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The Social History of the English Country House, 1200-2000

'North View of Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire; the Seat of the Duke of Devonshire', John Buckler FSA, 1813 ©Yale centre for British Art

The Social History of the English Country House, 1200-2000

Introduction

Section:

England’s country houses are one of the great achievements of our culture. Their range and variety, from Medieval castles, to Elizabethan prodigy houses, Palladian palaces and Victorian Gothic mansions, tell the story of English architecture. However, they also reflect the society that made them. Mark Girouard’s celebrated book Life in the English Country House, published in 1976, opened up new ways of understanding this rich and remarkable aspect of our culture. Many other historians have followed in his footsteps. In this series, Steven Brindle draws on this scholarly tradition to tell the social and cultural history of the English country house, from their Medieval origins to their decline and revival in the 20th century.

They take place every Monday from 30 March to 5 May 2026 at 4.30pm (London) and, including Q&A, will last just under an hour. They are available for viewing for eight weeks after the last episode is streamed (until 30 June 2026).