-
The forgotten titan of Victorian creativity who once stood alongside Pugin, Ruskin and William Morris, and the country church that hints at his legacyThe restoration of St Bartholomew’s Church in Sutton Waldron, Dorset, throws an unexpected light on Owen Jones's work on the Great Exhibition’s Crystal Palace — and the colour theories behind it. Kathryn Ferry reports; photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
-
'NIMBYs are heroes of our time': Simon Jenkins launches devastating attack on the state of housing in BritainThe Cotswolds are being ruined, house building targets are only helping the 'middling rich', and why NIMBYs should be celebrated, not vilified: Simon Jenkins lit up the Future Countryside conference with a scathing speech about house building and planning policy. Julie Harding was there to witness the fireworks.
-
House of the Dragon: The Elizabethan mansion protected by a fire-breathing beast — until it wasn'tMelanie Bryan recounts the fascinating story of Drakelow Hall.
-
'The ideal of what an English country house should be': Ven House's journey from Georgian corruption to modern gloryThis magnificent Ven House in Somerset — home of Mike Fisher and Lord Allen of Kensington — was the unexpected product of the fractious and corrupt politics of early 18th-century England. John Goodall explains more; photography by Will Pryce for Country Life.
-
The financier, racing driver and prolific party animal who saved — and then lost — one of the 20th century's most notable country housesArdenrun Place was a short-lived yet architecturally notable English country house. Melanie Bryan tells its tale.
-
A tale of two Deaneries: The unique medieval and 17th century homes attached to Gloucester CathedralThe Deans of Gloucester have consecutively occupied two houses in the cathedral close — namely, The Old and the New Deanery. Both have a fascinating history, as John Goodall discovers.
-
'It's rather like a foghorn reverberating through the halls and corridors': The young custodians of a castle used to shelter Jacobite rebels and its wonderful Victorian organIn our latest Country-House Treasures instalment, John Goodall meets the young custodians of Cluny Castle and its loud Victorian organ.
-
'A toy cut from cardboard': Glin Castle's renaissance at the hands of an elite garden designer and her A-list husbandAgainst all the odds, the ancient Glin Castle has remained intact, thriving and continues its role as the seat of the FitzGeralds, Knights of Glin. Jeremy Musson considers the significance of the work of the late Knight of Glin and his daughter Catherine FitzGerald in keeping this castle in family hands. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
-
Chavenage: The true story of the 'Rivals' house — and it's every bit as dramatic as the plots that Jilly Cooper dreamt upTogether with tales of spectral apparitions, many mysteries surround the building of Chavenage. What is certain is that the house has an extraordinary charm typical of the Cotswolds.
-
Housing in Britain has been broken for seven decades — here's how to fix it: Jonathan Glancey on the Country Life PodcastThe architecture writer Jonathan Glancey joins James Fisher on the Country Life Podcast.
-
Why one of Cornwall's oldest and most definitely haunted houses burned to the ground — 30 years after it was photographed for Country LifeMelanie Bryan traces the history of Treworgey Manor, built during the reign of Henry VIII.
-
'Well, you will have to burn me in it, boys': The remarkable tale of Glin Castle, and its unlikely survival through two centuries of turmoilJohn Goodall looks at Glin Castle, Co Limerick, the home of the FitzGeralds, Knights of Glin. This article, which tells the story from its 1789 construction into the 20th century, is the first of two articles about a family seat built by a dynasty as remarkable for its longevity as its colourful history. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
-
Mar Vista: 'A million miles away from the dreaded ranges of identikit suburban housing'In Los Angeles, 52 homes by the renowned architect Gregory Ain show how thoughtful design and landscaping can be inspired by subtle ideas about how to constitute a community that go far beyond politics.
-
Built for a pretender to the Scottish throne, consumed by a coalfield: The doom of Hamilton PalaceAt its zenith, Hamilton Palace rivalled Buckingham Palace in size — but when it was photographed for Country Life, its days were already numbered, says Melanie Bryan.
-
Calico House: A modern home in an ancient house, lovingly restored and full of historyEnlarged by a prosperous yeoman farmer in the 17th century, the remarkable Calico House, in Newnham, Kent, has a complex history stretching back to the Middle Ages. John Goodall reports on a place that is now the home of Graham Lloyd-Brunt and Ewan Brown. Photography by Will Pryce for Country Life.
-
The ancient manor house brought back from ruin by people of the village where it's stood for seven centuriesThe restoration of a Transylvanian manor house, using only local craftspeople and traditional methods, has stood the test of time. Apafi Manor, in Mălâncrav, Romania, is a model of its kind, finds Jeremy Musson. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
-
The 17th century Devon home that inspired a smoking ban and lives on only inside the Country Life ArchiveOnce upon a time, no one batted an eyelid at smoking in public places — including inside listed buildings. Melanie Bryan investigates why that began to change in the 1960s.
-
Ampleforth Abbey: How an iconic architect somehow blended Gothic Revival, Arts-and-Crafts and Modernism with clarity, simplicity and spatial coherenceOn the centenary of Ampleforth Abbey's first consecration, John Goodall looks at the evolution of this North Yorkshire church by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, which illustrates the architect’s journey from antiquarianism to abstraction. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
-
Theft, damage, violence and crumbling fabric: The plight of Britain's churches is only getting worsePlaces of worship across the country are facing challenges on all fronts. Is the help that's on its way going to make any difference?
-
A house lost, a landscape reborn: The story of Worsley New HallThe property now known as RHS Bridgewater conceals a fascinating history.
-
Victoria and Albert at Burghley House: The royal visit that set the mould, and helped stave off revolutionIn November 1844, Queen Victoria visited Burghley House in Lincolnshire as part of a programme of travel aimed to introduce her subjects to Prince Albert. John Martin Robinson describes the event.
