730:". This not only resulted in tax being payable on all forms of inheritance, but also removed several loopholes to avoid paying inheritance taxes. In 1881 "probate duty" became payable on all personal property bequeathed at death. The wording personal property meant that for the first time not only the house and its estate were taxed but also the contents of the house including jewellery – these were often of greater value than the estate itself. By 1884 estate duty taxed property of any manner bequeathed at death, but even when the Liberal government in 1894 reformed and tidied the complicated system at 8% on properties valued at over one million pounds, they were not punitive to a social class able to live comfortably off inherited wealth far below that sum. Death duties, however, slowly increased and became a serious problem for the country estate throughout the first half of the 20th century, reaching a zenith when assisting in the funding of World War II.
275:
312:, confident of future victory, advised its readers that "a new order cannot be based on the preservation of privilege, whether the privilege be that of a county, a class, or an individual." Thus it was after the end of the war, as the government handed back the requisitioned, war-torn and frequently dilapidated mansions to their often demoralised and impoverished owners; it was during a period of not just mounting taxation, to pay for a costly war, but also a time when it seemed all too clear that the old order had passed. In this political climate, many felt it the only option to abandon their ancestral piles. Thus, following the cessation of hostilities, the trickle of demolitions which had begun in the earlier part of the century became a torrent of destruction.
27:
447:
195:
1021:, even though this was the most comprehensive law pertaining to planning legislation in England. The 1947 Act went further than its predecessors in dealing with historic buildings, as it required owners of property to notify their local authority of intended alterations, and more significantly, demolitions. This caught any property which may have escaped official notice previously. Theoretically, it gave the local authority the opportunity to impose a preservation order on the property and prevent demolition. Under this law the Duke of Bedford was fined for demolishing half of
538:; this hit Britain's aristocracy hard. These factors, coupled with a decrease in people available or willing to work as servants, left the owners of country houses facing major problems of how to manage their estates. The most obvious solution was to off-load the cash-eating family mansion. Many were offered for sale as suitable for institutional use; those not readily purchased were speedily demolished. In the years immediately after the war, the law was powerless — even had it wished to — to stop the demolition of a private house no matter how architecturally important.
490:, to the British public still suffering from the deprivations of food rationing and restriction on building work the destruction of these great redundant houses was of little interest. From 1914 onwards there had been a huge exodus away from a life in domestic service; having experienced the less restricted and better-paid life away from the great estates, few were anxious to return – this in itself was a further reason that life in the English country house was becoming near impossible to all but the very rich.
340:
1302:. By 1992, 600 "stately homes" were visited annually by 50 million members of the paying public. Stately homes were now big business, but opening a few rooms and novelties in the park alone was not going to fund the houses beyond the final decades of the twentieth century. Even during the stately home boom years of the 1960s and 1970s historic houses were still having their contents sold, being demolished or, if permission to demolish was not forthcoming, being left to dereliction and ruin.
1406:
52:
146:
966:, with the end of World War II in sight, was chiefly concerned with the redevelopment of bomb sites, but contained one crucial clause which concerned historic buildings: it charged local authorities to draw up a list of all buildings of architectural importance in their area, and, most significantly, for the first time the catalogue was to include inhabited private residences. This legislation created the foundations for what are today known as
748:
522:
the 20th century are politics and social conditions. During the Second World War many large houses were requisitioned, and subsequently for the duration of the war were used for the billeting of military personnel, government operations, hospitals, schools and a myriad of other uses far removed from the purpose for which they were designed. At the end of the war when handed back to the owners, many were in a poor or ruinous state of repair.
1353:
191:, convinced there was no future for Britain's great houses, had begun selling the house's contents. Increasing taxation and a shortage of staff meant that the old way of life had ended. The wealth and status of the owner provided no protection to the building: even the wealthier owners became keen to free themselves of not only the expense of a large house, but also the trappings of wealth and privilege which the house represented.
303:, was published in 1945, its first few chapters offered a glimpse of an exclusive and enviable world, a world of beautiful country houses with magnificent contents, privileged occupants, a profusion of servants and great wealth. Yet, in its final chapters, Brideshead's author accurately documented a changing and fading world, a world in which the country house as a symbol of power, privilege and a natural order, was not to exist.
1278:. Reacquiring occupation of this enormous 16th-century mansion, in a state of poor repair, following requisition during World War II, the marquess was faced with death duties of £700,000. The marquess opened the house to the paying public and kept the proceeds himself to fund the mansion. In 1966, to keep attendance numbers high, the peer went a step further and introduced lions to the park, thus creating Britain's' first
903:
734:
Some estate owners gave their properties to their heirs thereby escaping duties; when subsequently that heir was killed fighting, death duties were not payable because a soldier's or sailor's (and later airman's) estate was not subject to the tax. However, if the heir had died single and intestate, the former owner would become the owner again, and when that owner died, the death taxes would have to be paid.
723:
inheriting were exempt from payment, but anyone other than wives and children of the deceased had to pay on an increasing scale depending on the distance of the relationship from the deceased. These taxes gradually increased not only the percentage of the estate that had to be paid, but also to include closer heirs liable to payment. By 1815, the tax was payable by all except the spouse of the deceased.
336:
often owned several country mansions. Thus it became a favoured option to select the most conveniently sited (whether for privacy or sporting reasons), easily managed, or of greatest sentimental value; fill it with the choicest art works from the other properties; and then demolish the less favoured. Thus, one solution not only solved any financial problems, but also removed an unwanted burden.
1086:
666:. While not imposed in Ireland, the rate of 10% on the total income, with reductions only possible in incomes below £200, immediately hit the better off. The tax was repealed for a brief period in 1802 during a cessation in hostilities with the French, but its reintroduction in 1803 set the pattern for all future taxation in Britain. While the tax was again repealed following the victory at
825:
494:
997:, insisted, as 300-year-old oaks were uprooted, that "the park be mined right up to the mansion's door." Meanwhile, plans by the socialist government to wrest the house from its owner, the Earl Fitzwilliam, and convert the architecturally important house for "homeless industrial families" were only abandoned at the eleventh hour when Earl Fitzwilliam, through the auspices of
1010:
434:, considerably reduced in size, after World War II, while selling other family estates and houses. Whatever the personal choices and reasons for the sales and demolitions, the underlying and unifying factor was almost always financial. This began long before the 20th century with the gradual introduction and increase of taxes on income and further tax on inherited wealth,
642:; selling them for redevelopment was the obvious first choice to raise some fast cash. The second choice was to sell part of the landed estate, especially if had been purchased in order to expand political territory. In fact, the buying of land in earlier times, before the reforms of 1885, to expand political territory had had a detrimental effect on country houses too.
1444:
again, albeit also doubling as a wedding venue and sometimes a film set; both common and lucrative sources of country house income in the 21st century. The 21st century has also seen many country houses transformed into places of seemingly antiquated luxury, in order to meet the demand for a new
British institution, the country house hotel. This has been the fate of
478:
political power had weakened and they faced heavy tax burdens. The staff had either been killed in two world wars or forsaken a life of servitude for better wages elsewhere. Thus the owners of large country houses dependent on staff and a large income began by necessity to dispose of their costly non-self sustaining material assets. Large houses had become redundant
1246:. He often had to choose between accepting a house and saving it, or declining it and sentencing it to dereliction and demolition. In his published memoirs he writes of the confusion many owners felt in what had become a world they no longer understood. Some were grateful to the Trust, some resented it, and others were openly hostile.
989:. Elsewhere, the fines levied on those failing to comply with the Act were far less than the profit from redeveloping a site. Little changed. In 1946, in what has been described as "an act of sheer class-war vindictiveness", Britain's Labour government insisted on the destruction, by open cast mining, of the park and formal gardens of
1199:, to assume a "look of pleasure and welcome." Here and elsewhere, however, that welcome did not extend to a tea room and certainly not to chimpanzees swinging through the shrubbery; that was all to come over 50 years later. At this time, admittance was granted in patrician fashion with all proceeds usually donated to a local charity.
