Victorian furniture for Wilmslow homes, old and new

Often, yes. A wind-out table closed down with its leaves stored away can be quite compact, then opened when guests come. Measure the room, allow roughly a metre behind each chair for people to sit and stand, and ask Sara for the table's length both closed and at full extension.

A handle fits into the end of the table and turns a screw that pulls the two halves apart along runners. Loose leaves then sit in the gap, located by pegs. Ask Sara whether the winder handle is still with the table, as handles often go missing, and how smoothly the runners move.

Not if it is given space. A single dark mahogany piece against a plain wall in a later room can look deliberate rather than old-fashioned. Problems come from crowding, so in a smaller house choose one or two Victorian pieces rather than filling a whole room with them.

Some late Victorian chairs have a decorative ceramic tile set into the back or top rail, often with a printed or moulded pattern. The tile is the part to check most closely. Look for cracks, chips and a loose fixing, and ask Sara whether it is the original tile or a later replacement.

A set that has stayed together, such as a table with eight matching chairs, is harder to find than a table on its own and is worth seeing as a whole. Check every chair rather than just one, because joints, seats and legs can vary in condition across a set.

Sit on each chair and lean back gently. A sound chair feels firm, with no creak or give where the back meets the seat. Look under the seat for added brackets or screws, which point to past repairs, and ask Sara what work, if any, has been done on each one.

Oak is tough, but it dislikes hot, dry air blowing straight onto it. Leave a hand's width between the piece and any radiator, and avoid a spot directly above a warm pipe. A hall with steady, moderate heat is kinder to old wood than one that swings between cold and hot.

A Coffer-bach is a small coffer, a little chest with a lifting lid, often with a drawer or two beneath. Its size suits papers, linen and smaller belongings rather than bedding. People set one beside a sofa, at the end of a bed or in a hall for post and keys.

Dust with a soft, dry cloth and wipe up spills straight away. Avoid spray polishes and wet cloths, which can cloud a French polished finish over time. Use mats under hot dishes and glasses, because heat and moisture leave pale marks that are hard to remove from old finishes.

Oak is hard, so a pet seldom does lasting harm, but claws can scratch softer surfaces, and a lid makes an irresistible perch. Keep drawers and doors latched against curious noses, and lay a cloth or throw on top of anywhere a cat likes to sleep.