Architecture: palaces Books

Book SynopsisFully revised and updated edition of the classic, stunningly illustrated guide to the cream of Britain’s historic country houses cared for by the National Trust, encompassing both interior and exterior design. This captivating book, fully revised and updated and featuring more NT houses than ever before, is a guide to some of the greatest architectural treasures of Britain, encompassing both interior and exterior design. This new edition is fully revised and updated and includes entries for new properties including: Acorn Bank, Claife Viewing Station, Cushendun, Cwmdu, Fen Cottage, The Firs (birthplace of Edward Elgar), Hawker's Hut, Lizard Wireless Station, Totternhoe Knolls and Trelissick. The houses covered include spectacular mansions such as Petworth House and Waddesdon Manor, and more lowly dwellings such as the Birmingham Back to Backs and estate villages like Blaise Hamlet, near Bristol. In addition to houses, the book also covers fascinating buildings as diverse as churches, windmills, dovecotes, castles, follies, barns and even pubs. The book also acts as an overview of the country's architectural history, with every period covered, from the medieval stronghold of Bodiam Castle to the clean-lined Modernism of The Homewood. Teeming with stories of the people who lived and worked in these buildings: wealthy collectors (Charles Wade at Snowshill), captains of industry (William Armstrong at Cragside), prime ministers (Winston Churchill at Chartwell) and pop stars (John Lennon at Mendips). Written in evocative, imaginative prose and illustrated with glorious images from the National Trust's photographic library, this book is an essential guide to the built heritage of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"What the Emperor Built will make even those familiar with the city’s ancient buildings feel that while they may have looked, they perhaps did not entirely see." * South China Morning Post *"[A] detailed study of the architecture created during the early Ming dynasty reign of Yung Lo" * Choice *"[O]ne of her book’s greatest strengths lies in the clarity of both the argument and the handsomely reproduced illustrations presented in its pages...the story of magnificent buildings and the millions involved in their construction is sure to inspire lively discussions about the profound impact of Yongle’s architectural vision on global architectural history and global history as a whole." * Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians *"The book is remarkable for its successful integration of architectural with political and economic history, disciplines that are usually practiced separately... This is architectural history at its best, and sets a standard for future work in the field." * Journal of the American Oriental Society *"State architecture is a transformative art of power and persuasion. In What the Emperor Built Aurelia Campbell employs this lens of Ming imperial architecture to capture how Yongle (r.1402–1424) mobilized a standardized architectural vision to project legitimacy and counter his problematic rise to power through nepoticide and civil war." * Chinese Historical Review *

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Book SynopsisWhen she discovered that nearly half of France’s 44,000 heritage sites were chateaux in various states of repair, Catherine Scotto embarked on a journey to find out who, exactly, lived in these medieval fortresses and, more importantly, what they were like on the inside. From Normandy to Provence and everywhere in between the owners of these chateaux–including decorators, antique dealers, artists, and collectors—represent the epitome of French culture and taste. Each chateau is presented in double-page full-color spreads that feature alluring interiors and information about the hosts and their design journeys. There’s something for everyone here—whether it’s homes where simplicity and minimalism reign, rooms as exuberantly busy as a 14th-century tapestry, or interiors transformed by surprising, era-bending feats. Morel’s breathtaking, naturally lit photographs of generous kitchens, cozy drawing rooms, spacious bedrooms, ingeniously imagined bathrooms, and intriguing hallways and stairwells offer endless inspiration, while Scotto’s engaging text gives readers a feel for the kinds of people who take on such a daunting yet satisfying challenge.

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Book SynopsisToday Kensington Palace is synonymous with young royals; it is the official home of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family, and of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It is also famous for being the residence of Diana, Princess of Wales, during the last years of her life, and visitors still flock to the palace to learn about her story. But the history of Kensington stretches back much further. It boasts more than three centuries of continuous royal occupation, making it unique among the Historic Royal Palaces. Formerly a private house enlarged by Christopher Wren in the late 17th century to suit the needs of William and Mary, Kensington Palace was the favoured home of five sovereigns until the death of George II in 1760. Even after its conversion into a royal residence, the palace remained a rather unprepossessing building, fashioned out of reddish-grey brick. However, this belied its architectural significance, for it was shaped and decorated by some of the country's leading architects, artists, craftsmen and designers, and is now a major national monument. The palace's social and political significance is arguably even greater. Kensington has played host to some of the most important personalities and events in the long history of the royal family. It was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, and it was here that she held her first council meeting as monarch in 1837. During the previous century, Kensington had been divided into apartments for the younger generation of royals - an arrangement that continues today. From the late 19th century onwards, it became a visitor attraction, a museum and home to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. Today the palace attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year. In this new illustrated account, Tracy Borman tells the fascinating story of Kensington from private residence to modern-day royal palace, describing not only the development of the building and its magnificent gardens, but also the dramas and intrigues of court life. Its history is set against a backdrop of events that shaped both Britain and its monarchy: from the Jacobite uprisings of the mid-18th century to the rise of industrialisation in the 19th, and the turbulence of world war in the 20th. Here, in the domestic surrounds of the palace, the monarchy evolved and modernised in tandem with the times. The story of Kensington Palace is, in short, the story of the modern monarchy. AUTHOR: Tracy Borman is joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces. She has worked for various national heritage organisations, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Archives and English Heritage. An acclaimed writer and historian 200 illustrations, 1 plan

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated exploration of the impact of Chinese and Japanese material culture on the historic houses and gardens of Britain and Ireland. The art and ornament of China and Japan have had a deep impact in the British Isles. From the seventeenth century onwards, the design and decoration of interiors and gardens in Britain and Ireland was profoundly influenced by the importation of Chinese and Japanese luxury goods, while domestic designers and artisans created their own fanciful interpretations of ‘oriental’ art. Those hybrid styles and tastes have traditionally been known as chinoiserie and japonisme, but they can also be seen as elements of the wider and still very relevant phenomenon of orientalism, or the way the West sees the East. Illustrated with a wealth of new photography and published in association with the National Trust, Borrowed Landscapes is an engaging survey of orientalism in the Trust's historic houses and gardens across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Drawing on new research, Emile de Bruijn demonstrates how elements of Chinese and Japanese culture were simultaneously desired and misunderstood, dismembered and treasured, idealised and caricatured.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. A Pattern Emerges 1600–1690 2. Emblems of Aspiration 1690–1735 3. Peak Chinoiserie 1735–1760 4. Fictions Have Their Own Logic 1760–1780 5. Competing Perspectives 1780–1870 6. The Age of Japonisme 1870–1900 7. New and Old Orientalisms The 20th Century Picture credits Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisPolitics and the English Country House explores the relationship between the country house and the changing British political landscape of the eighteenth century. Essays explore how the country house was a stage for politicking, a vehicle for political advancement, and a symbol of party allegiance and political values.Trade Review“A fascinating, important, and well-crafted volume that explores architecture and collections, and their intersections with ideas, society, and varying levels of politics in new ways.” Stephen Hague, author of The Gentleman’s House in the British Atlantic World, 1680–1780 "Contributors use archival material to examine how objects were intended to be received, which tells us a great deal about how the owners wished to present themselves politically, economically, socially, and aesthetically. Such methodology contributes to the growing trend in scholarship to blend analysis of the built environment and material and visual culture displayed within it to decipher their shared intended meaning. Heritage professionals, curators, dramatists, and novelists should read this book. The discussions will enhance the conjuring of space to the modern reader, viewer, and visitor." H-Environment

