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A glimmer of hope for Mentmore Towers, the 'treasure-house that would evoke all the richness of 16th-century Venice'The home, once belonging to the Rothschild family, is in desperate need of repair. Something must be done.
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Projecting power: How the Normans used architecture to conquer EnglandWithin a century of William the Conqueror's victory at Hastings in 1066, the Normans had transformed the architectural face of England with churches and castles. John Goodall examines their legacy.
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Charles Berkeley on the arch at the castle that's been in his family since the 1100sJohn Goodall meets Charles Berkeley, whose family have owned Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire for nine centuries, to find out about one of its most striking original features.
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Duelling, revolution and a picture-perfect cottage in IrelandDuring the 1790s, a widow, Mary Bushe, created a Romantic cottage and garden for herself: Dangan Cottage, Co Kilkenny. John Goodall explains the background to its creation and reports on the remarkable recent restoration of the property, now the home of Christopher Moore.
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'Works of craftsmanship that bring these rooms to life': Thirlestane Castle's spectacular 17th century plasterworkEdward Maitland-Carew's family have been at Thirlestane since the 13th century. He spoke to John Goodall about the extraordinary ceilings that were created roughly half-way through that tenure.
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Curraghmore: The great Irish house transformed by the most 'brilliant, exasperating, expensive and chaotic' architect of the 18th centuryIn the second of two articles, John Goodall looks at the later development of Curraghmore, Co Waterford — home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Waterford — and a new discovery relating to its outstanding interiors by James Wyatt. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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What to do with the remains of Glasgow's Mackintosh building?A recent update on the condition of the building, and what to do with it next, has raised some eyebrows from the architectural and conservation communities.
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It is hard to know where, when or why this cabinet of dolls was collectedToday's country house treasure comes from Browsholme Hall in Lancashire. Photographs by Jesse Wild.
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One family, six centuries and an Irish house of unsurpassed beauty: The fascinating tale of CurraghmoreCurraghmore in Co Waterford, Ireland — the home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Waterford — has been developed over the course of six centuries by a single family. In the first of two articles, John Goodall explores its early history and first Georgian transformation. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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The 300-year-old bookcases in a Devon castle that's been in the same family for 600 yearsJohn Goodall talks to the 19th Earl of Devon, Charlie Courtenay, about one of the greatest treasures at Powderham Castle.
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'A turning point in the history of country houses': Bowood's trailblazing days as a safe refuge for wounded soldiersJohn Goodall visits Bowood to discover more about the wartime role played by this Wiltshire home — and the example it set that was then followed across Britain.
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The pulpit of the man who brought the Bible to the people — only to be strangled and burnt for his effortsWilliam Tyndale was a titanic figure in the Reformation in England. The pulpit he once preached from survives to this day at Bucklebury House in Berkshire; John Goodall takes a look.
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Warwick Castle is a masterpiece that's become a medieval theme park — but then again, it always has beenJohn Goodall looks at the development of Warwick Castle since the 16th century and the way in which its history has been enriched by legend. Photography by Will Pryce for Country Life.
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One of the great treasures of Highclere shows 'Nature set into marble, frozen and made eternal'A Florentine table created with pietra dura fuses art and Nature. John Goodall spoke to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon about this unique treasure in the halls of Highclere.
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Warwick Castle: The 700-year story of one of the world's great strongholdsJohn Goodall looks at Warwick Castle, Warwickshire, and how a combination of legend and the profits of war created one of the most celebrated and imposing of all English castles. Photographs by Will Pryce for Country Life.
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'A trailblazing illustration of how a historic estate can thrive': Doddington Hall's confident march into the 21st centuryJohn Goodall looks at the later history of Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire — home of Claire and James Birch — and the present initiatives that are allowing it to thrive. Photohgraphy by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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The hand-written bibles handed down through centuries, in pride of place in a Welsh country house libraryAt Treberfydd House in Brecon, a magnificent hand-written bible has been handed down through the generations. John Goodall tells its story.
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Doddington Hall: The story of an Elizabethan marvelJohn Goodall looks at the creation of Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire, and the unexpected story of this important Elizabethan house's descent and Georgian development. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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'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.
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Inspired by a Renaissance masterpiece, created by one of the world's great architects, this bed has done a century's service for a country house's owners — and their very lucky petsJohn Goodall talks to Sebastian Fenwick about his extraordinary bed, designed by the great Edwin Lutyens.
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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.
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'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.
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The Duke of Wellington's hearing aid, at the cutting edge of technology 200 years agoJohn Goodall meets the 9th Duke of Wellington to hear the tale of his famous forbear's hearing problems.
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'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.
