**Definition and Purpose of a Lumber Room:**
– A lumber room in British usage is a room in a house primarily for storing unused furniture.
– British stately homes stored excess furniture for future use rather than selling or discarding.
– The term ‘lumber room’ first appeared in the 1740 novel ‘Pamela.’
– Sakis’ short story ‘The Lumber Room’ vividly describes the allure of such rooms.
**Historical References to Lumber Rooms:**
– The first reference to a lumber room was in the 1740 novel ‘Pamela’ by Samuel Richardson.
– Charles Dickens mentioned a lumber room in his 1843 work ‘A Christmas Carol.’
– Arthur Conan Doyle referred to a lumber room in his 1891 story ‘The Five Orange Pips.’
– J.R.R. Tolkien made a passing mention of a lumber room in ‘The Fellowship of the Ring.’
– These literary references highlight the cultural significance of lumber rooms.
**Evolution of the Term ‘Lumbering’:**
– The Oxford English Dictionary mentions that ‘lumbering’ initially meant obstructing with wood pieces for making things.
– Over time, ‘lumbering’ shifted to a general obstruction, which later encompassed furniture.
– The evolution of the term reflects the transition from specific woodworking to a broader meaning.
– Lumbering’s semantic shift mirrors societal changes in furniture usage and storage practices.
– Further clarification may be needed to fully understand the term’s development.
**Cultural Significance of Lumber Rooms:**
– Lumber rooms were integral to British stately homes with excess furniture.
– Storing furniture in lumber rooms allowed for future use and preservation of family heirlooms.
– Literary works like ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘The Five Orange Pips’ depict the intrigue surrounding lumber rooms.
– Lumber rooms symbolize a bygone era of opulent living and excess possessions.
– The allure of lumber rooms lies in the mystery and hidden treasures they hold.
**Modern Interpretation and Usage of Lumber Rooms:**
– While less common today, lumber rooms still exist in some older homes or heritage properties.
– Modern storage solutions have reduced the need for dedicated lumber rooms in contemporary homes.
– Lumber rooms may now serve as historical artifacts or preserved spaces in museums.
– The concept of lumber rooms persists in literature and cultural references as a symbol of hidden treasures.
– The evolution of living spaces has shifted the function and relevance of lumber rooms in modern society.
In British usage, a lumber room is a room in a house used primarily for storing unused furniture. British stately homes often had more furniture than could be used at one time, and storing the furniture for future use was more common than selling or discarding it.[citation needed]
The first reference to the phrase "lumber room" in the Oxford English Dictionary is the 1740 novel Pamela. Subsequent references can be found in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle's 1891 Sherlock Holmes short story "The Five Orange Pips", and The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. A lumber room is described in detail in Saki's short story "The Lumber Room":
Often and often Nicholas had pictured to himself what the lumber-room might be like, that region that was so carefully sealed from youthful eyes and concerning which no questions were ever answered. It came up to his expectations. In the first place it was large and dimly lit, one high window opening on to the forbidden garden being its only source of illumination. In the second place it was a storehouse of unimagined treasures.
The OED mentions in the verb "lumbering" that it first meant to obstruct with pieces of wood to make things from, and then shifted to general obstruction, hence furniture fit the later meaning[clarification needed].
Definition from ChatGPT:
Lumber room:
A lumber room is a storage room, typically in a house or building, where unused or surplus furniture, household items, or lumber are kept. It is a space used for storing miscellaneous items that are not currently in use but may be needed in the future.