711:
613:
1097:
The unprecedented demolitions of the 20th century did not result in the complete demise of the country house, but rather in a consolidation of those that were most favoured by their owners. Many were the subject of comprehensive alteration and rearrangement of the interior, to facilitate a new way of
929:
thundered: "Clause 17 is an abominably bad clause, these buildings have been preserved to us not by Acts of
Parliament, but by the loving care of generations of free Englishmen who...did not know what a District Council was". The marquess, so against enforced preservation, was in fact a member of the
97:
had been demolished. There were a number of reasons: social, political and, most importantly, financial. In rural areas, the destruction of the country houses and their estates was tantamount to a social revolution. Well into the 20th century, it was common for the local squire to provide large-scale
1435:
felt confident enough of the survival of the country house as a domestic residence to declare: "I would be surprised if there is any greater happiness than that provided by a game of croquet played on an
English lawn through a summer's afternoon, after a good luncheon and with the prospect of a good
1241:
Following World War II, many owners of vast houses faced a dilemma; often they had already disposed of minor country residences to preserve the principal seat, and now that seat too was in jeopardy. Many considered passing their houses to the
National Trust and subsequently received a visit from the
733:
This proved to be the deciding factor for many families when in 1940 death duties were raised from 50% to 65%, and following the cessation of hostilities they were twice raised further between 1946 and 1949. Attempts by some families to avoid paying death duties were both helped and hindered by war.
417:
and other properties failed to solve the family problems, leaving no alternative but demolition of the huge, expensive-to-maintain house, which was razed to the ground in 1938, leaving the Duke without a ducal seat. Plans to rebuild a smaller house on the site were never executed. Other high-ranking
171:
could be purchased for £200. One of
Britain's great ducal country houses, Trentham Hall was demolished with little public comment or interest. It was its owner's property, to do with as he wished. There was no reason for public interest or concern; the same magazine had frequently published in-depth
924:
The Town and
Country Planning Act 1932 was chiefly concerned with development and new planning regulations. However, amongst the small print was Clause 17, which permitted a town council to prevent the demolition of any property within its jurisdiction. This unpopular clause clearly intruded on the
893:
In 1931, the
Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act 1913 was amended to restrict development in an area surrounding an ancient monument. The scope of buildings included was also widened to include "any building, structure or other work, above or below the surface". However, the Act still
645:
Often when a second estate was purchased to expand another, the purchased estate also had a country house. If the land (and its subsequent local influence) was the only requirement, its house would then be let or neglected, often both. This was certainly the case at Tong Castle (see below) and many
521:
There were, however, reasons other than public indifference. Successive legislation involving national heritage, often formulated by the aristocracy themselves, had omitted any reference to private houses. The main reasons that so many
British country houses were destroyed during the second half of
1265:
It was impossible to foresee, in the spring of 1944, the present cult of the
English country house. It seemed then that the ancestral seats which were our chief national artistic achievement were doomed to decay and spoilation like the monasteries in the sixteenth century. So I piled it on rather,
1076:
in 1974. The response to this highly publicised exhibition was very positive; for the first time the public, rather than a few intellectual bodies, became aware that country houses were an important part of the national heritage and worthy of preservation. Today, over 370,000 buildings are listed,
862:
was the first Act which had the aim of deliberately preserving ancient monuments built since prehistoric times. The act clearly defined a monument as "Any structure or erection other than one in ecclesiastical use." Furthermore, the Act compelled the owner of any monument on the list to notify the
774:
While these agreements did not divest the owner of the title to the property, they imposed on the civil authority an obligation to maintain and preserve for the nation. So while the Acts may have been in favour of the owner, they set a precedent for the later preservation of structures of national
600:
of 1885 widened the number of males eligible to vote to 60% of the population. Males paying an annual rental of £10, or holding land valued at £10 or over, were now eligible to vote. The other factor was the reorganization of constituency boundaries, and a candidate who for years had been returned
517:
business, very few working-class people had seen the upstairs of these great houses; those who had were there only to clean and serve, with an obligation to keep their eyes down, rather than uplift them and be educated. Thus ignorance of the nation's heritage was a large contributory factor to the
335:
A significant factor, which explained the seeming ease with which a
British aristocrat could dispose of his ancestral seat, was the aristocratic habit of only marrying within the aristocracy and whenever possible to a sole heiress. This meant that by the 20th century, many owners of country houses
265:
and its collection were saved, after protracted appeals and debates. Today, demolition has ceased to be a realistic, or legal, option for listed buildings, and an historic house (particularly one with its contents intact) has become recognized as worthy of retention and preservation. However, many
592:
to only a limited section of the community, many of whom were the landowner's friends, tradesmen with whom he dealt, senior employees or tenants. The local landowner often not only owned an elector's house, but was also his employer, and it was not prudent for the voter to be seen publicly voting
477:
Before the 19th century, the British upper classes enjoyed a life relatively free from taxation. Staff were plentiful and cheap, and estates not only provided a generous income from tenanted land but also political power. During the 19th century this began to change, by the mid-20th century their
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was an integral part of the family's being and needed to be preserved and retained by the family, even if this meant "entering trade", a prospect which would have been unthinkable just a few years earlier. This turn of events had not been anticipated; Evelyn Waugh in his introduction to the 1959
941:
Thus, when the Act was finally passed after approval from the House of Lords, the final paragraph excluded from the act "any building included in a list of monuments published by the Commissioners of Works" and more tellingly did not "affect any powers of the Commissioners of Works." Ironically,
1443:
in Somerset, which in the preceding 50 years had been transformed from an ancestral home and hub of an estate, into a school. Then, following a brief period while its owners tried to save it as a stately home open to the public, it had been sold and purchased for use as a private residence once
984:
The Act criminalised unauthorised alterations, or demolitions, to a listed building, so in theory at least, all historic buildings were now safe from unauthorised demolition. The truth was that the Act was rarely enforced, only a few buildings were listed, over half of them by just one council,
722:
Death duties are the taxes most commonly associated with the decline of the British country house. They are not, in fact, a phenomenon peculiar to the 20th century, as they had first been introduced in 1796. "Legacy duty" was a tax payable on money bequeathed from a personal estate. Next of kin
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in sight did not wish to be seen saving the ancestral home of an hereditary nobleman, and thus rejected the offer. However, that same year the destruction finally came to a near standstill. This was due not just to stricter application of legislation, but also in part due to the aforementioned
485:
There are several reasons which had brought about this situation – most significantly in the early 20th century there was no firmly upheld legislation to protect what is now considered to be the nation's heritage. Additionally, public opinion did not have the sentiment and interest in national
331:
duty. A vacant site was attractive to property developers, who would pay a premium for an empty site that could be rebuilt upon and filled with numerous small houses and bungalows, which would return a quick profit. This was especially true in the years immediately following World War II, when
1294:. With the example and precedent of "trade" set by those at the top of the aristocratic pyramid, within a few years hundreds of Britain's country houses were open two or three days a week to a public eager to see the rooms which a few years earlier their ancestors had cleaned. Others, such as
80:
had been demolishing some of their country houses since the 15th century, when comfort replaced fortification as an essential need. For many, demolishing and rebuilding their country homes became a lifelong hobby, in particular during the 18th century when it became fashionable to take the
1305:
By the early 1970s the demolition of great country houses began to slow. However, while the disappearance of the houses eased, the dispersal of the contents of many of these near redundant museums of social history did not, a fact highlighted in the early 1970s by the dispersal sale of
1061:. This Act compelled owners to seek and wait for permission to demolish a building, rather than merely notify the local authority. It also gave the local authority powers to immediately protect the building by issuing a "Building Preservation Notice", which in effect gave the structure
782:
monuments were included, the Acts specifically excluded inhabited residences. The aristocratic ruling class of Britain inhabiting their homes and castles were certainly not going to be regulated by some lowly civil servants. This view was exemplified in 1911 when the immensely wealthy
1049:, the noted biographer and historian of the English country house) and the demolition went ahead unchallenged. The mid-1950s, which should have been regulated by the above Acts, was the era in which most houses were legitimately destroyed, at an estimated rate of one every five days.
637:
As land prices and incomes continued to fall, the great London palaces were the first casualties; the peer no longer needed to use his London house to maintain a high prestige presence in the capital. Its site was often more valuable empty than with the anachronistic palace
562:
changed the viability of estates in general. Previously, such holdings yielded at least enough to fund loans on the large debts and mortgages usually undertaken to fund a lavish lifestyle, often spent in entertaining both on the country estate and "in town", in the family's
1222:
1206:(the National Trust) was founded as a charitable society principally for the preservation of landscapes of outstanding beauty or interest. During its infancy its focus gradually changed to include historic buildings. This was due in part to the millionaire philanthropist,
1483:
for auction. The controversy and debate concerning the salvation echoed the debates of the early 20th century about the worth to the national heritage. Today, the British country house is safe from demolition, but its worth is still subject to debate and re-evaluation.