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Book SynopsisTraces the history of the Yıldız Palace in Istanbul, the last and largest imperial residential complex of the Ottoman Empire.Trade Review“The Accidental Palace offers an erudite analysis of the nexus of artistic activity represented by Yıldız Palace. It is one of the first English-language works of art or architectural history of the late Ottoman world that does not frame its importance through the prism of orientalism. Deniz Türker engages in a stealthy refutation of Eurocentric frameworks for late Ottoman visual synthesis by doing the archival work that allows the myriad actors involved—patrons, gardeners, builders, diplomats, and more—to materialize their own artistic autonomy, resulting in a truly fresh look at artistic agency.”—Peter H. Christensen,author of Precious Metal: German Steel, Modernity, and Ecology“Through the prism of architecture and landscape, The Accidental Palace offers a rich ethnography of power and culture in the age of Ottoman reform, as well as a unique window on the expansion of globalized consumerism.”—Mercedes Volait,author of Antique Dealing and Creative Reuse in Cairo and Damascus, 1850–1890: Intercultural Engagements with Architecture and Craft in the Age of Travel and Reform

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating story of the evolution of the country house in Britain, from its Roman precursors to the presentTrade Review“Some of those details are jawdropping. . . . What Aslet does best is provide a crisp, chronological survey of how the country house evolved architecturally from early Tudor times through to Lutyens in the early 20th century and to Quinlan Terry and the like today.”—Richard Morrison, Times (UK)“An eclectic scholarly account, tracing the evolution of the country house from the hunting lodges of the Middle Ages to the modern villas of today. . . . Mr. Aslet is an elegant writer with a wry sense of humor.”—Moira Hodgson, Wall Street Journal“Aslet, a former editor of the quietly influential magazine Country Life, provides a knowledgeable and briskly witty backdrop stretching back to the Romans and their well-built villas.”—Miranda Seymour, Financial Times“A wonderful survey of the architectural splendours of the British country house. Beginning with medieval manor houses, Aslet unfolds a history which moves through the centuries. . . . The tradition he celebrates so richly in this book still thrives.”—Nick Rennison, Daily Mail“The Story of the Country House is in many respects what we have been waiting for. . . . His book doesn’t just tell us who built what, and for whom, and in what style, but about the prevailing economic circumstances and fashions of each period.”—Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph“The 223 pages can be read in one gripping sitting and create a desire to rush off and visit the many houses mentioned. . . . Mr Aslet’s nimble book is the perfect companion guide.”—Jeremy Musson, Country Life“Written in a wonderfully accessible style. . . . Examples abound, lively and amusing, but always subservient to the narrative. It’s a perfect primer for anyone new to the subject, but even aficionados will enjoy it for pleasure of reading a magisterial overview of Britain’s quintessential cultural form.”—Historic House Magazine“Leaving no stone unturned, this fascinating book allows readers to acquaint themselves with the architects of these houses, and their many interesting occupants.”—This England“The Story of the Country House, while based on impressive knowledge and experience, is neither a formal academic study nor a practical gazetteer. Its virtue is to encourage the reader to stop fretting about theoretical difficulties and enjoy a good story well told in amicable company.”—Stephen Bayley, Spectator“From a medieval manor house to a modern-day folly, Clive Aslet whisks us through time and place on a fascinating tour of British country houses.”—Beth Williamson, Studio International “[Aslet’s] account is enlivened not only by his descriptions of the genesis and purpose of the historical buildings he features here, but also by the stories of the owners and the architects and by an impressive evocation of the wider context and social history of the periods he covers. Add to this 60 illustrations, half of them in colour, and the result is a lively, informative and enjoyable book.”—Shiny New Books“Architecturally, every type of vast country abode is covered. . . . Along the way there are illustrations and plenty of biography, as the lives, talents and eccentricities of some of the architects and inhabitants of these edifices are revealed alongside the descriptions of the buildings themselves.”—Nic Bottomley, Bath Life“Elaborating on the idea that the country house is its own ‘little kingdom,’ architectural historian Clive Aslet explores some of the finest examples in Britain. . . . Organised by period, this is a book less about the architecture and more about the people and the context that shaped—and continues to shape—these estates.”—House & Garden, “Gifts for Bookworms”“An engaging, knowledgeable overview of this ever-developing subject, from eccentric owners to ha-has.”—Richard Hopton, Country & Town House, “Christmas Books”“Clive Aslet’s expertise is deployed masterfully in this beautifully produced new work. Modern, witty and slick, it is an excellent introduction to one of Britain’s most famous entities from the Roman period to today, successfully disentangling the ‘ghostly, indecipherable smudge’ of these houses, and their complex histories, in erudite prose packed with spice.”—Rory Fraser, The Victorian“The Story of the Country House is a witty, well-researched and absorbing retelling of the story of the British country house. Clive Aslet brings to life a fascinating cast of characters—the builders, their families, their servants and their architects, all living to nurture the beau idéal of the country house—and charts their changing fortunes and hidden histories.”—Julian Fellowes“Clive Aslet is the Capo dei Capi of British country houses—few people alive today understand them better, or better know where the bodies are buried. His decades as an architectural historian and editor, his authoritative eye and matchless prose, combine to make him the ideal person to explore this important topic.”—Nicholas Coleridge“Aslet has spent a lifetime exploring and investigating the architectural and social history of the country house and in this concise, but magisterial sweep he provides an elegant and perceptive introduction to the subject from the medieval to the present day. It is a must for the library of every country house enthusiast or anyone indeed anyone trying to understand this rich and dynamic subject in which so many threads of British culture and history meet. Aslet peppers his discerning fluent, scholarly overview with well chosen details and contemporary quotations which evoke country house culture in each period.”—Jeremy Musson“What an excellent book, an eloquent introduction to an everlasting British institution.”—Simon Jenkins

