History of English Country Houses

Evolution of the British Country House

The Twentieth Century

The Edwardian era was to be the final period of great country house building. Lutyens continued to build neo-Georgian country houses for the wealthy elite of the time, as a monument to past opportunities. Mock Tudor remained a popular design feature, with the use of leaded windows and half-timbering.

The Two World Wars completely altered the situtation completeley, changing the Edwardian way of life and leading to the disruption and ultimate destruction of many English country houses.

The decline of the British Empire reduced the trading bloc that had formerly existed, the servants employed were greatly reduced during the war years, and many country houses were used for military service, or evacuation centres for refugees. During this period, many homes fell into a state of disrepair, and landowners, when they did return found they were also affected by new changes to the tax system.

These results led to the resale or demolition of many country houses and sharp decline in the building of new ones.
Some homes did continue to be built after the 1930s. The influence of international Modernism was relatively small and most follow the Classical style and tradition.

The key feature of architecture since the twentieth century has been in the area of restoration, and the recognition of the importance of conservation in preserving the historical legacy of the country house. Groups such as The National Trust and English Heritage play an important role today in seeking to preserve the remains of this architectural history. Together with other groups, local authorities and private owners and donors, they all play a collective part in ensuring this heritage continues so that it can be admired by visitors from across the world.