770:
provided one important factor which saved many monuments of national importance by making provision for owners of ancient monuments (on list of the 1882 catalogue) to enter into agreement with civil authorities whereby the property was placed under public guardianship.
695:
which removed the Lords' power of veto. In 1932, the threat through taxation to the nation's heritage was recognized, and appeals were made for repairs to National Trust and historic properties by their tenants to be tax-deductible; however the pleas fell on deaf ears.
1318:, failed to save the mid-Victorian mansion; and the subsequent departure from Britain of many important works of art from Mentmore caused public opinion to slowly change. The house had, in fact, been offered to the nation by its owners in lieu of death duties, but the
878:'s castle was prevented. The 1913 Act was an important step in highlighting the risk to the nation's many historic buildings. The Act also went further than its predecessors by decreeing that the public should have access to the monuments preserved at its expense.
863:
newly formed Ancient Monuments Board of any proposed alterations, including demolition. The board then had the authority, if minded, to recommend that Parliament place a preservation order on a building, regardless of the owner's wishes, and thus protect it.
587:
The country houses have been described as "power houses", from which their owners controlled not only the vast surrounding estates, but also, through political influence, the people living in the locality. Political elections held in public before 1872 gave
1218:, which promptly passed it to the National Trust. It was one of the Trust's first great houses, and over the next 70 years was to be followed by over three hundred further nationally important houses which the Trust would administer and open to the public.
821:, from ruin. Thus, despite money being no problem for its owner, Trentham Hall was obliterated from its park, which the duke retained and then opened to the public. Thus it was that country houses were left unprotected by any compulsory legislation.
92:
In the early 20th century, the demolition accelerated, while rebuilding largely ceased. The demolitions were not confined to England, but spread throughout Britain. By the end of the century, even some of the "new" country houses by the architect
690:
for the rich, but the bill introducing the tax was defeated in the House of Lords. This respite for owners of large country houses, many of them members of the House of Lords, was brief and ultimately self-defeating: the bill's defeat led to the
374:
rather than the aristocracy; in these cases the owners, little more than gentlemen farmers, often razed the ancestral home to save costs and thankfully moved into a smaller but more comfortable farmhouse or purpose-built new house on the estate.
574:
had led some holders into financial shortfalls as they tried to balance maintenance of their estate with the income it provided. Some relied on funds from secondary sources such as banking and trade while others, like the severely impoverished
775:
importance. The main problem with the Acts was that, out of all Britain's great buildings, they only found 26 monuments in England, 22 in Scotland, eighteen in Ireland and three in Wales worthy of preservation; all of which were prehistoric.
332:
Britain was desperate to replace the thousands of homes destroyed. Thus, in many cases, the demolition of the ancestral seat, strongly entwined with the family's history and identity, followed the earlier loss of the family's London house.
486:
heritage that is evident in Britain today. When the loss of Britain's architectural heritage reached its height at the rate of one house every five days in 1955, few were particularly interested or bothered. In the immediate aftermath of
406:, inherited huge financial problems until finally in 1922 anything left that was moveable, both internal and external, was auctioned off and the house sold, narrowly escaping demolition. It was saved by being transformed into a school.
1025:
without notification, although it is inconceivable that the duke would have been able to demolish half of the huge house (much of it visible from a public highway) without attracting public attention until the demolition was complete.
89:. During the 19th century, many houses were enlarged to accommodate the increasing numbers of servants needed to create the famed country house lifestyle. Less than a century later, this often meant they were of an unmanageable size.
1176:
Many of Britain's greatest houses have frequently been open to the paying public. Well-heeled visitors could knock on the front door and a senior servant would give a guided tour for a small remuneration. In the early 19th century,
525:
During the next two decades, restrictions were applied to building works as Britain was rebuilt, priority being given to replacing what had been lost during the war rather than the oversized home of an elite family. In addition,
323:
architecture, passed without significant comment. Town houses such as Northumberland House were highly visible displays of wealth and political power, so consequently more likely to be the victims of changing fashions.
1880:
1232:
in 1974 was unsuccessful. The priceless contents were sold and are now dispersed over the world, and the house was sold and allowed to decay. Today, four decades after it ceased to be a private house, it lies empty,
72:
of varying architectural merit were demolished by their owners. Collectively termed by several authors "the lost houses", the destruction of these now often-forgotten houses has been described as a cultural tragedy.
881:
While the catalogue of buildings worthy of preservation was to expand, it remained restrictive, and failed to prevent many of the early demolitions, including, in 1925, the export to the USA of the near ruinous
504:
in Norfolk, a fortified mansion, complete with castellated gatehouse, exemplified early domestic architecture. Shortly before its demolition in 1966 it was photographed with an advancing army of small, box-like
1260:
explained he had not anticipated that Brideshead would in fact have been absorbed by the heritage industry; like the owners of many demolished 'stately homes' Waugh had assumed that such houses were doomed:
942:
eighteen years later, on the untimely death of the marquess, by then Duke of Devonshire, his son was forced to surrender to the state, in lieu of death duties, one of England's most historic country houses,
681:
introduced 'differentiation', a tax designed to be more punitive to those with investments rather than an earned income, which directly hit the aristocracy and gentry. Two years later, Lloyd George in his
176:. As far as general opinion was concerned, England's great houses came and they went; as long as their numbers remained, continuing to provide local employment, the public were not largely concerned. The
253:
In the 1960s, historians and public bodies had begun to realise the loss to the nation of this destruction. However, the process of change was long, and it was not until 1984 with the preservation of
1093:. During the 20th century, the house survived its owner's impoverishment and was in turn a private house, a school, an open "stately home", once again a private house, and is today a wedding venue.
870:, Lincolnshire. An American millionaire wished to purchase the uninhabited castle, and ship it to the USA in its entirety. To frustrate the proposal, the castle had been purchased and restored by
1370:
1249:
To some owners, the principal house was more than just a dwelling; built when the family was at the height of its power, wealth and glory, it represented the family's history and status. The
1058:
963:
2966:
866:
Like its predecessors, the 1913 Act deliberately omitted inclusion of inhabited buildings, whether they were castles or palaces. The catalyst for the 1913 Act had been the threat to
1203:
1077:
which includes all buildings erected before 1700 and most constructed before 1840. After that date a building has to be of architectural or historical importance to be protected.
947:
601:
unopposed suddenly found part of his electorate was from an area outside of his influence. Thus the national power of the landed aristocrats and gentry was slowly diminished. The
242:
in lieu of death duties, which were charged at up to 80% of the total value of an estate, but this solution was rarely acceptable to the government. As late as 1975, the British
1013:
Belvoir House, Newtownbreda, Belfast, the former seat of the Viscounts Dungannon and latterly the Barons Deramore, was demolished in 1961 by the Northern Ireland Forest Service.
1266:
with passionate sincerity. Brideshead today would be open to trippers, its treasures rearranged by expert hands and the fabric better maintained than it was by Lord Marchmain.
2976:
1497:
1001:, agreed to its conversion to a college—a lesser fate. This was the political climate in which many families abandoned the houses their families had owned for generations.
677:
It was never again repealed. Throughout the 19th century, tax thresholds remained high, permitting the wealthy to live comfortably while paying minimal tax; until in 1907,
399:
391:
629:). 208 boreholes were placed around the building, using 136lb of plastic explosive, and 75lb of amatol. The Church windows were opened to cope with the blast. At 2.30pm
605:
was slowly ceasing to rule. In 1888 the creation of local elected authorities in the form of county councils eroded their immediate local power too. The final blow, the
784:
117:
in England. In Scotland, the figure is proportionally higher. There, 378 architecturally important country houses have been demolished, 200 of these since the end of
2950:
1436:
dinner ahead. There are not that many things which the English do better than anyone else. It is encouraging to think we are still holding on to a few of them."
931:
914:
in Wiltshire, and the demolition went ahead unchallenged in 1956. Only the orangery wings – to the left of the photograph – remain, and they are today
2713:
1214:
in 1931, one of England's most important Elizabethan mansions, which had been offered for sale with a "scrap value of £5,882". Cook presented the house to the
859:
1029:
Indifference on the part of local authorities and the public resulted in poor enforcement of the Act, and revealed the true root of the problem. When in 1956
327:
The difference in the 20th century was that the acts of demolition were often acts of desperation and last resort; a demolished house could not be valued for
183:
Before World War I only a few houses were demolished, but the pace increased: by 1955, one house was being demolished every five days. As early as 1944, the
2346:
Deborah Devonshire in "Wait for me", p. 147, records that before the 1950s all monies gained from admittance to Chatsworth were donated to a local hospital.
