Beginning some 500 years ago during the Tudor period, the aristocracy of the British Isles began hiring the foremost architects to design for them country homes as retreats from the cities—not just modest houses among the greenery, but sumptuous manors that demonstrated their power and wealth. Given the centuries-long tradition, the country homes that stand today show an incredibly diverse range of architectural styles, some more traditional and adhering to a single movement, while others blend all sorts of aesthetics according to the owners’ and architects’ whimsies. The new book The Country House: Past, Present, Future: Great Houses of The British Isles by country house expert Jeremy Musson and historian David Cannadine ( $85, Rizzoli ) holds an encyclopedic collection of images of some of the most iconic country homes in the United Kingdom and Ireland, some of which are still in private hands, while the majority are owned and maintained by the National Trust. Here, we take a look at some of the finest houses from the book’s pages.
The Great Chalfield Manor near Bradford on Avon, England, was built in the mid-15th century, exemplifies late medieval architecture, and has a moat and a gatehouse.
The Cartoon Gallery at Knoll House, a 15th-century manor near Sevenoaks in England, holds copies of Raphael works. Long galleries like these would typically display family portraits or other works.
The Elizabethan Hardwick House, dating to the late 16th century, in Derbyshire, England, was designed by architect Robert Smythson, who was inspired by the Italian Renaissance.
Copper wares fill the kitchen of Attingham Park in Shropshire, England, an 18th-century manor. The kitchens in country homes were always active to feed not only the homeowners, but also their guests and the large staffs that worked the house and grounds.
The gardens of Waddesdon Manor in Waddesdon, England,a 19th-century country home inspired by France’s Château de Chambord, are a prime feature of the estate.
The Country House Past, Present, Future: Great Houses of the British Isles .
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