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating story of the evolution of the country house in Britain, from its Roman precursors to the presentTrade Review“Some of those details are jawdropping. . . . What Aslet does best is provide a crisp, chronological survey of how the country house evolved architecturally from early Tudor times through to Lutyens in the early 20th century and to Quinlan Terry and the like today.”—Richard Morrison, Times (UK)“An eclectic scholarly account, tracing the evolution of the country house from the hunting lodges of the Middle Ages to the modern villas of today. . . . Mr. Aslet is an elegant writer with a wry sense of humor.”—Moira Hodgson, Wall Street Journal“Aslet, a former editor of the quietly influential magazine Country Life, provides a knowledgeable and briskly witty backdrop stretching back to the Romans and their well-built villas.”—Miranda Seymour, Financial Times“A wonderful survey of the architectural splendours of the British country house. Beginning with medieval manor houses, Aslet unfolds a history which moves through the centuries. . . . The tradition he celebrates so richly in this book still thrives.”—Nick Rennison, Daily Mail“The Story of the Country House is in many respects what we have been waiting for. . . . His book doesn’t just tell us who built what, and for whom, and in what style, but about the prevailing economic circumstances and fashions of each period.”—Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph“The 223 pages can be read in one gripping sitting and create a desire to rush off and visit the many houses mentioned. . . . Mr Aslet’s nimble book is the perfect companion guide.”—Jeremy Musson, Country Life“Written in a wonderfully accessible style. . . . Examples abound, lively and amusing, but always subservient to the narrative. It’s a perfect primer for anyone new to the subject, but even aficionados will enjoy it for pleasure of reading a magisterial overview of Britain’s quintessential cultural form.”—Historic House Magazine“Leaving no stone unturned, this fascinating book allows readers to acquaint themselves with the architects of these houses, and their many interesting occupants.”—This England“The Story of the Country House, while based on impressive knowledge and experience, is neither a formal academic study nor a practical gazetteer. Its virtue is to encourage the reader to stop fretting about theoretical difficulties and enjoy a good story well told in amicable company.”—Stephen Bayley, Spectator“From a medieval manor house to a modern-day folly, Clive Aslet whisks us through time and place on a fascinating tour of British country houses.”—Beth Williamson, Studio International “[Aslet’s] account is enlivened not only by his descriptions of the genesis and purpose of the historical buildings he features here, but also by the stories of the owners and the architects and by an impressive evocation of the wider context and social history of the periods he covers. Add to this 60 illustrations, half of them in colour, and the result is a lively, informative and enjoyable book.”—Shiny New Books“Architecturally, every type of vast country abode is covered. . . . Along the way there are illustrations and plenty of biography, as the lives, talents and eccentricities of some of the architects and inhabitants of these edifices are revealed alongside the descriptions of the buildings themselves.”—Nic Bottomley, Bath Life“Elaborating on the idea that the country house is its own ‘little kingdom,’ architectural historian Clive Aslet explores some of the finest examples in Britain. . . . Organised by period, this is a book less about the architecture and more about the people and the context that shaped—and continues to shape—these estates.”—House & Garden, “Gifts for Bookworms”“An engaging, knowledgeable overview of this ever-developing subject, from eccentric owners to ha-has.”—Richard Hopton, Country & Town House, “Christmas Books”“Clive Aslet’s expertise is deployed masterfully in this beautifully produced new work. Modern, witty and slick, it is an excellent introduction to one of Britain’s most famous entities from the Roman period to today, successfully disentangling the ‘ghostly, indecipherable smudge’ of these houses, and their complex histories, in erudite prose packed with spice.”—Rory Fraser, The Victorian“The Story of the Country House is a witty, well-researched and absorbing retelling of the story of the British country house. Clive Aslet brings to life a fascinating cast of characters—the builders, their families, their servants and their architects, all living to nurture the beau idéal of the country house—and charts their changing fortunes and hidden histories.”—Julian Fellowes“Clive Aslet is the Capo dei Capi of British country houses—few people alive today understand them better, or better know where the bodies are buried. His decades as an architectural historian and editor, his authoritative eye and matchless prose, combine to make him the ideal person to explore this important topic.”—Nicholas Coleridge“Aslet has spent a lifetime exploring and investigating the architectural and social history of the country house and in this concise, but magisterial sweep he provides an elegant and perceptive introduction to the subject from the medieval to the present day. It is a must for the library of every country house enthusiast or anyone indeed anyone trying to understand this rich and dynamic subject in which so many threads of British culture and history meet. Aslet peppers his discerning fluent, scholarly overview with well chosen details and contemporary quotations which evoke country house culture in each period.”—Jeremy Musson“What an excellent book, an eloquent introduction to an everlasting British institution.”—Simon Jenkins

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Book SynopsisA delightful journey through the glamorous story of the English country house party by the bestselling historian.Croquet. Parlour games. Cocktails. Welcome to a glorious journey through the golden age of the country house party and you are invited. Our host, celebrated historian Adrian Tinniswood, traces the evolution of this quintessentially British pastime from debauched royal tours to the flamboyant excess of the Bright Young Things. With cameos by the Jazz Age industrialist, the bibulous earl and the off-duty politician whether in moated manor houses or ornate Palladian villas Tinniswood gives a vivid insight into weekending etiquette and reveals the hidden lives of celebrity guests, from Nancy Astor to Winston Churchill, in all their drinking, feasting, gambling and fornicating. The result is a deliciously entertaining, star-studded, yet surprising

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Book SynopsisUncovering the secrets behind England’s best-known country houses and their unusual inhabitants

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Book SynopsisA highly illustrated, fascinating description of the lost country houses of North and East Yorkshire

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Book Synopsis'Julie Summers has an amazing instinct for unearthing good stories and telling quotes.' Craig Brown, The Mail On Sunday 'This is an enjoyable book, peppered with examples of under-reported wartime heroism.' Robert Leigh-Pemberton, The Daily Telegraph 'It’s hard to believe that there are still untold stories about Britain and World War II, but Julie Summers has unearthed a fascinating one that she tells with great verve and style. All in all, Uninvited Guests is a sheer delight.' Lynne Olson, author of Citizens of London and Last Hope IslandA remarkable narrative set against the dark days of World War Two, from one of the country’s foremost social historians.Our Uninvited Guests perfectly captures the spirit of upheaval at the beginning of the Second World War when thousandsTrade Review‘A celebration of the ability of the British to pull together, improvise and transform our most beautiful ancestral homes’ * The Times *‘An intimate picture …engagingly written and covering a good selection of country houses…wonderfully evocative…a warm-hearted and fascinating treatment of a very good story.’ * Country Life *‘Thanks to extremely detailed research Ms Summers has unearthed fascinating stories about how life in country houses changed radically during the war years.’ * Oxford Times *‘Homes of every shape and size played their part… Summers examines in detail the rich cast of characters that occupied these houses.’ * Daily Mail *‘A great panorama of extraordinary tales...Julie Summers has an amazing instinct for unearthing good stories and telling quotes.’ * Mail on Sunday *'This is an enjoyable book, peppered with examples of under-reported wartime heroism.' * The Daily Telegraph *'It’s hard to believe that there are still untold stories about Britain and World War II, but Julie Summers has unearthed a fascinating one that she tells with great verve and style. All in all, Uninvited Guests is a sheer delight.' -- Lynne Olson, author of Citizens of London and Last Hope Island‘By focusing on the human side of the story, Julie has created a book [that] readers who have no previous knowledge of the war and country homes will be able to pick up and enjoy.’ * Aberdeen Press & Journal *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the International Society of Place, Landscape, and Culture Fred B. Kniffen AwardA reexamination of working-class architecture in late nineteenth-century urban AmericaAs the multifamily building type that often symbolized urban squalor, tenements are familiar but poorly understood, frequently recognized only in terms of the housing reform movement embraced by the American-born elite in the late nineteenth century. This book reexamines urban America’s tenement buildings of this period, centering on the immigrant neighborhoods of New York and Boston. Zachary J. Violette focuses on what he calls the “decorated tenement,” a wave of new buildings constructed by immigrant builders and architects who remade the slum landscapes of the Lower East Side of Manhattan and the North and West Ends of Boston in the late nineteenth century. These buildings’ highly ornamental facades became the target of predominantly upper-class and Anglo-Saxon housing reformers, who viewed the facades as garish wrappings that often hid what they assumed were exploitative and brutal living conditions. Drawing on research and fieldwork of more than three thousand extant tenement buildings, Violette uses ornament as an entry point to reconsider the role of tenement architects and builders (many of whom had deep roots in immigrant communities) in improving housing for the working poor.Utilizing specially commissioned contem-porary photography, and many never-before-published historical images, The Decorated Tenement complicates monolithic notions of architectural taste and housing standards while broadening our understanding of the diversity of cultural and economic positions of those responsible for shaping American architecture and urban landscapes. Winner of the International Society of Place, Landscape, and Culture Fred B. Kniffen AwardTrade Review "Shifting the focus away from the era’s frequently studied housing reformers, Zachary J. Violette instead explores distinctive ‘decorated tenements’ in New York and Boston. The result is a rich array of unique historical insights into market-driven design, urban building and financing practices, and the consumer desires and aesthetic preferences of immigrant renters grasping for modernity in America."—Donna Gabaccia, University of Toronto "Americans have long regarded the tenement as an unmitigated scourge while celebrating efforts by housing reformers to contain it. In this astonishing study of the architecture of tenements in New York and Boston (and of the architects and developers who built them), Zachary J. Violette topples the familiar narrative, revealing how the tenement represented not just immiseration but betterment: an effort by immigrants, for immigrants to rebuild neighborhoods like the Lower East Side and West End on their own terms. Along the way, Violette brilliantly highlights the role that xenophobia played in housing reform and the degree to which well-meaning experts dismissed the agency of those they sought to help."—Matthew Gordon Lasner, author of High Life: Condo Living in the Suburban Century "With a penetrating analysis into the way average apartment buildings were constructed, especially by little-known ethnic builders, Zachary J. Violette introduces us to the underdocumented process of building design usually associated with the construction of upper-class apartments. Violette’s well-researched book gives us fresh, surprising insights into the tenement and challenges our understanding of this monolithic building type."—Thomas C. Hubka, author of Houses without Names: Architecture Nomenclature and the Classification of America’s Common Houses "The utility of this sturdy volume is facilitated by the inclusion of extensive plans and photos (in both color and black and white), and end notes with extensive documentation and discussion."—CHOICE "Drawing on research and fieldwork of more than three thousand extant tenement buildings, Violette uses ornament as an entry point to reconsider the role of tenement architects and builders (many of whom had deep roots in immigrant communities) in improving housing for the working poor."—New York History "The Decorated Tenement deserves a wide readership and engagement by academic colleagues and by a broader public."—Gotham: A Blog for New York City History "The Decorated Tenement breaks new scholarly ground while remaining an accessible and enjoyable read for anyone interested in New York or Boston history, immigration history, urbanism, and architecture."—Winterthur Portfolio "The book contains a wealth of information and important insights into this iconic piece of the urban landscape."—Labour/Le Travail