2981:
1117:, secured an avid market among rich Americans. In rare cases, complete houses were disassembled, stone by stone, and reassembled in the US; an example is
1502:
1030:
886:. This fine half-timbered example of Tudor domestic architecture, was shipped, complete with its timbers, wattle and daub, across the Atlantic. In 1929
799:. After failing to offload the house onto a local authority, he decided to demolish it. The small, but vocal, public resistance to this plan caused the
137:
in the 20 years between 1945 and 1965. In England, it has been estimated that one in six of all country houses were demolished during the 20th century.
766:
was the first serious attempt in Britain to catalogue and preserve ancient British monuments. While the Acts failed to protect any country houses, the
705:
576:
379:
609:, proved to be the beginning of the end for the country house lifestyle which had been enjoyed in a similar way for generations of the upper classes.
558:(for fruit and vegetables). While such estates were sufficiently profitable to maintain the mansion and provide a partial—if not complete—income, the
315:
Destroying buildings of national or potential national importance was not an act peculiar to the 20th century in Britain. The demolition in 1874 of
2543:
2510:
1068:
The final and perhaps most important factor which secured Britain's heritage was a change in public opinion. This was in part brought about by the
1215:
871:
2551:
1690:
1452:
in Buckinghamshire. Others remain private houses, but with the principal rooms being hired out as film sets and venues for events and weddings.
2826:
43:
remarked to the future King Edward VII of their host, "too grand for a subject; you'll have to have his head off when you come to the throne."
214:, owned by Britain's wealthiest peer, was razed to the ground in 1963, and replaced by a smaller modern building. Sixteen years earlier the
1790:
Bailey, p. 381 and p. 399, and Lees-Milne, p. 132, describe the seeming class warfare and impotence of the aristocracy during this period.
1512:
1332:
1069:
621:"... then, on 18th July 1954, a large crowd gathered to watch this historic event. The operation was conducted by the 213 Field Squadron
2292:
817:". There was an irony in the Duke of Rutland's words, as this same duke was responsible for resurrecting one of his own country houses,
2945:
1867:
2898:
926:
458:
266:
country houses are still at risk, and their security, even as an entirety with their contents, is not guaranteed by any legislation.
231:
2922:
2916:
674:, the exchequer was so depleted that the tax made a surprise return on incomes above £150, while still known as a "temporary tax".
390:, tempted from the USA by the lure of an old title in return for vast riches. Not all were so fortunate or seemingly eligible. When
446:
1485:
1455:
Occasionally, country houses have been saved for purely public appreciation as a result of public appeals and campaigns, such as
559:
1507:
630:
2971:
2940:
2845:
2778:
2684:
2646:
2599:
2527:
2435:
1591:
875:
767:
763:
198:
Small country house: Dawley Court, Uxbridge (c. 1894), was sold with 20 acres in 1929 for £10,000, and demolished soon after.
1413:
in Derbyshire was saved as a result of increased public awareness and interest in Britain's heritage. It now belongs to the
274:
535:
482:
to be abandoned or demolished. It seemed that in particular regard to the country houses no one was prepared to save them.
1121:, a Lancashire house sold at auction in 1925, dismantled, crated and shipped across the Atlantic, and then reassembled in
2728:
633:
fired the charges ... there are some fine photographs of this event, with the whole base of the Castle covered in smoke."
2043:
2017:
1987:
2789:
1018:
894:
excluded inhabited buildings. Had it included them, much that was destroyed before World War II could have been saved.
800:
1557:
2864:
2757:
2703:
2665:
2627:
2580:
2494:
2473:
2454:
1392:
867:
626:
970:. Under the scheme, an interesting or historic building was graded according to its value to the national heritage:
378:
Occasionally an aristocrat of the first rank did find himself in dire financial troubles. The severely impoverished
26:
1672:. 11 May 1912. p. 686 all give detailed documentation of the building of new large country houses by among others
1475:
furnishings, was saved for the nation following direct intervention and funding from the Duke of Rothesay (later
1467:, which was saved as an entirety with its contents in 2002. In 2007, after a prolonged and controversial appeal,
1449:
418:
members of the peerage were also forced to off-load minor estates and seats; the Duke of Northumberland retained
2910:
1374:
925:"Englishman's home is his castle" philosophy, and provoked similar aristocratic fury to that seen in 1911. The
1113:
From around 1900, interior woodwork, including complete panelled rooms and staircases and fittings such as
454:
370:
mansions by the notable architects. These smaller, but often aesthetically pleasing houses belonged to the
714:
The houses lost were in all architectural styles. St Leonard's Hill, Windsor, a 19th-century house in the
546:
Before the 1870s, these estates often encompassed several thousand acres, generally consisting of several
149:
During the 20th century, the dispersal of a country house's contents became a frequent event. The sale of
1295:
430:
to be demolished, leaving him with four other country seats remaining. Likewise the Duke of Bedford kept
1763:
1336:
1315:
1225:
1134:
1073:
398:, one of Britain's grandest houses. It proved to be a temporary solution; his heirs, the 3rd and final
2555:
1431:, 47 years after his father wrote his melancholy novel prophesying the decline of country house life,
1694:
1234:
1165:
840:
564:
367:
227:
134:
2819:
1033:
notified the "Ministry of Housing and Government" of his intention to demolish the greater part and
257:
that it became obvious that opinion had changed. A large public appeal assured the preservation of
206:
which were wiped from their – often purposely built – landscapes, but also the huge ducal palaces.
40:
2172:
1363:
1282:. After the initial opening of Longleat, the Dukes of Marlborough, Devonshire and Bedford opened
1195:
was open to the public, the 7th Duke of Rutland was reported by his granddaughter, the socialite
551:
167:
carried a seemingly unremarkable advertisement: the roofing balustrade and urns from the roof of
163:
358:
The vast majority of the houses demolished were of less architectural importance than the great
2892:
2886:
1421:
By 1984 public and Government opinion had so changed that a campaign to save the semi-derelict
998:
938:, the very body which oversaw the implementation of the acts intended to enforce preservation.
847:
547:
363:
86:
619:
in Shropshire, which was demolished in 1954. Often a demolition became a public entertainment:
250:, thus causing the dispersal, and emigration, of one of the country's finest art collections.
2904:
2300:
646:
other houses. A large unwanted country house unsupported by land quickly became a liability.
465:, at a time when Victorian architecture was unappreciated. It was replaced by a much smaller
300:
194:
1648:. 4 May 1912. Supplement p. iii. Advertisement for the urns and balustrade of Trentham Hall.
1065:
status. Thus it was that 1968 became the last year that demolition ran into double figures.
2934:
2928:
1842:
1440:
1279:
1256:
1090:
670:, the advantages of such taxation were now obvious. In 1841, after the election victory of
466:
403:
359:
316:
295:
211:
1149:
8:
1427:
1183:
1045:, no preservation society or historical group raised an objection (with the exception of
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692:
606:
387:
320:
339:
2835:
2807:
2537:
2504:
1472:
1122:
683:
667:
172:
articles on new country houses being built, designed by fashionable architects such as
2731:. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Archived from
2387:
306:
As early as June 1940, while Britain was embroiled in the early days of World War II,
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1863:
1587:
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1103:
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No preservation society or historical group raised an objection to the demolition of
828:
531:
450:
243:
207:
2093:
1327:
1287:
1271:
1243:
1046:
980:
Grade II (buildings of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them)
951:
851:
755:
597:
107:
77:
57:
Advertisement for the roofing balustrade and urns from the demolished Trentham Hall
2770:
Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and Mother in the Gilded Age
2768:
1323:
1307:
1283:
1229:
1211:
1161:
1130:
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571:
513:
Another consideration was education. Before the late 1950s and the advent of the
427:
383:
347:
282:
247:
223:
215:
150:
130:
126:
1693:. Victoria and Albert Museum. 3 November 2005 – 12 February 2006. Archived from
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1468:
1464:
1460:
1414:
1275:
1192:
1034:
994:
935:
916:
887:
555:
479:
419:
351:
262:
99:
1820:
See list, Worsley pp. 186–199. Most are by unknown or little known architects.
