Early photograph of Ruskin House [Image s05904 from the collections in Sheffield Local Studies Library, used with kind permission]
Rear ExtensionA rear extension was added to the Museum property in May 1885. This allowed Ruskin to exhibit many more items, including J. W. Bunney's large canvas,
Western Façade of the Basilica of San Marco, Venice (1877-1882).
The extension stood on land behind the original cottage. Its form can be made out in the 'Exterior' photograph of the Museum, as well as in the engraving on the Homepage. It is not known whether the extension stood independently, or whether there was direct access to the building from the cottage interior.
The latter possibility might account for the redundant lintel and blocked up door visible on the exterior wall of the pantry (see modern photograph of the kitchen rear). This structure appears with a lean-to glass roof in the early photograph of Ruskin House
The practical difficulties involved in leading visitors through the kitchen to the extension suggest that access was obtained by some other means. The extended kitchen wall was probably the product of later building work (associated with the construction of Ruskin House), rather than of work on the rear extension.