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Long Weekend: a wild, sad and sometimes hilarious tour of the English country house after the Second World War, when Swinging London collided with aristocratic values.'Preposterously entertaining' Observer'Brilliant' Daily Telegraph'Rollicking' Sunday TimesAs the sun set slowly on the British Empire in the years after the Second World War, the nation's stately homes were in crisis. Tottering under the weight of rising taxes and a growing sense that they had no place in twentieth-century Britain, hundreds of ancestral piles were dismantled and demolished.Yet - perhaps surprisingly - many of these great houses survived, as dukes and duchesses clung desperately to their ancestral seats and tenants' balls gave way to rock concerts, safari parks and day trippers. From the Rolling Stones rocking Longleat to Christine Keeler rocking Cliveden, Noble Ambitions takes us on a lively tour of these crumbling halls of power.* A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year ** Longlisted for the William MB Berger Prize for British Art History *Trade Review[A] preposterously entertaining history of the postwar country house... reading it is rather like leafing through an old leather-bound Smythson address book whose well-connected owner has helpfully added waspish notes, gossip and the odd family tree. In other words, it's heaven. -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *Adrian Tinniswood's rollicking study perfectly captures the combination of decadence, pathos and brazen cheek that kept the English country house alive when it faced disaster. -- John Walsh * Sunday Times *[A] brilliant new history of the country house since 1945... Tinniswood tells...[the] story superbly, his racy anecdotes mined not just from the usual memoirs, but from a studious trawl of endless local papers. -- Marcus Binney * Daily Telegraph *Beautifully orchestrated... a compulsive read, deliciously voyeuristic and yet a triumph of meticulous social and cultural scholarship. * Country Life *A vastly entertaining account of the crisis that befell England's stately homes in the decades immediately after the war. -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph, *Books of the Year* *

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Book SynopsisThe unvarnished history of America’s most notorious palace and its American queenMoments before the Roaring Twenties sunk into the Great Depression, socialite heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and financier E.F. Hutton constructed an estate to outdo all estates. To the tune of $4 million (about $68 million today) and four years of labor they called forth a 118-room mansion in a conflated Spanish, Portuguese, and Venetian design over a coral reef in hurricane-prone Palm Beach County. They named it Mar-a-Lago—a winter haven where corporate titans, the glitterati, and nobility gathered. But the honeymoon didn’t last long. In American Castle, Pulitzer Prize finalist Mary C. Shanklin reveals a century of controversy, politics, and lifestyles of the super-rich and powerful after Mar-a-Lago became a part-time residence and party place upon Post’s divorce from Hutton over mutual adultery. It’s a story of an American royal who, at the age of 27, inherited a cereal company that would later become the General Foods Corporation and spent a lifetime in business, art collection, philanthropy, and the management of multiple estates—including her white elephant, Mar-a-Lago. Though she tried time again, as Shanklin covers in riveting detail, Post could not offload the behemoth due to its extraordinary maintenance costs and the uppity Palm Beach neighbors.Drawing from previously untapped interviews, documents, and recordings, Shanklin follows Mar-a-Lago’s evolution as it collides with the Kennedys, the state of Florida, a potential make-over as The Mar-a-Lago Center for Advanced Scholars, Lady Bird Johnson, Richard Nixon, the National Park Service, and—of course—Donald Trump, who pursued subdivision, threatened to sell to Reverend Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church, hosted Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, made it a for-profit club, received scandalous dinner guests, turned it into his Winter White House, and watched the FBI raid before holding a home-court presser as the first former president to face criminal charges.How did the Palm Beach hamlet so lacquered in grace and elegance come to find itself rooted in American Castle: One Hundred Years of Mar-a-Lago.Trade Review"Reading American Castle is like having a tabloid newspaper in front of you and a history book on the side. Or the other way around. Or both; straddling many important historical events, there's enough inside here to satisfy the two genres equally. If you love the history of privilege, politics, or current events, American Castle is a book you won't stop talking about."—Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Goshen News"...a fast-paced narrative that takes a detailed look into the 118-room, 17-acre estate's history...What lies ahead for Mar-a-Lago isn't known." —Susan Salisbury, Palm Beach Daily News“An enthralling narrative of extreme American opulence and unforgettable characters set within Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Mar-a-Lago. American Castle is the brilliantly detailed, must-read prologue to the estate’s current chapter of excess and scandal.”—Gilbert King, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America“A history of a grand mansion and its numerous occupants . . . A well-told story that’s full of surprises, its storied subject generating headlines for a century."—Kirkus Reviews“An entirely new perspective of the now world-famous Mar-a-Lago. The public tends to look at Mar-a-Lago as the residence of Donald Trump, without realizing that it once belonged to them as part of the National Park Service—and before that to one of the wealthiest and most compelling socialites in American history, Marjorie Merriweather Post. Bookended by the FBI search and Trump’s arrest, American Castle is an opulent, lively history of Post’s grand estate." —Tim Franklin, Senior Associate Dean of Northwestern University Medill School, former President of the Poynter Institute "Journalist Shanklin debuts with an immersive behind-the-scenes portrait of Mar-a-Lago, the former Palm Beach mansion turned private club. “An ode to Roaring Twenties excess,” the 17-acre “winter trophy estate” built by heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post (1887–1973) cost $3 million and took three years, from 1924 to 1927, to complete. When Post took the reins of the General Foods empire in 1936, becoming one of the first women to “command a global corporation,” she shuttered the mansion. Five years later, she turned it into a tourist attraction to “raise much-needed war funds.” After the war, Post relocated to Hillwood, her Washington, D.C., mansion, and none of her children took an interest in Mar-a-Lago. The National Park Service acquired it in 1973, but, daunted by the costs of upkeep, returned it to the Post Foundation after only a year. Current owner Donald Trump acquired the estate in 1986 for $10 million, turned it into a private club in 1994, and used it as the winter White House during his presidency; Shanklin concludes with the 2022 FBI raid to retrieve classified documents from the club. Chronicling 100 years of contentious real estate schemes and failed plots to put “this massive souvenir of the 1920s” to good use, Shanklin demonstrates that Mar-a-Lago has had an unusually variegated history, even compared to similar Gilded Age castles. Readers will be entertained." —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisEdward Jenner is perhaps the world’s most famous doctor. He developed a vaccination for smallpox beginning in 1796, long before the world knew about bacteria and viruses. He has been described as `the man who saved more lives than anyone else’. He bought The Chantry at Berkeley in 1785 and modified it to make a home fit for his beloved wife, Catherine. This book is the result of a three-year investigation that set out to discover the house that Jenner prepared for Catherine. It traces the origin of the house, which was built in 1707, and the many changes throughout the next 300 years. It turns out that the site has a history going back to Anglo-Saxon times. Edward Jenner lived there for only thirty-six years, but the house has been much changed since. The investigation set out to define the house that Edward Jenner lived in, separating it from the original and many changes afterwards. The book includes a great deal of information and stories about the people involved, including Edward Jenner and his family and estate. It also includes the inventory of Jenner’s goods in 1823 and profiles of the internal plasterwork, which may be of interest to restorers and historians.Table of ContentsPreface; List of Illustrations and Abbreviations; Introduction; 1 1000–1695, Anglo-Saxon Britain, The Norman Conquest, The Chantries and The Chantry Priests, Henry VIII, The Moyle Survey, The Aftermath; 2 1695–1785, Charles Weston, The Building of the Mansion, Jane Weston (1763–1840), Evidence for the Older Building; 3 1785–1823, Edward Jenner’s Development, The First Phase 1785–1794, The Second Phase 1788–1799; 4 1823–1854, Robert Jenner’s Changes, The Trust; 5 1854–1981: The Chantry as Vicarage, Changes of Ownership, Structural Changes in the 1870s, The Curate’s Apartment, The Premises to the North (Figure 14), The Extension of the Greenhouse, The Pent-Roofed Shed and Heating Changes, The Carriage House, The Bedroom above the Drawing Room, the East Wing, and the Dining Room, New Windows in the West Façade to Enhance the Light in the Dining Room, External Rendering, The Dilapidations Survey and Purchases by the Diocese, 1886, 6 1981 Onwards, Site Changes, Refurbishment and Conversion to Museum, 1983.