1691:"Past Exhibitions: SAVE Britain's Heritage 1975–2005: 30 Years of Campaigning"
16:
Demolition of several larger mansion estates in the UK during the 20th century
2960:
2047:
2021:
1991:
1677:
1432:
1311:
1299:
1118:
1057:
The demolition finally began to noticeably slow following the passing of the
943:
883:
796:
788:
678:
423:
343:
239:
235:
188:
173:
168:
145:
103:
94:
69:
36:
32:
1187:, where Elizabeth Bennet and her aunt and uncle are shown around Mr Darcy's
1017:
The apathy towards the nation's heritage continued after the passing of the
710:
662:
was first introduced in Great Britain in 1799 as a means of subsidising the
1543:" has been included in the title of many articles and books on the subject.
1480:
1291:
1153:
1138:
1126:
1114:
1099:
1089:
The public are admitted, around 1905, for a rare glimpse of the gardens at
1038:
1022:
911:
758:, built in 1695, was subsequently much enlarged. It was demolished in 1921.
715:
602:
514:
487:
470:
431:
414:
410:
290:
278:
219:
118:
1757:
1673:
1476:
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1422:
1410:
1405:
1250:
1207:
1178:
1157:
1042:
907:
818:
812:
616:
612:
395:
258:
254:
158:
122:
350:
circa 1900, sold by the Duke of Northumberland, for demolition, to save
1377: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
986:
792:
659:
527:
435:
269:
114:
82:
1210:. A man dedicated to preservation of country houses, he had purchased
1445:
1188:
805:
779:
747:
308:
51:
1862:
Much later during the 1950s, the 9th Duke moved to Wiltshire making
1352:
993:, Britain's largest country house. The Minister of Fuel and Power,
742:
222:
to half its original size, destroying façades and interiors by both
836:
824:
687:
589:
506:
2881:
1102:, often 19th-century additions, were frequently demolished, as at
811:"....fancy my not being allowed to make a necessary alteration to
1471:, an important Scottish country house complete with its original
1270:
This can be exemplified by the business ventures executed by the
1009:
902:
843:
832:
501:
462:
328:
184:
1204:
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
2136:
1221:
1168:
is higher, naturally enough, than anywhere in the countryside.
1145:
1142:
1085:
890:
was also bought, disassembled and shipped across the Atlantic.
737:
493:
371:
203:
180:
advertisement, however, was to prove a hint of things to come.
1339:. However, the damage to the nation's heritage had been done.
1498:
Category:British country houses destroyed in the 20th century
285:, the seat of the Dukes of Newcastle, was demolished in 1938.
2946:
Researching Strong(e)s and Strang(e)s in Britain and Ireland
1739:, by Rachel and Cecil Fane de Salis, Henley-on-Thames, 1939.
413:, the principal home of the Dukes of Newcastle. Selling the
133:. One firm, Charles Brand of Dundee, demolished at least 56
85:
and return home with art treasures, supposedly brought from
2895:
Published by Legislation.gov.uk. retrieved 3 December 2010.
2889:
Published by Legislation.gov.uk. retrieved 3 December 2010.
2732:
809:
accusing the objectors of "impudence" and going on to say
2967:
Demolished buildings and structures in the United Kingdom
394:
found himself bankrupt in 1848, he sold the contents of
202:
Thus, it was not just the smaller country houses of the
1758:
Binney, Marcus; Robinson, John; Allan, William (1977).
1191:
by the housekeeper. Later in the century, on days when
1148:
plasterwork from the dining room of the Dashwood seat,
1098:
life less dependent on vast numbers of servants. Large
954:
had been demolished in 1920, and its site redeveloped.
860:
Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act 1913
550:; the great house was supplied with food from its own
68:
was the result of a change in social conditions: many
1881:"Biography of Henry Francis Hope Pelham-Clinton-Hope"
1080:
1052:
1004:
957:
897:
66:
destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain
2977:
British country houses destroyed in the 20th century
2592:
Discovering Tong, Its History, Myths and Curiosities
2293:"Saving Britain's Past Episode 3: The Country House"
932:
Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments
270:
Impoverished owners and a plethora of country houses
110:. The "big house" was the bedrock of rural society.
2905:
Leonard Jacks, The Great Houses of Nottinghamshire.
1314:, eminent architectural historian and president of
977:
Grade II* (buildings of more than special interest)
815:
without first obtaining the leave of some inspector
121:in 1945. Included in the destruction were works by
2696:Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
2224:
2222:
706:History of inheritance taxes in the United Kingdom
649:
2660:(9th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2323:Moving Rooms: the Trade in Architectural Salvages
2173:"Town and Country Planning Act 1932 (section 17)"
1425:in Derbyshire was successful. Writing in 1992 in
743:1882 and 1900 Ancient Monument and Amendment Acts
541:
2958:
2273:Town and Country Planning Act 1968 (section 48).
2264:Town and Country Planning Act 1968 (Section 40).
2191:
2189:
2155:
2153:
2714:"The National Archives; Series reference IR 26"
2219:
2207:(London); 29 September 2010; Ben Hoyle; p. 55.
2122:
2120:
1503:Destruction of Irish country houses (1919–1923)
1479:); its contents had already been catalogued by
1216:Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
2083:The National Archives; Series reference IR 26.
1581:
1555:
560:agricultural depression from the 1870s onwards
2186:
2167:
2165:
2150:
2079:
2077:
1723:
1721:
2951:Scotland's Places; Bathgate, Balbardie House
2882:List of ca. 2000 lost English country houses
2608:
2542:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
2509:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
2321:The trade has been examined by John Harris,
2117:
2012:
2010:
1828:
1826:
1798:
1796:
1137:in New York, as have elements to reassemble
1106:, or allowed to crumble, as was the case at
738:Legislation to protect the national heritage
2982:Former country houses in the United Kingdom
2620:The Complete Works of Robert and James Adam
1907:
1905:
1903:
1901:
1899:
1897:
1513:Destruction of the Country House exhibition
1333:Destruction of the Country House exhibition
1070:Destruction of the Country House exhibition
974:Grade I (buildings of exceptional interest)
113:Since 1900, 1,200 country houses have been
2636:
2517:
2482:
2333:
2331:
2162:
2094:"Outer House, Court of Session (A1497/02)"
2074:
2046:. HM Revenue & Customs. Archived from
2020:. HM Revenue & Customs. Archived from
1990:. HM Revenue & Customs. Archived from
1718:
1605:
1603:
582:
457:in Cheshire was demolished in 1963 by the
98:employment, housing, and patronage to the
2007:
1823:
1793:
1409:Following a campaign in the early 1980s,
1393:Learn how and when to remove this message
530:were raised to all-time highs by the new
2518:Devonshire, Deborah, Duchess of (2010).
2483:Devonshire, Deborah, Duchess of (2002).
1894:
1551:
1549:
1404:
1220:
1084:
1008:
901:
823:
746:
709:
611:
492:
445:
354:. One of the Duke’s five country houses.
338:
273:
193:
144:
140:
39:was so lavish that in 1873 the visiting
2854:
2825:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
2787:
2674:
2611:The Town and Country Planning Act, 1947
2589:
2328:
2299:. Open University. 2009. Archived from
1956:
1944:
1932:
1920:
1600:
1486:British country house contents auctions
1171:
518:indifference that met the destruction.
2959:
2766:
2747:
2693:
2444:
2425:
1751:
1748:Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, p. 60.
1508:Country house conversion to apartments
1164:, London, where the incidence of lost
787:acting on a whim wished to dispose of
161:, on 4 May 1912, the British magazine
2840:. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
2833:
2729:"RCAHMS: Exploring Scotland's Places"
2655:
2388:"Knebworth: The Stately Home of Rock"
1546:
1439:Waugh was writing of the survival of
768:Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1900
764:Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882
718:style, was allowed to fall into ruin.
565:large house of equal status in London
2658:A Practical Approach to Planning Law
2639:Some Country Houses and Their Owners
2617:
2463:
2375:Some Country Houses and Their Owners
2237:Class-war quote, Lees-Milne, p. 132.
2228:English Heritage, "Listed Buildings"
2137:"Agescroft Hall, Richmond, Virginia"
1870:estate, the family's principal home.
1586:. Yale University Press. p. 2.
1375:adding citations to reliable sources
1346:
1242:Trust's representative, the diarist
726:In 1853, a new tax was introduced, "
509:within metres of the medieval walls.
2941:The archaeology of the Great Famine
2570:
13:
2893:Town and Country Planning Act 1968
2887:Town and Country Planning Act 1932
2554:. English Heritage. Archived from
1081:Re-evaluation of the country house
1059:Town and Country Planning Act 1968
1053:Town and Country Planning Act 1968
1019:Town and Country Planning Act 1947
1005:Town and Country Planning Act 1947
964:Town and Country Planning Act 1944
958:Town and Country Planning Act 1944
898:Town and Country Planning Act 1932
157:Two years before the beginning of
14:
2993:
2875:
2767:Stuart, Amanda Mackenzie (2005).
