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Knowsley Hall: How Liverpool's grandest country house — and one of the largest homes in England — was brought back to life
Knowsley Hall in Merseyside was returned from institutional use in the 1990s to become the seat of the Earl and Countess of Derby. John Martin Robinson reports on progress to one of the most ambitious restorations of an English country house.
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Gatewick: The 'Georgian' house that was built from scratch in the 1950s
A combination of discerning architectural improvement and collecting in 1950s Sussex created Gatewick — the former home of Charles, James and Primrose Yorke — as a modern country house in the 18th-century spirit. John Martin Robinson reports. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Russell House: A Broadway sensation
Russell House in Broadway, Worcestershire, is a Cotswold house beloved by an important Edwardian Anglo-American artistic circle. Now, it has been revived and restored; John Martin Robinson tells its remarkable story. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Newnham Paddox: The ancient country seat that's also brand new
Newnham Paddox in Warwickshire — the seat of the Earl and Countess of Denbigh and Desmond — is an ingeniously planned new house on a small scale which takes advantage of the landscape of a large predecessor demolished in the 1950s. John Martin Robinson explains more; photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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A local revival: Lytham Hall in Lancashire brought back to its former glory
A local initiative has returned Lytham Hall in Lancashire from a building in danger to a well-loved and intensively used property. John Martin Robinson reports.
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The feudal splendour of Arundel Castle's magnificent interiors
Arundel Castle in West Sussex — the seat of the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal — is every bit as spectacular within as it is from outside. John Martin Robinson describes the transformative representation of the Victorian interiors over the past three decades. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Inside Windsor Castle, by kind permission of the Sovereign
As the new reign begins, John Martin Robinson takes an exclusive look at Windsor Castle, Berkshire — an official residence of His Majesty King Charles III — and in particular the recently completed representation of the State Apartments. Photographs taken in the last few days of the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II by Paul Highnam for the Country Life Picture Library.
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Church Cottage, Humbleton: The school that became a picture-perfect country house
Church Cottage in Humbleton, South Yorkshire, is an 1830s schoolhouse that's been reworked to create a perfect smaller country house. John Martin Robinson admires the skill of the craftsmanship and the character of the building. Photographed by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Netherby Hall, Cumbria: Roman foundations, a 16th century tower, a Georgian house... and a very 21st century future
Netherby Hall, Cumbria — the home of Gerald and Margo Smith — is a house built on the site of a Roman fort, and evokes two periods of the distant past. John Martin Robinson reports on the recent revival of the building, including the award-winning restoration of its stables.
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How Beeleigh Abbey became the much-loved home of one of Britain's great bookshop owners
In the second of two articles, David Robinson looks at Beeleigh’s chequered history in the centuries after the Dissolution, culminating with ownership by the Foyle family of the eponymous bookshop.
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London's lost masterpieces: The palaces and Georgian gems torn down in 30 years of 20th century madness
London would look very different had it not been for the widespread demolition of Georgian architecture in the 20th century. John Martin Robinson takes a look back at what was lost and what was fortunately saved.
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Founders' Hall, London: The witty, sensitive, post-Modern building that emerged in the wake of the City's post-war orgy of destruction
Founders’ Hall — at Cloth Fair, London EC1 — is a post-Modern livery hall that is a striking home for The Worshipful Company of Founders, and a building that can teach us something about sensitive development in London. John Martin Robinson reports; photographs by Will Pryce for Country Life.
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Sandringham House: The Norfolk home of The Queen
John Martin Robinson takes a tour of Sandringham House, the country house beloved and developed by generations of the royal family, including rooms not seen by the public. Photographs by Will Pryce for Country Life.
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Georgian farmhouses: The architectural marvel of Britain’s agricultural revolution
Georgian farmhouse architecture is an easily overlooked feature of the changes that shook Britain in the 18th century. John Martin Robinson reveals the interest and importance of these buildings.
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Boxes Farm: A renovation that's so personal as to be almost autobiographical, and the antithesis of a boring, Minimalist, modern dwelling
Over a period of 30 years, Boxes Farm in Northamptonshire — the home of James and Mary Miller — has evolved from the ruins of a farmhouse to a characterful family home. John Martin Robinson explores the remarkable story of this transformation; pictures by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Taitlands: A beautiful restoration that went so well that the owner ended up marrying the builder
Taitlands, in Stainforth, North Yorkshire, is a country house that became a youth hostel — but which has now been transformed back, thanks to the work of Emma and Martin Sharp. John Martin Robinson tells the tale of an exemplary restoration project has created a modern family home from a fine neo-Grecian house. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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Wilton House: The Wiltshire masterpiece of an earl-turned-enthusiastic amateur architect
In the early 18th century, Wilton House in Wiltshire underwent improvement at the hands of the 9th Earl of Pembroke, an enthusiastic amateur architect. For a new book on Wilton — to this day the seat of the Earl of Pembroke — John Martin Robinson assesses his remarkable legacy. Photography by Will Pryce and Simon Upton.
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Ferniehirst Castle: The castle designed specifically for left-handed people
Rebuilt in 1598, this delightful Borders castle was revived by bursts of sensitive restoration in the 19th and 20th centuries, as John Martin Robinson explains. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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How libraries merged with living rooms to become the ultimate in Regency country house chic
By the early 19th century, the library-living room had become an essential element of the country house. John Martin Robinson looks at the development of this space and the wild enthusiasm for books that encouraged it.
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Leighton Hall: The Gothic remodelling of a Georgian house for a Lancashire furniture-making dynasty
A Georgian house remodelled in the Gothic style became a seat of the Gillows family, famous for their furniture-making business, in 1824. John Martin Robinson looks at the remarkable story of the house and its collections. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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Rosebery House: A former Prime Minister's retreat in the heart of Midlothian
Rosebery House, Midlothian is today the home of Lord Dalmeny — but this late-Georgian shooting lodge was once the favoured retreat of the Victorian Prime Minister, Lord Rosebery. It escaped ambitious remodelling at his hands and has recently been the object of sympathetic restoration, as John Martin Robinson reports; photographs by Paul Highnam for the Country Life Picture Library.
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Chettle House: Almost a ruin 200 years ago; a triumph today — 'Everything about the house is novel and ingenious'
Chettle House, Dorset, is the home of Tom and Rosamond Sweet-Escott, whose major restoration project saw them win a Georgian Group award in 2019. The work revived a magnificent house inspired by the architecture of Baroque Rome, as John Martin Robinson reports. Photographs by Paul Highnam for the Country Life Picture Library.
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Ogston Hall: A romantic, well-maintained family home, diligently researched and preserved
The characterful re-working of an ancient family house in the 1850s integrated its varied elements into an impressive and coherent whole. John Martin Robinson reports.
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The remarkable restoration and revival of Haile Hall, home to one of the great dynasties of Imperial Britain
John Martin Robinson discovers the story of Haile Hall, from when it was first touched by the Ponsonby family in the 13th century to its recent restoration and salvation. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