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Book SynopsisA gazetteer of the many fine Shropshire country houses, which covers the architecture, the owners' family history, and the social and economic circumstances that affected them. Shropshire is the largest English inland county, and has a wide variety of important landed country houses, with owners from diverse social groups, with links to trade in Liverpool, Manchester and London as well as the local gentry. This book is not simply about the houses they built, but also about the people who lived in them and the context in which the houses are set. The architecture is of course fully covered. What is distinctive about the author's approach is that he treats the histories of the families, their artistic tastes and their estates, as an integral part of the character of each house. Country houses can serve as a barometer of national tastes and of the social and economic times in which they were built. The work includes reference to the important sporting associations, fine and decorative art collections, and to important guests and social networks. Unlike most architectural guides, this aims at a wider readership, and will be an important resource for social historians, genealogists and local historians. The Country Houses of Shropshire considers the history of 347 identified houses of varying importance; those with a significant or influential history are given a main entry of up to 6000 words whilst lesser houses are treated with an entry of less than 1000 words. All houses have footnoted entries, enabling the reader to refer directly to source and to undertake further research themselves.Trade ReviewA masterpiece, a magnum opus, a heavyweight book with the calibre of an artillery shell... -- Toby Neal * Shropshire Star *Mr Williams offers an informed and authoritative outline of the history of each building and its owners to the present day. [...] Quite as remarkable as the text, however, is the accompanying body of illustrations, including prints, paintings and photographs both old and contemporary. * Country Life *Extraordinary. * Shropshire Parks and Gardens Trust *Gareth Williams's massive volume on those houses is long-awaited and does not disappoint in any respect. * The Georgian Group *Three hundred and forty seven houses are documented in total. Williams proceeds in alphabetical order. Each entry is illustrated. The author packs so much into each entry - reaching right back to the origins of houses and their families, and working up the present. While packing in lots of historical and architectural detail, the writing does not become dense or stodgy. It retains a lightness as we trip through a property's timeline. In order to write at depth in such an engaging manner, you have to know your subject inside out - and Williams' scholarship is evident. Each entry is a joy to read. * The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings *It is difficult to separate the history and development of the country house from the fabric of social, economic and political history. Through his meticulous research Gareth Williams has managed to capture this amalgam in The Country Houses of Shropshire. This impressive book is a tour de force, an illustrated survey of 347 houses of varying significance from the thirteenth century Stokesay Castle to the 2019 Regency-style mansion The Mount in Oswestry. -- Midland HistoryThis is a magnum opus in all senses of the word [...] The book forms an astonishingly detailed and well-researched work of reference. [...] The standard of book production is exemplary, and it is pleasing to note that the binding is strong enough to sustain a work of such size. It has set a very high standard, and will form an invaluable reference book for students of the county, and of country houses in general, for many years to come. -- Local HistorianTable of ContentsIntroduction The Country Houses of Shropshire

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Book SynopsisConsidering its territorial and social influence and the superlative nature of its furnishings and collections, Weston Park is not as well known as one might expect. The house and contents, with its thousand acre landscape park, was gifted to the nation in 1986 by Richard, 7th Earl of Bradford. Until then, the house had always passed by descent, often through the female line, and it had stood at the centre of an estate with a wide geographical spread, linking it with neighbouring counties and with the urban centres of Walsall, Bolton and Wigan. Weston Park's owners and staff had a pivotal role in the development of these places, whilst the family were involved in national affairs, in politics, the legal profession, and the military. Their seat at Weston Park provided not only a fitting home, visited by royalty and politicians, but also became a repository of important patronage and of collections. These included, in 1735, the highly significant late seventeenth and early eighteenth century collection of paintings that had been assembled by Francis Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford and his younger son, Thomas. Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, this book seeks to tell the story of the house, its setting, extraordinary collections, and the influence that it has had on wider communities through the history of those who have owned and cared for it.Trade ReviewAuthoritative and richly illustrated this account tells not only the story of the House, its setting and extraordinary collections, but also the influence that it has had on wider communities. * Shropshire Parks & Gardens Trust *Williams' beautiful new book, complete with copious illustrations, photographs, and architectural drawings, traces the history of both the house and its inhabitants. It is particularly refreshing to see the female contribution to Weston Park's history fully explored and acknowledged. -- Historic HousesGareth Williams' book is more than an architectural history. Much is a family history, concluding with an admirably clear account of the transformation of an agricultural and industrial estate (or rather several estates) into the charity of 1986. This transformation has engendered deeper knowledge of the house and particularly of its exceptional contents, so that the book is as much the history of a top-quality collection, pictures, furniture, and porcelain, as anything else. Gareth Williams is the Curator, and his book is consequently the authoritative account. -- The GeorgianAt first sight Gareth Williams' publication on Weston Park is a delightful coffee table book: large, well-illustrated with a multitude of attractive colour photographs, all suitably captioned. Further examination shows that it is much more. The text is an extraordinarily detailed narrative of the history of Weston Park and its families, in terms of both local and wider contexts, from medieval to present times. -- Pamela Sambrook * The Local Historian *Table of ContentsForeword by HRH the Duke of Gloucester Introduction 1 Dramatis Personae 2 Powerful Patronage in the Provinces: Lady Wilbraham and Architectural Ambition 3 Civil War, Restoration and the Creation of a Collection: Francis Newport, Earl of Bradford and Thomas Newport, Lord Torrington 4 The Early Bridgemans: A Bishop, a Baronetcy and the Birth of a Dynasty in Lancashire, Warwickshire and Shropshire 5 Georgian Weston: Lunacy and Sociability; Arcadia and Industry 6 The Early Nineteenth Century: Royalty and an Earl's Inheritance 7 A Changing World: The Bradfords, Bolton, Wigan and Walsall 8 The Reign of Victoria - Enrichment, Tragedy and Disraeli 9 Edwardian Weston - an Indian Summer and Dark Clouds of War 10 The Reality of the Twentieth Century: From Private to Public 11 The Weston Park Foundation: Forging a Hospitable Future from the Past Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisCastles and palaces around the world are structures of grandeur, might and beauty. From the flamboyance of Germany's fairy tale-Neuschwanstein Castle to the gothic, Dracula-inspiring Bran Castle, perched high in the craggy peaks of Romania's Carpathian Mountains; Tokyo's Imperial Palace, previously home to samurai warriors to Ireland's Blarney Castle, where 'the gift of the gab' will be granted to any who kiss its stone, the world's castles and palaces are steeped in history and stories to tell. Travel writer and journalist Gilly Pickup shares these stories, providing a tour of 50 of the world's greatest castles and palaces, filled with humour, interesting facts and tips on how best to visit them.