2609:Kerrigan, S P; Hill, M A (1948).
1558:"Country houses: the lost legacy"
1237:" and facing an uncertain future.
950:. The Devonshires' London house,
534:Government that swept into power
153:' contents highlighted the issue.
2917:Wolverhampton's Listed Buildings
2791:Obituary of the Marquess of Bath
2677:Madresfield, The Real Brideshead
2044:"World War I and a new approach"
1584:Life in the English county house
1351:
1310:. The high profile campaign of
441:
50:
25:
2698:. London: Sweet & Maxwell.
2613:. London: Butterworth & Co.
2418:
2402:
2380:
2367:
2358:
2349:
2340:
2315:
2285:
2276:
2267:
2258:
2249:
2240:
2231:
2210:
2198:
2129:
2108:
2086:
2062:
2036:
1980:
1971:
1962:
1950:
1938:
1926:
1914:
1873:
1856:
1835:
1814:
1805:
1784:
1771:
1742:
1730:
1709:
1683:
1651:
1556:Worsley, Giles (15 June 2002).
1362:needs additional citations for
699:
650:Loss of wealth through taxation
2489:. Derbyshire Countryside Ltd.
1639:
1630:
1621:
1612:
1575:
1533:
1524:
686:of 1909 announced plans for a
542:Loss of income from the estate
1:
2788:Vickers, Hugo (1 July 1992).
1668:. 23 March 1912. p. 430; and
1518:
1342:
854:, and was demolished in 1935.
654:
593:against his local candidate.
579:, sought American heiresses.
319:, London, a prime example of
2972:Houses in the United Kingdom
2911:Nuthall Temple by Mrs Holden
1760:SAVE Mentmore for the Nation
1664:. 17 February 1912. p. 244;
1660:. 9 September 1911. p. 377;
803:to write an irate letter to
7:
2449:. Save Britain's Heritage.
2377:is dedicated to this theme.
1491:
554:(for meat and dairy) and a
246:government refused to save
10:
2998:
2953:retrieved 9 December 2010.
2907:retrieved 9 December 2010.
2637:Lees-Milne, James (2009).
2426:Bailey, Catherine (2007).
1337:Victoria and Albert Museum
1135:Metropolitan Museum of Art
1074:Victoria and Albert Museum
703:
135:country houses in Scotland
1181:describes such a trip in
1156:; and the dining room by
1152:; the tapestry room from
299:, portraying life in the
2748:Rogers, Malcolm (1991).
2694:Mynors, Charles (2006).
2590:Jeffery, Robert (2007).
2412:. p. 17. 31 August 1992.
1988:"A tax to beat Napoleon"
1582:Girouard, Mark (1994) .
1133:has come to rest in the
473:(centre right) survives.
2937:retrieved 25 March 2007
2935:Independence of Ireland
2931:retrieved 25 March 2007
2925:retrieved 23 March 2007
2919:retrieved 23 March 2007
2913:retrieved 23 March 2007
2901:retrieved 22 March 2007
2859:. London: Aurum Press.
2855:Worsley, Giles (2002).
2834:Waugh, Evelyn (1973) .
2622:. Architectural Press.
2594:. Privately Published.
2522:. London: John Murray.
2468:. London: John Murray.
2447:Lost Houses of Scotland
2445:Binney, Marcus (2006).
2337:Vickers, Bath obituary.
2071:- Friday 1 January 1932
1764:Save Britain's Heritage
1316:Save Britain's Heritage
1226:Save Britain's Heritage
874:and thus the export of
583:Loss of political power
570:By 1880, the so-called
461:, Britain's wealthiest
459:4th Duke of Westminster
87:classical civilizations
2929:British History Online
2752:. The National Trust.
2675:Mulvagh, Jane (2006).
2656:Moore, Victor (2005).
2573:Scotland's Lost Houses
2464:Clay, Catrine (2006).
1843:"The History of Stowe"
1418:
1300:pop and rock festivals
1268:
1238:
1094:
1014:
927:Marquess of Hartington
921:
855:
850:, was the seat of the
848:James Gillespie Graham
759:
719:
634:
510:
474:
392:2nd Duke of Buckingham
355:
286:
261:in 2002, and in 2007,
238:by surrendering it to
199:
154:
2857:England's lost Houses
2679:. London: Doubleday.
1408:
1290:and what remained of
1263:
1224:
1088:
1012:
905:
827:
750:
713:
615:
496:
449:
342:
301:English country house
277:
197:
148:
141:Historical background
2837:Brideshead Revisited
2773:. Harper Perennial.
2618:King, David (2001).
2575:. Trafalgar Square.
2018:"Income Tax is Back"
1779:Brideshead Revisited
1448:in Bedfordshire and
1371:improve this article
1335:held in 1974 by the
1298:, became venues for
1257:Brideshead Revisited
1228:'s campaign to save
1172:Stately home tourism
999:his socialist sister
548:farms let to tenants
317:Northumberland House
296:Brideshead Revisited
2899:St Louis Art Museum
2410:The Daily Telegraph
1977:Jeffery, chapter 5.
1781:, closing chapters.
1562:The Daily Telegraph
1428:The Daily Telegraph
1184:Pride and Prejudice
991:Wentworth Woodhouse
946:, now owned by the
693:Parliament Act 1911
607:Parliament Act 1911
577:Duke of Marlborough
409:Less fortunate was
402:and his heirs, the
380:Duke of Marlborough
321:English Renaissance
129:and the monumental
2735:on 4 December 2008
2558:on 26 January 2013
2552:"Listed Buildings"
2466:King, Kaiser, Tsar
2096:. 13 February 2004
1737:Notes of past days
1419:
1254:second edition of
1239:
1235:officially at risk
1123:Richmond, Virginia
1095:
1015:
922:
868:Tattershall Castle
856:
785:Duke of Sutherland
760:
754:, the seat of the
720:
635:
511:
475:
400:Duke of Buckingham
356:
287:
232:Duke of Devonshire
200:
155:
2847:978-0-316-92634-8
2780:978-0-06-093825-3
2686:978-0-385-60772-8
2648:978-0-14-119090-7
2641:. Penguin Books.
2601:978-0-9555089-0-5
2571:Gow, Ian (2006).
2529:978-1-84854-190-0
2437:978-0-670-91542-2
2390:. Knebworth House
2050:on 2 October 2011
2024:on 2 October 2011
1697:on 25 August 2006
1593:978-0-300-05870-3
1441:Brympton d'Evercy
1403:
1402:
1395:
1108:West Wycombe Park
1104:Sandringham House
1091:Brympton d'Evercy
1072:held at London's
829:Blytheswood House
756:Dukes of Hamilton
451:Alfred Waterhouse
208:Alfred Waterhouse
2989:
2870:
2851:
2830:
2823:
2817:
2813:
2811:
2803:
2801:
2799:
2784:
2763:
2744:
2742:
2740:
2724:
2722:
2720:
2709:
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2633:
2614:
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2586:
2567:
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2563:
2547:
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2533:
2514:
2508:
2500:
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2441:
2413:
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2400:
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2384:
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2371:
2365:
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2326:
2319:
2313:
2312:
2310:
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2289:
2283:
2280:
2274:
2271:
2265:
2262:
2256:
2253:
2247:
2244:
2238:
2235:
2229:
2226:
2217:
2214:
2208:
2202:
2196:
2193:
2184:
2183:
2181:
2179:
2169:
2160:
2157:
2148:
2147:
2145:
2143:
2133:
2127:
2124:
2115:
2112:
2106:
2105:
2103:
2101:
2090:
2084:
2081:
2072:
2066:
2060:
2059:
2057:
2055:
2040:
2034:
2033:
2031:
2029:
2014:
2005:
2003:
2001:
1999:
1984:
1978:
1975:
1969:
1966:
1960:
1954:
1948:
1942:
1936:
1930:
1924:
1918:
1912:
1909:
1892:
1891:
1889:
1887:
1877:
1871:
1860:
1854:
1853:
1851:
1849:
1839:
1833:
1830:
1821:
1818:
1812:
1809:
1803:
1800:
1791:
1788:
1782:
1775:
1769:
1767:
1755:
1749:
1746:
1740:
1734:
1728:
1727:Mulvagh, p. 321.
