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Review
‘A poignantly illustrated volume. Robinson writes with passion of the fate of ancient landed families…there are numerous spellbinding illustrations.’ – Marcus Binney, Architecture Correspondent (The Times )
‘An eloquent study of some 20 ‘lost’ estates. Dr Robinson is a distinguished architectural historian. There can be few people better placed to tell this story. His introductory essay should be read by anyone interested in the history of land-owning in England.’ – Jeremy Musson (Country Life magazine )
‘Stunning visual record of our most spectacular and scenic country estates…magnificent book.’ 9/10 (Lancashire Evening Post )
‘An extremely handsome volume packed to the rafters with fascinating stories and stunning images of now-vanished stately homes…a great book all round’ (Morpeth Herald )
‘Informative, trenchant and often poignant book.’ (Eastern Daily Press )
‘There is something compelling and evocative about abandoned, lost or ruined homes that appeals to the voyeur in all of us, and this book hits that sweet spot again and again. It is gloriously illustrated with some mesmerising black-and-white pictures of the houses in the pomp. This is the world of Downton Abbey brought to life, or rather death, and all the more interesting for that. Every chapter could form a mini-series in its own right. The accompanying text is a joy, shot through with nostalgia for what has been lost and a disdain for the modern horrors.’ (Welovethisbook.com )
'Beautifully rendered book' Five stars***** (Yorkshire Evening Post )
‘Magnificent…this treasure trove of history offers a stunning and heart-breaking photographic record of our most spectacular and scenic country estates’ (Lancashire Evening Post )
‘This book doesn’t just tug one’s heart-strings but yanks them heartily…beautifully illustrated’ (The Field )
‘An eloquent study of some 20 ‘lost’ estates. Dr Robinson is a distinguished architectural historian. There can be few people better placed to tell this story. His introductory essay should be read by anyone interested in the history of land-owning in England.’ – Jeremy Musson (Country Life magazine )
‘Stunning visual record of our most spectacular and scenic country estates…magnificent book.’ 9/10 (Lancashire Evening Post )
‘An extremely handsome volume packed to the rafters with fascinating stories and stunning images of now-vanished stately homes…a great book all round’ (Morpeth Herald )
‘Informative, trenchant and often poignant book.’ (Eastern Daily Press )
‘There is something compelling and evocative about abandoned, lost or ruined homes that appeals to the voyeur in all of us, and this book hits that sweet spot again and again. It is gloriously illustrated with some mesmerising black-and-white pictures of the houses in the pomp. This is the world of Downton Abbey brought to life, or rather death, and all the more interesting for that. Every chapter could form a mini-series in its own right. The accompanying text is a joy, shot through with nostalgia for what has been lost and a disdain for the modern horrors.’ (Welovethisbook.com )
'Beautifully rendered book' Five stars***** (Yorkshire Evening Post )
‘Magnificent…this treasure trove of history offers a stunning and heart-breaking photographic record of our most spectacular and scenic country estates’ (Lancashire Evening Post )
‘This book doesn’t just tug one’s heart-strings but yanks them heartily…beautifully illustrated’ (The Field )
Product Description
A stunning visual record of our most spectacular and scenic country estates that were broken up for sale and lost for ever A sweeping country estate, with grand house and spectacular gardens and park, would not be the first impression of a visitor to modern suburban Watford. But well into the twentieth century that was exactly what was there – the magnificence of the Cassiobury estate, of which only a modest municipal park survives. Underneath the expanse of Rutland Water lies the once splendid Normanton estate, while Deepdene in Surrey is now memorialised only by an ugly office block. Fortunately, at least photographs live on to remind us of how our landscape looked before death duties, mining subsidence and sometimes the plain impecuniousness of the black sheep in the family took their toll and forced the break-up of all too many historic landed estates. In this elegiac book, a successor to Aurum’s Lost Victorian Britain, John Robinson surveys 20 of the most egregious losses, from Costessy in East Anglia to Lathom in Lancashire, and shows how the deer park, the home farm, the parterre and the cottage garden gave way to the power station, the motorway and the caravan park.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are many reasons for the demise of many of England's grandest estates, and John Martin Robinson in this book sets out a fine variety of them: the 'general uselessness' of an heir; too many horses; too many bachelor heirs; families quite sensibly rationalising their land-holdings.... and quite a lot more, 21 in total. In addition to the detailed accounts of these 21 there is a succinct and well-written introduction setting the historical scene.
The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs from what is obviously the compendious Country Life archive, all in atmospheric black and white, and some of stunning quality - see for example the spreads on Witley Court.
There is some overlap with Giles Worsley's book on lost houses of England (I think seven of these are mentioned in that excellent book), and one overlap (Shillinglee) with the recent book on lost cricket grounds. However this author is just as interested in the estates and what happened to them as in the houses themselves, and there is scholarly but very readable detail about the way the estates were built up and eventually disposed of. Some of the houses described here are not particularly distinguished, but in each article there is something to enjoy, whether it be the conversion to 'agro-bus and golferama' of some fine estate, or Mr Robinson's rejoicing in how well Rutland Water has naturalised after the loss of Normanton. On the other hand, he is very trenchant when he thinks people behaved badly (e.g. at Lathom).
I enjoyed this and recommend it as a good addition to the Aurum Press list of reminders of our lost heritage. Mind you, there is a split infinitive on page 141.
The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs from what is obviously the compendious Country Life archive, all in atmospheric black and white, and some of stunning quality - see for example the spreads on Witley Court.
There is some overlap with Giles Worsley's book on lost houses of England (I think seven of these are mentioned in that excellent book), and one overlap (Shillinglee) with the recent book on lost cricket grounds. However this author is just as interested in the estates and what happened to them as in the houses themselves, and there is scholarly but very readable detail about the way the estates were built up and eventually disposed of. Some of the houses described here are not particularly distinguished, but in each article there is something to enjoy, whether it be the conversion to 'agro-bus and golferama' of some fine estate, or Mr Robinson's rejoicing in how well Rutland Water has naturalised after the loss of Normanton. On the other hand, he is very trenchant when he thinks people behaved badly (e.g. at Lathom).
I enjoyed this and recommend it as a good addition to the Aurum Press list of reminders of our lost heritage. Mind you, there is a split infinitive on page 141.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is an ideal "coffee table" book but it is so much more. I was compelled to read out sections to whoever was in the room.
Not a critism just a regret that I can never visit these magnificent houses. We think we live in hard times but reading this, it's nothing new.
I will read this again in the not too distant future.
If you love looking into the past then this book is one to buy.
Not a critism just a regret that I can never visit these magnificent houses. We think we live in hard times but reading this, it's nothing new.
I will read this again in the not too distant future.
If you love looking into the past then this book is one to buy.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
After purchasing The Lost Houses of England, it seemed only right to follow by purchasing this volume of lost parklands. Another beautiful book that will be looked at and reread time and time again. If you have a coffee-table collection, then be sure to buy both this book and The Lost Houses of England!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Gift
I bought this book as a gift for my elderly father. He's patriotic and loves the history of the country. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Eds point of view
beautifully illuatrated
this is a beautifully illustrated book. photographs of the English countryside are stunning, Not to mention the quality of the book itself.
Published 3 months ago by Daniel Romualdez
An elegiac and beautiful book
Felling the Ancient Oaks is a very well written and beautifully illustrated book, which in some ways makes up for the essential sadness of the story of how so much of the beauty... Read more
Published 3 months ago by reads too much
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