The Tudor and Jacobean Country House: A Building History

The English country house in its landscaped setting was one of the most exciting and original developments of the 16th century. Liberated from the need to build for defence by the establishment of domestic peace and financed by a buoyant economy, the Tudor and Jacobean aristocracy indulged in a frenzy of competitive building which radically changed the face of the countryside. Stimulated by the Elizabethan Court, architecture became a matter of passionate interest and social rivalry, characterized by symbolism, allegory and fantasy. This study explores how the country house was designed and built. Using evidence from contemporary documents to bring the building site to life, it examines the building process, from the motives of the patron and the surveyors who designed them, to the problems that were involved in organizing and financing their projects. It sets out the factors that governed the choice of site, the selection and transport of materials, the processes of design and the methods of construction. It also considers the vital contribution of the individual craftsmen, reconstructing their working lives, including wage rates and living conditions.