1725:
1716:
1713:
1707:
1706:
1704:
1702:
1687:
1681:
1655:
1649:
1643:
1637:
1634:
1628:
1625:
1619:
1616:
1610:
1607:
1598:
1597:
1579:
1573:
1572:
1570:
1568:
1553:
1544:
1537:
1531:
1528:
1398:
1391:
1387:
1384:
1378:
1355:
1347:
1328:general election
1288:Chatsworth House
1272:Marquess of Bath
1244:James Lees-Milne
1166:great residences
1150:Kirtlington Park
1141:, including the
1047:James Lees-Milne
968:listed buildings
952:Devonshire House
919:
852:Lords Blythswood
598:Third Reform Act
108:cottage hospital
78:British nobility
54:
29:
2997:
2996:
2992:
2991:
2990:
2988:
2987:
2986:
2957:
2956:
2878:
2873:
2867:
2848:
2824:
2815:
2814:
2805:
2804:
2797:
2795:
2781:
2760:
2750:Montacute House
2738:
2736:
2727:
2718:
2716:
2712:
2706:
2687:
2668:
2649:
2630:
2602:
2583:
2561:
2559:
2550:
2535:
2534:
2530:
2502:
2501:
2497:
2476:
2457:
2438:
2421:
2416:
2408:Auberon Waugh.
2407:
2403:
2393:
2391:
2386:
2385:
2381:
2372:
2368:
2363:
2359:
2354:
2350:
2345:
2341:
2336:
2329:
2320:
2316:
2306:
2304:
2303:on 16 June 2010
2291:
2290:
2286:
2282:Worsley, p. 23.
2281:
2277:
2272:
2268:
2263:
2259:
2255:Bailey, p. 399.
2254:
2250:
2246:Bailey, p. 381.
2245:
2241:
2236:
2232:
2227:
2220:
2216:Worsley, p. 17.
2215:
2211:
2203:
2199:
2194:
2187:
2177:
2175:
2171:
2170:
2163:
2158:
2151:
2141:
2139:
2135:
2134:
2130:
2125:
2118:
2113:
2109:
2099:
2097:
2092:
2091:
2087:
2082:
2075:
2069:Western Gazette
2067:
2063:
2053:
2051:
2042:
2041:
2037:
2027:
2025:
2016:
2015:
2008:
1997:
1995:
1994:on 24 July 2010
1986:
1985:
1981:
1976:
1972:
1968:Girouard, p. 2.
1967:
1963:
1955:
1951:
1943:
1939:
1931:
1927:
1919:
1915:
1910:
1895:
1885:
1883:
1879:
1878:
1874:
1861:
1857:
1847:
1845:
1841:
1840:
1836:
1832:Stuart, p. 135.
1831:
1824:
1819:
1815:
1811:Worsley, p. 10.
1810:
1806:
1802:Worsley, p. 12.
1801:
1794:
1789:
1785:
1776:
1772:
1756:
1752:
1747:
1743:
1735:
1731:
1726:
1719:
1715:Worsley, p. 95.
1714:
1710:
1700:
1698:
1689:
1688:
1684:
1656:
1652:
1644:
1640:
1635:
1631:
1626:
1622:
1617:
1613:
1608:
1601:
1594:
1580:
1576:
1566:
1564:
1554:
1547:
1538:
1534:
1529:
1525:
1521:
1494:
1399:
1388:
1382:
1379:
1368:
1356:
1345:
1324:James Callaghan
1308:Mentmore Towers
1296:Knebworth House
1284:Blenheim Palace
1230:Mentmore Towers
1212:Montacute House
1174:
1162:Lansdowne House
1131:Cassiobury Park
1129:staircase from
1083:
1063:listed building
1055:
1007:
960:
915:
900:
801:Duke of Rutland
752:Hamilton Palace
745:
740:
728:succession duty
708:
702:
684:People's Budget
672:Sir Robert Peel
664:Napoleonic Wars
657:
652:
623:Royal Engineers
620:
585:
572:Long Depression
544:
480:white elephants
444:
428:North Yorkshire
386:by marrying an
384:Blenheim Palace
348:North Yorkshire
283:Nottinghamshire
272:
224:Henry Flitcroft
216:Duke of Bedford
151:Mentmore Towers
143:
131:Hamilton Palace
127:Balbardie House
62:
61:
60:
59:
58:
55:
46:
45:
44:
30:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2995:
2985:
2984:
2979:
2974:
2969:
2955:
2954:
2948:
2943:
2938:
2932:
2926:
2920:
2914:
2908:
2902:
2896:
2890:
2884:
2877:
2876:External links
2874:
2872:
2871:
2865:
2852:
2846:
2831:
2785:
2779:
2764:
2758:
2745:
2725:
2710:
2704:
2691:
2685:
2672:
2666:
2653:
2647:
2634:
2628:
2615:
2606:
2600:
2587:
2581:
2568:
2548:
2528:
2515:
2495:
2480:
2474:
2461:
2455:
2442:
2436:
2428:Black Diamonds
2422:
2420:
2417:
2415:
2414:
2401:
2379:
2366:
2357:
2355:Rogers, p. 32.
2348:
2339:
2327:
2314:
2284:
2275:
2266:
2257:
2248:
2239:
2230:
2218:
2209:
2197:
2195:Mynors, p. 11.
2185:
2161:
2159:Mynors, p. 10.
2149:
2128:
2116:
2107:
2085:
2073:
2061:
2035:
2006:
1979:
1970:
1961:
1957:Worsley (2002)
1949:
1945:Worsley (2002)
1937:
1933:Worsley (2002)
1925:
1921:Worsley (2002)
1913:
1911:Worsley, p. 9.
1893:
1872:
1855:
1834:
1822:
1813:
1804:
1792:
1783:
1770:
1750:
1741:
1729:
1717:
1708:
1682:
1650:
1638:
1629:
1620:
1611:
1609:Worsley, p. 7.
1599:
1592:
1574:
1545:
1532:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1516:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1493:
1490:
1488:still happen.
1469:Dumfries House
1465:North Somerset
1461:Gothic Revival
1459:, a Victorian
1450:Hartwell House
1415:National Trust
1401:
1400:
1359:
1357:
1350:
1344:
1341:
1322:Government of
1276:Longleat House
1193:Belvoir Castle
1173:
1170:
1082:
1079:
1054:
1051:
1035:corps de logis
1031:Lord Lansdowne
1006:
1003:
995:Manny Shinwell
982:
981:
978:
975:
959:
956:
948:National Trust
936:House of Lords
917:Grade I listed
899:
896:
888:Virginia House
744:
741:
739:
736:
701:
698:
656:
653:
651:
648:
584:
581:
556:kitchen garden
543:
540:
443:
440:
420:Alnwick Castle
352:Alnwick Castle
271:
268:
263:Dumfries House
142:
139:
100:village school
70:country houses
56:
49:
48:
47:
41:Shah of Persia
31:
24:
23:
22:
21:
20:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2994:
2983:
2980:
2978:
2975:
2973:
2970:
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2952:
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2927:
2924:
2921:
2918:
2915:
2912:
2909:
2906:
2903:
2900:
2897:
2894:
2891:
2888:
2885:
2883:
2880:
2879:
2868:
2866:1-85410-820-4
2862:
2858:
2853:
2849:
2843:
2839:
2838:
2832:
2828:
2821:
2809:
2793:
2792:
2786:
2782:
2776:
2772:
2771:
2765:
2761:
2759:0-7078-0138-9
2755:
2751:
2746:
2734:
2730:
2726:
2715:
2711:
2707:
2705:0-421-75830-9
2701:
2697:
2692:
2688:
2682:
2678:
2673:
2669:
2667:0-19-927279-4
2663:
2659:
2654:
2650:
2644:
2640:
2635:
2631:
2629:0-7506-4468-0
2625:
2621:
2616:
2612:
2607:
2603:
2597:
2593:
2588:
2584:
2582:1-84513-051-0
2578:
2574:
2569:
2557:
2553:
2549:
2545:
2539:
2531:
2525:
2521:
2516:
2512:
2506:
2498:
2496:0-85100-118-1
2492:
2488:
2487:
2481:
2477:
2475:0-7195-6536-7
2471:
2467:
2462:
2458:
2456:0-905978-05-6
2452:
2448:
2443:
2439:
2433:
2429:
2424:
2423:
2411:
2405:
2389:
2383:
2376:
2370:
2364:Rogers, p. 5.
