This Old House Season 24 Episode 7 The Winchester House - 7

The episode "The Winchester House - 7" from season 24 of the popular home renovation series, This Old House, takes viewers on a tour of a unique and historic residence in San Jose, California. Dubbed the "Winchester Mystery House", this sprawling mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearms magnate William Wirt Winchester.

The Winchester Mystery House is renowned for its striking architecture and unusual design features, and has long been a popular attraction for tourists and architecture enthusiasts alike. The house was designed and constructed over the course of nearly four decades, from 1884 until Sarah's death in 1922. During that time, the mansion underwent countless additions, renovations, and modifications, resulting in a labyrinthine structure with over 160 rooms, numerous staircases, dead ends, and secret passageways.

In this episode, the This Old House team explores the interior of the mansion, marveling at its unique design elements and puzzling over its many quirks. Along the way, they discover the stories behind some of the house's most intriguing features, from trap doors and hidden staircases to a room built entirely out of cork.

The team also speaks with staff members at the Winchester Mystery House, who explain the historical context behind the mansion's construction and the role it played in Sarah Winchester's life. Viewers learn that Sarah's husband, William Wirt Winchester, died in 1881, leaving her with a massive fortune and a profound sense of grief. According to legend, Sarah believed that she was cursed by the spirits of those killed by Winchester firearms and that building the mansion was a way to appease them.

As the This Old House team walks through the Winchester Mystery House, viewers are treated to a glimpse of the mansion's many architectural styles, from Victorian Gothic to Queen Anne, and everything in between. The team marvels at the intricacy of the woodwork, the beauty of the stained glass windows, and the sheer scale of some of the rooms. They also note some of the more unusual elements of the house's design, such as the door leading to nowhere, the staircase with only ten steps per flight, and the many fireplaces that were never used.

Throughout the episode, the team offers insights and commentary on the house's design, discussing how certain features were likely implemented for functional purposes, while others may have been included purely for aesthetic value. They also speculate on the difficulties involved in maintaining a mansion of this size and complexity, noting that many of the materials and building techniques used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are no longer in use today.

As the episode draws to a close, the This Old House team reflects on their visit to the Winchester Mystery House, marveling at the beauty and strangeness of this unique mansion. They note that the house is not without its challenges, but that its history and design make it an important historical landmark that will continue to intrigue and inspire visitors for years to come.