History of English Country Houses

Evolution of the British Country House

Norman Castles

These great military buildings of stone construction are symbols of William the Conqueror's Norman Conquest of 1066. William subsequently redistributed land to his followers from Normandy. One of the finest examples of a Norman castle is Hedingham in Essex, built in 1184 by the son of a knight in William's service. Like the Tower of London, it is a tall square structure with square corner towers.

Great Halls and Chambers

As well as Norman castles, smaller manor house complexes were built. Initially these consisted of two storeys with a chamber and hall blocks, and a private apartment above for the Lord and his family. A few of these survive to this day and date back to the late twelfth century.

Under the early feudal system, all land was owned by the king and granted to his tenants, chiefly his barons and earls. In return for their military aid, the king granted them a manor house as a country estate. In 1086, around half of England was distributed in this way, with most of the rest being granted to the church in the form of monasteries or cathedrals.

Great Halls are part of a longer tradition dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. The halls were central to the local community and a vital part of any major dwelling from the twelfth to the early seventeenth centuries. In the earliest forms, the hall could be used for everyone to eat and sleep communally and could also be used as the administrative centre for the local district. Later, as private apartments were added, the hall remained for ceremonial functions, and as an architectural symbol for the household.

By the early thirteenth century, the halls were connected by a chamber block and kitchens at either end, which became a common feature in most manor houses for centuries to come. Stokesay Castle in Shropshire is a well preserved example of a manor house complex from the thirteenth century.

Great Halls of the fourteenth century were glorious, impressive structures, and by now they would be supported by the characteristic high roof with a majestic timber ceiling. As the families and estates grew, the hall and chamber blocks would become part of a much larger network of buildings. The country house mansion began to include courtyards with dwellings arranged in wings around the sides.

Gothic architectural designs from Italy began influencing English architecture during the twelfth century. Chiefly seen in churches such as York Minster and Canterbury, the traditional divisions of Gothic architecture were Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular. The royal interest came through castle building, where Edward I, used every available mason in building his castle in Wales. The castles of North Wales were particularly impressive as they were designed both as fortifications, like Beaumaris at Anglesey, and royal residences, as at Conway and Caernarvon. These grand, forbidding buildings with their clusters of towers were just as striking and expressive as the great churches were.