2361:
2352:
2343:
2334:
2332:
2324:
2318:
2302:
2298:
2294:
2288:
2279:
2270:
2261:
2252:
2243:
2234:
2225:
2223:
2213:
2206:
2201:
2192:
2190:
2174:
2168:
2166:
2156:
2154:
2138:
2132:
2126:Mynors, p. 9.
2123:
2121:
2114:Mynors, p. 8.
2111:
2095:
2089:
2080:
2078:
2070:
2065:
2049:
2045:
2039:
2023:
2019:
2013:
2011:
1993:
1989:
1983:
1974:
1965:
1958:
1953:
1946:
1941:
1934:
1929:
1922:
1917:
1908:
1906:
1904:
1902:
1900:
1898:
1882:
1876:
1869:
1865:
1859:
1844:
1838:
1829:
1827:
1817:
1808:
1799:
1797:
1787:
1780:
1774:
1766:. p. 13.
1765:
1761:
1754:
1745:
1738:
1733:
1724:
1722:
1712:
1696:
1692:
1686:
1679:
1678:Edwin Lutyens
1675:
1671:
1667:
1663:
1659:
1654:
1647:
1642:
1633:
1624:
1615:
1606:
1604:
1595:
1589:
1585:
1578:
1563:
1559:
1552:
1550:
1542:
1536:
1527:
1523:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1495:
1489:
1487:
1482:
1478:
1474:
1470:
1466:
1462:
1458:
1453:
1451:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1434:
1433:Auberon Waugh
1430:
1429:
1424:
1416:
1412:
1407:
1397:
1394:
1386:
1376:
1372:
1366:
1365:
1360:This section
1358:
1354:
1349:
1348:
1340:
1338:
1334:
1331:high-profile
1329:
1325:
1321:
1317:
1313:
1312:Marcus Binney
1309:
1303:
1301:
1297:
1293:
1289:
1285:
1281:
1277:
1273:
1267:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1252:
1247:
1245:
1236:
1231:
1227:
1223:
1219:
1217:
1213:
1209:
1205:
1202:In 1898, the
1200:
1198:
1194:
1190:
1186:
1185:
1180:
1169:
1167:
1163:
1159:
1155:
1151:
1147:
1144:
1140:
1136:
1132:
1128:
1124:
1120:
1119:Agecroft Hall
1116:
1115:chimneypieces
1111:
1109:
1105:
1101:
1100:service wings
1092:
1087:
1078:
1075:
1071:
1066:
1064:
1060:
1050:
1048:
1044:
1040:
1036:
1032:
1027:
1024:
1020:
1011:
1002:
1000:
996:
992:
988:
979:
976:
973:
972:
971:
969:
965:
955:
953:
949:
945:
944:Hardwick Hall
939:
937:
933:
928:
918:
913:
909:
904:
895:
891:
889:
885:
884:Agecroft Hall
879:
877:
876:Lord Cromwell
873:
869:
864:
861:
853:
849:
845:
842:
838:
834:
830:
826:
822:
820:
816:
814:
808:
807:
802:
798:
797:Staffordshire
794:
790:
789:Trentham Hall
786:
781:
776:
772:
769:
765:
757:
753:
749:
735:
731:
729:
724:
717:
712:
707:
697:
694:
689:
685:
680:
679:H. H. Asquith
675:
673:
669:
665:
661:
647:
643:
641:
632:
628:
624:
618:
614:
610:
608:
604:
599:
594:
591:
580:
578:
573:
568:
566:
561:
557:
553:
549:
539:
537:
533:
529:
523:
519:
516:
508:
503:
499:
495:
491:
489:
483:
481:
472:
468:
464:
460:
456:
452:
448:
442:Direct causes
439:
437:
433:
429:
425:
424:Stanwick Park
421:
416:
412:
407:
405:
401:
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
376:
373:
369:
365:
361:
353:
349:
345:
344:Stanwick Park
341:
337:
333:
330:
325:
322:
318:
313:
311:
310:
304:
302:
298:
297:
292:
284:
280:
276:
267:
264:
260:
256:
251:
249:
245:
241:
240:H.M. Treasury
237:
236:Hardwick Hall
233:
229:
228:Henry Holland
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
196:
192:
190:
189:Castle Howard
186:
181:
179:
175:
170:
169:Trentham Hall
166:
165:
160:
152:
147:
138:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
116:
111:
109:
105:
104:parish church
101:
96:
95:Edwin Lutyens
90:
88:
84:
79:
74:
71:
67:
53:
42:
38:
37:Staffordshire
34:
33:Trentham Hall
28:
19:
2856:
2836:
2796:. Retrieved
2790:
2769:
2749:
2737:. Retrieved
2733:the original
2717:. Retrieved
2695:
2676:
2657:
2638:
2619:
2610:
2591:
2572:
2560:. Retrieved
2556:the original
2519:
2485:
2465:
2446:
2427:
2419:Bibliography
2409:
2404:
2392:. Retrieved
2382:
2374:
2373:Lees-Milne,
2369:
2360:
2351:
2342:
2322:
2317:
2307:26 September
2305:. Retrieved
2301:the original
2296:
2287:
2278:
2269:
2260:
2251:
2242:
2233:
2212:
2204:
2200:
2176:. Retrieved
2140:. Retrieved
2131:
2110:
2098:. Retrieved
2088:
2068:
2064:
2052:. Retrieved
2048:the original
2038:
2026:. Retrieved
2022:the original
1996:. Retrieved
1992:the original
1982:
1973:
1964:
1959:, p. 11
1952:
1947:, p. 20
1940:
1935:, p. 21
1928:
1916:
1884:. Retrieved
1875:
1858:
1846:. Retrieved
1837:
1816:
1807:
1786:
1778:
1773:
1759:
1753:
1744:
1736:
1732:
1711:
1699:. Retrieved
1695:the original
1685:
1670:Country Life
1669:
1666:Country Life
1665:
1662:Country Life
1661:
1658:Country Life
1657:
1653:
1646:Country Life
1645:
1641:
1632:
1623:
1614:
1583:
1577:
1565:. Retrieved
1561:
1540:
1535:
1530:Clay, p. 56.
1526:
1454:
1438:
1426:
1420:
1389:
1380:
1369:Please help
1364:verification
1361:
1304:
1292:Woburn Abbey
1269:
1264:
1255:
1248:
1240:
1201:
1182:
1175:
1154:Croome Court
1139:period rooms
1112:
1096:
1067:
1056:
1041:designed by
1028:
1023:Woburn Abbey
1016:
983:
961:
940:
923:
912:Bowood House
892:
880:
865:
857:
846:designed by
841:neoclassical
810:
804:
777:
773:
761:
732:
725:
721:
716:chateauesque
700:Death duties
676:
658:
644:
639:
636:
631:Lord Newport
603:ruling class
595:
586:
569:
545:
528:death duties
524:
520:
515:stately home
512:
498:Beaupré Hall
488:World War II
484:
476:
471:Eaton Chapel
467:modern house
436:death duties
432:Woburn Abbey
415:Hope Diamond
411:Clumber Park
408:
404:Earls Temple
377:
368:Neoclassical
357:
334:
326:
314:
307:
305:
294:
291:Evelyn Waugh
288:
279:Clumber Park
252:
220:Woburn Abbey
218:had reduced
201:
182:
178:Country Life
177:
164:Country Life
162:
156:
125:, including
119:World War II
112:
91:
75:
65:
63:
18:
2816:|work=
2520:Wait For me
2430:. Penguin.
1923:, p. 8
1866:, a former
1701:10 December
1674:Norman Shaw
1541:Lost houses
1477:Charles III
1473:Chippendale
1463:mansion in
1457:Tyntesfield
1423:Calke Abbey
1411:Calke Abbey
1280:safari park
1251:family seat
1208:Ernest Cook
1179:Jane Austen
1158:Robert Adam
1043:Robert Adam
908:Robert Adam
872:Lord Curzon
819:Haddon Hall
617:Tong Castle
422:, but sold
396:Stowe House
259:Tyntesfield
255:Calke Abbey
159:World War I
123:Robert Adam
2961:Categories
2798:1 December
2486:Chatsworth
1998:9 December
1762:. London:
1567:9 December
1519:References
1343:The future
1197:Lady Diana
987:Winchelsea
795:palace in
793:Italianate
704:See also:
660:Income tax
655:Income tax
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210:'s Gothic
115:demolished
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2923:BBC.CO.UK
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1481:Sotheby's
1446:Luton Hoo
1189:Pemberley
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791:, a vast
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364:Palladian
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293:'s novel
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668:Waterloo
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2000:2010
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1850:2011
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