A photographic book featuring English manor houses.

English Manor Houses (Country Series)

Travel

Cooper, Nicholas

Europe

Weidenfeld Nicolson Ltd

From the end of the fifteenth century to the closing years of the seventeenth, England underwent radical social change. English architecture changed radically as well, and the homes of the gentry were transformed as members of this class grew in numbers, wealth, and importance. This abundantly illustrated book provides for the first time a full account of the houses that were built and inhabited by the upper classes during this rich and fascinating period. Architectural historian Nicholas Cooper explores hundreds of gentry houses, some well known and others far less familiar, and considers their evolution in the light of economic, political, and social changes of the age. The book begins with a discussion of the members of the gentry class, their increasing influence, notions of gentility, and evolving attitudes toward the art of architecture and the craft of building. Cooper then traces changes in the architecture and layout of many specific upper class houses and shows how broader social trends and needs were reflected in such developments as the reception of classicism and the evolution of the new types of plans. This book is a treasury of information about English upper-class houses of 1480 to 1680, and about the attitudes and motives of those who built, owned, and lived in them.

Houses of the Gentry 1480–1680

Arts & Photography

Architecture

Paul Mellon Centre

The Opulent Eye: Late Victorian and Edwardian Taste in Interior Design

Watson-Guptill Publications

The gabled manor houses of the early 17th century are, for many, the epitome of the English country house; indeed, Jacobean houses form the core of the National Trust collection. Richly illustrated with color and duotone photographs from Country Life’s unparalleled archive, this book tells the absorbing story of the evolution of the Jacobean country house. Though the Jacobean period itself spanned only 22 years (16031625), it had a major impact on English domestic architecture: this was an exciting period of experiment and discovery, with an extraordinary range of architectural styles being brought into play. The authoritative essays on 22 key Jacobean houses are brought to life with the beautifully reproduced photographs in this latest volume in the acclaimed Country Life series.

The Jacobean Country House: From the Archives of Country Life

Aurum Pr Ltd

Bedford Lemere &amp; Co was the pre-eminent English firm of architectural photographers from 1890-1930, a time of extraordinary change and unparalleled optimism. Complemented with an informative introduction and captions by the author, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in photography, architecture and social history.

The Photography of Bedford Lemere & Co (English Heritage)

Photography & Video

Historic England

Montacute is one of the loveliest of English houses. The honey-colored, Ham Hill stone of its two faultless façades glows in the morning and afternoon sun. It is satisfyingly large but not overwhelmingly grand; its rooms seem dignified but comfortable at the same time. Like every old house, Montacute has been altered over the years, but these changes seem only to make it more human. When Montacute came to the National Trust in 1931, it was empty and unloved. But over the past century, thanks to a series of generous gifts and a pioneering partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, the house has come back to life, so that today it is many people’s favorite. Providing the perfect setting for the house is the garden, which is a rare surviving example of Elizabethan design.

Montacute House: National Trust Guidebook

Moore, Jo

Reference

The National Trust

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Books by Cooper, Nicholas