"The aim of this index is to provide a quick reference to the literature on individual country houses in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, held in the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Over 4,000 country houses are included. The contents of 135 general books on architecture, architectural details and county histories have been indexed, as well as guides to individual country houses, catalogues of collections and sales catalogues. Only a few periodicals, apart from Country Life up to 1982, have been included."--Introduction.

Originally published in 1982, and based on extensive research in estates’ archives, this book outlines the changing fate of the 500 largest estates in England over the centuries. It examines estates in their heyday and looks at their changing role as they declined in the twentieth century, showing how some estates have survived and describing the differing uses to which country houses have been put.

Originally published in 1982, and based on extensive research in estates’ archives, this book outlines the changing fate of the 500 largest estates in England over the centuries. It examines estates in their heyday and looks at their changing role as they declined in the twentieth century, showing how some estates have survived and describing the differing uses to which country houses have been put.