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Book Synopsis"Hall’s consummate history is not just the story of the evolution of one of the world’s great collections… The book is also a through-the-keyhole insight into the shifting tastes, good or bad, of 1,000 years of monarchs."- The TimesThe Royal Collection is the last great collection formed by the European monarchies to have survived into the twenty-first century. Containing over a million artworks and objects, it covers all aspects of the fine and decorative arts, from paintings by Rembrandt and Michelangelo to grand sculpture, Fabergé eggs and some of the most exquisite furniture ever made. The Royal Collection also offers a revealing insight into the history of the British monarchy from William the Conqueror to Queen Elizabeth II, recording the tastes and obsessions of kings and queens over the past 500 years. With unprecedented access to the royal residences of St James' Palace, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, Art, Passion & Power traces the history of this national institution from the Middle Ages to the present day, exploring how royalty used the arts to strengthen their position as rulers by divine right and celebrating treasures from the Crown Jewels to the "Abraham" tapestries in Hampton Court Palace. Author Michael Hall examines the monarchy's response to changing attitudes to the arts and sciences during the Enlightenment and celebrates the British monarchy's role in the democratisation of art in the modern world. Packed with glimpses of rarely seen artworks, Art, Passion & Power is a visual treat for all art enthusiasts. Accompanying the BBC television series and a major exhibition at the Royal Academy, Art, Passion & Power is the definitive statement on the British monarchy's treasures of the art world.

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Book Synopsis"A jewel of Baroque architecture, the Castelluccio Palace is the spotlight of a beautiful book retracing its history, its long restoration and its precious ornaments. These photographs reflect the Sicilian Golden Age." —Fanny Guenon des Mesnards, AD France "This monograph is an invitation to visit the Palazzo Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio."—Italian Vogue "A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored doesn’t just pull back the curtain on the finished palace, it details the four-year-long process through an elaborate array of photos..." —Architectural Digest, and Yahoo With its sun-drenched sands and Mediterranean waters, Sicily has been a favoured destination of travellers for centuries. History is alive on this island, from ancient accounts of the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans; to the journals of wealthy young European men embarking on the Grand Tour. This book captures the sun-steeped aesthetic of the island, while detailing the restoration of one of its finest attractions: the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace. Marquis de Castelluccio was one of the last "servals" or “leopards” of Sicily – wealthy aristocrats who flooded the island with luxury. Following his death, his home fell to ruin. A half-century later, Jean-Louis Remilleux fell in love with this dilapidated 18th-century palace and made it his mission to restore it. Unveiled for the first time in this beautifully illustrated book, the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palazzo is one of the finest testaments to Sicilian architecture and art. Today, lush green palm trees welcome you to the palace’s imposing front façade. Frescoes, arabesques, masks, imitation marble, ceilings and wainscoting have all restored to their former glory, over decades of elaborate work. This book charts the restoration process and celebrates the astonishing end results. It contains an album’s worth of photographs that capture the beauty of this palace beneath the Mediterranean sun.Trade Review"A jewel of Baroque architecture, the Castelluccio Palace is the spotlight of a beautiful book retracing its history, its long restoration and its precious ornaments. These photographs reflect the Sicilian Golden Age." - Fanny Guenon des Mesnards, AD France"This monograph is an invitation to visit the Palazzo Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio." - Italian Vogue"The three-year restoration of the 18th-century Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace is documented in Remilleux’s new book A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored (ACC Art Books, $55). The majority of the book is devoted to Mattia Aquila’s photographs of the lovingly resurrected interiors, architecture and gardens, prefaced by “before” pictures of the rooms as Remilleux discovered them, still dignified despite their decay." - Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest Middle East"A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored by Jean-Louis Remilleux (published by ACC Art Books) is a photographic journey documenting the splendour of the palace." - Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes"In the new photo book "A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored", the French TV producer and presenter opens the gates to his recently completed, dreamlike estate in the small Sicilian town of Noto." - Von Marius Thies, AD Germany"A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored doesn’t just pull back the curtain on the finished palace, it details the four-year-long process through an elaborate array of photos, starting with the installation of the towering palm trees on the palazzo’s grand entrance that welcome guests." - Architectural DigestTable of ContentsA Palace in Sicily Palazzo Castelluccio - Courtyard - Grand staircase to the piano nobile - Entrance to the piano nobile - Billiard room - Ballroom - Music room - Access to the terrace - Fireplace gallery - Cabinet of curiosities - Empire room - Old kitchens - Volcano room - Throne room - Small reception room - Murat room - Anteroom to the oratory - Oratory - Dining room - Library - Library terrace - Atrium of the private apartments - The Marquis’s apartments - Belvedere - Roof garden - Staircase to the private apartments on the upper floors Detailed Picture captions The architect meets the palace Plans and elevations

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Book SynopsisCountry houses have come to be regarded as quintessentially English, not only in terms of their architectural style but because they appear to embody national values of continuity and insularity. The histories of country houses and England, however, have featured episodes of violence and disruption, so how did country houses come to represent one version of English history, when in reality they reflect its full range of contradictions and complexities? This book explores the evolution of the country house, beginning with the violent impact of the Reformation and Civil War and showing how the political events of the eighteenth century, which culminated in the reaction against the French Revolution, led to country houses being recast as symbols of England’s political stability.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Englishness and the Country House 1 Violence and the Country House, I: The Reformation 2 Violence and the Country House, II: The Civil War 3 Reflections on the Non-Revolution in England 4 No Such Thing as a British Country House 5 The Empire Does Not Strike Back 6 Fog in Channel Conclusion Appendices References Further Reading Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisThis book reinterprets architecture in Beijing during the reigns of the Kangxi (1661-1722), Yongzheng (1723-1735) and Qianlong (1736-1795) emperors in the eighteenth century. More specifically, it views the building processes of the four churches and the Western palaces in the Yuánmíng Yuán garden as an example of cultural dialogue in the context of the Enlightenment. The study is based firstly on archival sources from different institutions from around the globe, using Big Data to manage them. Secondly, it places increased emphasis on architectural remains, preserved both in international collections as well as at archaeological sites. To take advantage of these remains, some were recorded using close-range photogrammetry. Digital sunlight analyses of the buildings’ interiors were also carried out. From these emerging technologies, as well as written sources, it becomes possible first to reinterpret Beijing as an imperial capital where religious tolerance and cosmopolitanism were increasing, and second to re-evaluate the entire Yuánmíng Yuán Garden complex as a miniature version of Beijing. This approach makes for easier subsequent comparisons with other imperial capitals of the time, such as London, Paris and Istanbul. As such, this study reveals a largely neglected chapter in the global history of architecture, while simultaneously offering a crucial re-examination of the existing architectural remains.Table of ContentsIntroductionQing Modernity : The CourtThe Universal Garden-Palace : Yuanming YuanBeijing : The Capital of Religious ToleranceThe Public Images of the Yuanming YuanConclusion : a Modern CityTranscriptionsBibliography

