two down, but now, there were additions: a discrete kitchen and bathroom, where the bath had a lid. This extension faced east to catch the morning sun as the street was orientated on an east west axis. There was a garden. At one time there was space for growing some vegetables but now that had been paved over and evergreen shrubs grew in tubs and patio furniture with parasols. Six foot high fences on both sides had been modernised with paint of eau -de -nil. There was no washing line on show and the shed was a small affair with padlocked door.

The street had not been customised with foreign colour schemes or even plastic front doors and most of them now sported bin space for the green and back bin refuse. Every sixth house had an ally at the side to give access to the back entries Our house was one of these and did not subscribe to having bins at the front. They were repositioned each week for emptying or as necessary because the house had to keep up appearances.

Not to turn it into obscurity there was between the front door and sash window a Blue Plaque whose oval shape and white lettering announced its importance to British life. It was the only distinguishing notice along the row. Easy to miss in the street and the area. Only those in the know beat a path to the front door.

Behind the bricks and mortar was a hallway with staircase and two doors leading to moderate sized rooms on the right. Both rooms were almost identical even down to the tiling around the fireplaces with hearths that took a few logs, coal scuttle and fire tongs. The house was preserved in a moment in time. However it was well maintained. Only the interior decoration was unusual.

The present owners did not live there. They lived out of town in a detached residence surrounded by gardens on four sides with a drive way sweeping round a grassy circle with a fountain in its centre. They had more than one car, more than one garage, more than one set of chimneys on the roof and double wrought iron gates, closed and opened with intercom or key code. It was in its way a modest place when compared with other examples of the nouveau riche life style of the 1970’s but compared with No 123 Burt Terrace it was palatial.

(Now this is where my story wanders into fantasy HH)

The owners had inherited the little house in the town and were proud of it. From that little place had come the foundation of their wealth and success in business. Well educated and travelled the father and mother had capitalised on the research and endeavours of his father and his grandfather. They had studied and kept meticulous notes on the properties of parchment and had developed a very fine fabric that could be used to manufacture a variety of things, from fabrics to wrapping paper and this including ribbon that had memory. The ribbons were particularly interesting as they could be layered, coloured and printed with patterns and it could take invisible ink and ciphers in a sandwich state The Ministry of Defence including MI5 had taken an interest because, unlike paper, the parchment was virtually indestructible in water. The processes had been patented, and subject to the Official Secrets Act. The fabrics and other paper like products, including single thickness ribbon were allowed to continue.

Grandfather kept his day job connected to the Borough Council but also had a side line investment in one of the woollen mills to produce cloth. The days were busy and money was tight .Family life had to take over at times. The equipment was relegated to the attic and the records to bookcases in both rooms. His sons had followed working in mill and gaining the contacts to sell the fabric into a niche market. Wall paper was a particularly good seller with its luxurious prints and gold colour. For the sake of discretion and the suitability of the location they retained No 123 Burt Terrace. The whole house was used to exhibit samples and neighbours and friends just accepted this eccentricity. Eventually female members of the family pressured the men into building the house out of town. No 123 Burt Terrace was used as overspill for guests who they knew would not mind the bath with the lid on it.

After WWII the historical society in Lindley undertook research and the discovery of the special ribbons, fabrics and papers. They agitated for a Blue Plaque and were successful in having the modest little terrace house credited with being the birthplace of Wonder Ribbon.

In typical Yorkshire style the inheritors opened the place as a museum putting the records, artefacts and tools on display. The old kitchen became a cafe facility and the garden had its makeover for visitors.

One saying that comes to mind in relation to modest is “do not judge a book by its cover”.