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Book Synopsis‘This is the house by Cromer town …’Built in 1884 as the grand summer home for the well-connected Locker-Lampson family, the red -brick, turreted mansion Newhaven Court once sat high on a windswept hill above Cromer. Before its dramatic destruction in flames nearly eighty years later, the house played host to such eminent figures as Sir Winston Churchill, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Sir Ernest Shackleton, illustrator Kate Greenaway and French tennis superstar Suzanne Lenglen.It was a home where poets rubbed shoulders with politicians and aristocracy with artists and authors. There was dance, dining and song – but also family tragedy and hidden love. Follow the true story of Newhaven Court and its colourful inhabitants from the decadent years of the late nineteenth century and the elegant Edwardian era, through the tragedy of the First World War and terrible conflict of the Second to the roaring twenties and the uncertain post-war age.Trade Review"In its heyday it was visited by celebrated names including Albert Einstein, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Shackleton. And now Newhaven Court in Cromer is the subject of a book written by a descendent of the family who once owned the house." * Coverage in Eastern Daily Press *“Helen Murray charts the true story of Newhaven Court and its colourful inhabitants from the decadent years of the late 19th century and the Edwardian era, through the tragedy of the two World Wars, and the uncertain post-war age.” * Family Tree magazine *“Read the story of this remarkable house" * This England magazine *

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Book SynopsisLavishly illustrated account of forty magnificent country houses, destroyed in the last century. The Lost Country Houses of Suffolk, well-researched and written and copiously illustrated, will help the reader to imagine the county's landscape refurnished with the many elegant mansions which are now sadly lost. JOHN BLATCHLY During the twentieth century some forty of Suffolk's finest country houses vanished forever, a few by fire, but more frequently through demolition, either because uneconomic to run, or through the deterioration oftheir fabric. This book relates their tragic stories, with lavish use of engravings, images and pictures to bring to life what has now gone forever. It offers an account of each house [its history, its family, its architect], with a description of the buildings, and particular information on how it came to be destroyed. The houses are put into their wider context by an introductory section, covering the economic and social circumstances which caused difficulties for the owners of country houses at the time, and comparing the loss in Suffolk with losses in England as a whole. Houses covered: Acton Place, Assington Hall, Barking Hall, Barton Hall, Boulge Hall, Bramford Hall, Branches Park, Bredfield House, Brome Hall, Campsea Ashe High House, Carlton Hall, Cavenham Hall, Chediston Hall, Downham Hall, Drinkstone Park, Easton Park, Edwardstone Hall, Flixton Hall, Fornham Hall, Hardwick House, HenhamHall, Hobland Hall, Holton Hall, Hunston Hall, Livermere Hall, The Manor House Mildenhall, Moulton Paddocks, Oakley Park, Ousden Hall, The Red House Ipswich, Redgrave Hall, Rendlesham Hall, Rougham Hall, Rushbrooke Hall, Stoke Park, Sudbourne Hall, Tendring Hall, Thorington Hall, Thornham Hall, Ufford Place.Trade Review[A] book which is as fascinating as any I can remember reading.A really remarkable read. * PARK LIFE *Roberts has lovingly researched each property and written a book which is as fascinating as any I can remember reading. He has unearthed blueprints, engravings and photos of the houses featured and writes beautifully about each one, which gifts the reader a rare insight into how the landscape of Suffolk might have looked. * SUFFOLK & NORFOLK LIFE *This attractively produced and illustrated book contains a useful and well-annotated record of forty vanished country houses. * HISTORIC HOUSE *W.M. Roberts has crafted an impressive read which identifies who lived in each house, who designed each house and the circumstances which lead to its demolition through photos and engravings to produce a truly beautiful book. * SUFFOLK (EADT magazine) *An excellent survey and I can recommend it to anyone interested in local history. * SUFFOLK BOOK LEAGUE NEWSLETTER W.M *Table of ContentsForeword The Economic and Social Background Country House Losses in Suffolk - An Overview The Lost Houses Appendix Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis fine Palladian house known as New Park was built between 1777 and 1783 and became part of the golden age of the Georgian country house. Its owner, James Sutton, was one of a new breed of landowners, benefitting from the proceeds of the boom in late eighteenth century trade and from local political influence. The house was a celebration of the dynamism and success of Georgian Devizes, built on its thriving wool trade. As neoclassicism became the defining style for the late eighteenth English country house, New Park, later re-named Roundway Park, perfectly represented the high ambition of the age, the product of the prestigious architect, James Wyatt, and landscape designer, Humphry Repton. Roundway continued to prosper in the Victorian and Edwardian eras under the ownership of the Colston family of Bristol fame. In 1938, on the death of Rosalind Colston, the first Lady Roundway, the house and estate were, on the surface, indistinguishable from their Victorian heyday. But just sixteen years later, the estate had been sold and the house largely demolished as the effects of family tragedy and the weight of social and economic change took their toll. The Forgotten Country House tells for the first time the story of Roundway's rise and fall, the people who built and owned it, lived and worked there, and the contribution they made to their local community. It paints a vivid picture of the lives of gentry families who far outnumbered their more aristocratic counterparts and who played a central role in the rural communities that characterised much of Britain up until the mid-twentieth century. Part family history, part love letter to the English country house, Simon Baynes draws on family papers and new research to pay a fitting, evocative tribute not just to his ancestors, but also to a lost world and the people who lived in it.Trade ReviewHistories of lost country houses involve sophisticated detective work. Simon Baynes’ new book is impressive for its wide ranging research and his absorbing text illustrates just how many stories these houses have to tell. -- Marcus BinneyThe Forgotten Country House is a fascinating history of a colourful family and a remarkable building told with passion and authority. -- Simon ThurleyThis book is a comprehensive record of a notable country house in Wiltshire. Many long lost photographs and personal family details have been documented under one cover by Simon Baynes and his late father to create this excellent publication. -- John GirvanThis handsomely produced volume recounts the history of Roundway Park in Wiltshire, a now mostly demolished Georgian mansion... Part house, part family history, the final decades at Roundway are tinged with sadness... [The] book is a fitting tribute to the house and estate that it commemorates. -- Historic HousesQuiller Publishing has once again done an excellent job in presenting this enthralling photographic and literary exposition which has been researched thoroughly by author Simon Baynes... Highly recommended, especially for those interested in English social and cultural history, Georgian architecture and Wiltshire history. -- Gary Creighton * British Country Sports *You can read this book like a novel, from cover to cover, or dip into it like a coffee table book, drawn in by its mix of beautiful illustrations and photographs... The Forgotten Country House is a delight. As the book jacket says, it is 'part family history, part love letter to the English country house.' It succeeds brilliantly at both. -- David Ross * Britain Express *Table of ContentsPreface PART 1: RISE 1 The High Summer of Georgian Devizes 2 James Wyatt and Humphry Repton at New Park 3 The Suttons, Addingtons and Estcourts 4 The Colstons: Honeymoon and Grand Tour 5 The Colstons at Roundway Park 6 Lives Cut Short 7 Love and Marriage 8 Family Life PART 2: HEYDAY 9 Roundway Park’s Victorian Heyday 10 A Day in the Life of Roundway Park 11 Henry Robinson: Butler Extraordinaire 12 The New Century 13 The World at their Feet 14 The Great War PART 3: DECLINE 15 ‘Never Glad Confident Morning Again!’ 16 The Inter-war Years 17 Loyal Service 18 The Beginning of the End 19 Sounding the Last Post 20 The Sale of Roundway Park 21 White Knight EPILOGUE

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Book SynopsisHighclere Castle, known as 'the real Downton Abbey' bustles with activity at the best of times, but it is never more alive than at Christmas.Christmas at Highclere is a look behind the scenes at the routines and rituals that make the castle the most magical place to be throughout the festive season. Lady Carnarvon will guide you through Advent, Christmas preparations and Christmas Eve all the way through to the day itself, and beyond. Learn how the castle and grounds are transformed by decorations, including the raising of a twenty-foot tree in the saloon, the gathering of holly and mistletoe from the grounds. All the intricacies of the perfect traditional Christmas are here: from crackers and carol singers. The festive feeling is carried through to Highclere's Boxing Day traditions, the restorative middle days and the New Year's Eve celebrations. This book also tells the story of historic Christmases at Highclere - of distinguished guests warming themselves by the fire after a long journeys home through the snow, unexpected knocks on the door, and, always, the joy of bringing family - and staff - together after a busy year.As well as telling the stories of Highclere Christmases past and present, Lady Carnarvon provides recipes, tips and inspiration from her kitchen so that readers can bring a quintessentially British festive spirit to their own home. Lady Carnarvon divulges the secret to perfectly flakey mince pies, the proper way to wrap presents so that you and your guests are guaranteed a Christmas to remember. Lavish, celebratory and utterly enchanting, Christmas at Highclere is celebration of one of the UK's most beloved historic houses and is the perfect gift for any Downton Abbey fan.

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Book SynopsisFrom the mid-16th century the rich and successful usually had a London house, and often a country estate; but more important in many ways was the suburban house within easy reach of London, where they could send their families for the summer and from which they could keep in contact with their business or the court. This book is the first to address the history of these houses, concentrating on those that still exist, while giving some indication of the major lost ones as well. Includes plans and images of most houses listed. Includes information on owners, architects, landscape design, building materials and styles. The area covered by this book extends from London to the M25, which sliced through the country round London in the late 20th century.

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Book SynopsisGrand, awe-inspiring and beautiful, the `Big House' is widely viewed as a jewel in the Irish landscape today. Despite this, the relationship between the country house and the state has long been complex and nuanced. Houses such as Castletown, Mote Park, and Shanbally Castle have faced sometimes insurmountable threats to their survival since the founding of the Free State. Against a backdrop of civil war and social upheaval, the fledging government of 1922 was unwilling to accept the burdensome gifts of these extravagant but ineffectual `white elephants' at a time when much of the population lived in poverty. From the 1920s to the 1970s, hundreds of former landlords' residences - often seen as symbols of British oppression - were sold on, demolished or simply abandoned to ruin. Despite the significant change that took place in terms of the perception of these houses as part of the national heritage, the relationship between the state post-independence and the country house has not been examined in detail to date. Analysing previously unused government records, White Elephants illustrates the complex attitudes of politicians such as Erskine Childers, Sean Moylan and Charles J. Haughey to the country house and the crucial role of senior civil servants in determining their fates. The actions of the Office of Public Works and the Land Commission are here analysed and weighed, while the effects of land division and the alienation of the Anglo-Irish class are seen through the often-revealing lens of Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Finance files. These previously unmined sources uncover the more personal history and attitudes behind decisions for demolition or salvation. Drawing on case studies of significant Irish houses including Bishopscourt, Derrynane, Dunsandle, Hazelwood, Killarney, Muckross and Russborough, White Elephants tracks the compelling development of the Irish country house from burden to heritage site, running in parallel with the development of Ireland from a fledgling state to taking its place in the international community of the EEC in 1973.Trade Review'It is important that research like Emer Crooke’s continue and that the big house and their estates do not become a mere footnote in chronicles of the Irish past. IRISH LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, FALL 2020'||| There is a wider story to be told in Emer Crooke's absorbing chronicle of how the country house fared in Ireland between 1922 and 1973. Running through it are politics and the public purse and how the newly-born State viewed itself on emerging from the fractious beginnings of the War of Independence and the civil war. Christopher Ridgway, Irish Times, January 2019; 'The fate of these houses has been directed not just by economic, social and political realities, but also by the personalities in power during particular periods, and, significantly, by the real power brokers in the background: civil servants. Emer Crooke writing in the Irish Times, January 2019; 'Crooke builds a convincing historical narrative around the state's mercurial attitude towards country-house preservation.' Graham Hickey, Sunday Times, January 2019.

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Book SynopsisWith a foreword by Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey who concludes that: `This is the world that Ruth Binney has brought so wonderfully to life in her book'. Inside the country house, what exactly were the duties of the master's valet and the lady's maid? How did these fit into the daily routine? And what were the protocols for visitors? The answers to these, and many more questions, are revealed in this entertaining and intimate guide to the self-contained world of the country house. Here you'll learn the rules of etiquette essential both upstairs and down -for both residents and visitors -marvel at the intricacies of housekeeping, and enter a bygone age of hunts, house parties and grand balls. All these aspects of country house life, and many more, are introduced here through the contemporary maxims used to instruct the members of the household and their guests, from running a large kitchen to entertaining royalty. Each is brought to life with both practical detail and direct, compelling quotes and illustrations from period manuals and advice books, giving every entry a totally authentic feel and `voice'. Rounding off the book is an informative list of houses to visit, stressing the features that relate directly to the descriptions included in the book.Table of Contents1 Foreword by Julian Fellowes 4 2 Introduction 6 3 Keeping House 8 4 The Daily Routine 44 5 The Country House Kitchen 78 6 A Matter of Manners 112 7 Entertainment, Leisure and Sport 150 8 Gardens and Grounds 176 9 Houses to Visit 216 10 Book Reference List 221

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Book SynopsisA deft interweaving of architectural and social history For aristocrats and gentry in 18th-century Ireland, the townhouses and country estates they resided in were carefully constructed to accommodate their cultivated lifestyles. Based on new research from Irish national collections and correspondence culled from papers in private keeping, this publication provides a vivid and engaging look at the various ways in which families tailored their homes to their personal needs and preferences. Halls were designed in order to simultaneously support a variety of activities, including dining, music, and games, while closed porches allowed visitors to arrive fully protected from the country’s harsh weather. These grand houses were arranged in accordance with their residents’ daily procedures, demonstrating a distinction between public and private spaces, and even keeping in mind the roles and arrangements of the servants in their purposeful layouts. With careful consideration given to both the practicality of everyday routine and the occasional special event, this book illustrates how the lives and residential structures of these aristocrats were inextricably woven together. Published in association with the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British ArtTrade Review"[This study] was well worth the wait and can be thoroughly recommended." — Malcolm Airs, Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society“McCarthy’s writing style...affords the reader with a fluid and informative lesson in how it may have been to reside in the Irish country house in Georgian times.”—Elaine Byrne, SPAB of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

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Book SynopsisThis book is a sumptuously produced journey around twelve privately owned country houses, asking what it is like to live in such places today. What role do they play in the twenty-first century? For many years after the Second World War, the country house was struggling. Now a new generation of young owners, often with children, has taken over. They're finding innovative ways to live in these ancient, fragile and poetic places. While they treasure the history and beauty of the houses, they're also adapting and enhancing them for a modern era. Old Homes, New Life is a behind-the-scenes account of today's aristocracy, as they reinvent the country house way of life. Each family does this in its own way, maintaining the tradition of individualism, even eccentricity, which is so much associated with country houses. Dylan Thomas's superb yet intimate photographs capture both the inhabitants of these houses and the spaces they occupy - from State dining to family kitchen, walled garden to attic. This feast for the eyes is accompanied by an equally mouth-watering text by Clive Aslet, based on interviews with family members and his long experience of the subject through his years as Editor of Country Life. The result is an exclusive tour of a dozen spectacular homes.Table of ContentsIntroduction Locations Madresfield Court Loseley Park Helmingham Hall Burton Agnes Hutton-In-The-Forest Doddington Hall Broughton Castle Hopetoun House Firle Place Grimsthorpe Castle Powderham Castle Inveraray Castle The Homes Behind the Lens Acknowledgements The Publisher Colophon

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisAnyone visiting and exploring Bad Homburg Palace and the Palace Park today will encounter three overlapping layers of time: the Middle Ages, the period of the landgraviate and the imperial phase under the influence of Prussia. Among the German palaces, Bad Homburg has a particularly unique position: it is the only place, where the living culture of the last German emperor and his wife can be experienced. This book contains the most important facts including building history, central figures, Palace interior and insights on the development of the impressive Park.

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