Castles and Country Houses: A Social, Economic, and Architectural Study
X101.6 (3 semester units in history) EDP 014175
The development of the English country house, from 12th-
century castle to 19th-century mansion, appears to have stopped. Few
people have the money or the desire to build or live in such houses
in the 21st century. Merely maintaining the fabric of surviving
country houses is becoming a major financial problem. As a result,
more people are beginning to ask how and why these houses were built
in the first place, and the experts are realizing that they have
forgotten to ask themselves these basic questions.
Until recently, architectural history was only studied by
art historians who concentrate on the sources and evolution of style
and taste. But buildings surviving from the past contain many other
important messages that can be read by using methods of archaeology
or social and economic history.
Art history is pushed into the background in this course,
and most of our time will be devoted to the archaeological, social,
and economic questions raised by country houses. The builders clearly
wished to demonstrate their wealth, power, taste, and status. A
gentleman was required to spend lavishly: how did he finance building
with so many competing calls upon his income? Power was achieved by
influencing social superiors and peers, and by impressing social
inferiors. A gentleman's house was his "Theatre of
Hospitality" (Wootton 1624)—but who was admitted and how
were different visitors entertained? What rooms were required? And
what ceremonies were performed in each? A gentleman's taste was shown
by correct hospitality, in adopting fashionable decoration both
inside and outside the house, and by appropriate leisure pursuits,
all of which made changing demands upon the fabric and layout of the
house.
To tackle these problems we consider the social mores of
the English gentleman; analyze house plans and theoretical
contemporary texts on planning; study household regulations and the
hierarchy of servants; and apply what is learned in visits to country
houses around Oxford.
No prior knowledge of English social, economic, or
architectural history will be assumed, but it would be useful if
every participant could read at least one of the books cited below
before the start of the course. Each participant is expected to
choose an aspect of the questions outlined above for individual study
under the guidance of the tutor.
The course should prove of interest to archaeologists,
art historians, social and economic historians, and to anyone who
wishes to enlarge their understanding of great houses of the past in
England or America.
Reading List
Our subject is the historic social and functional role of
the English country house. Few books have these as their main themes
but many touch briefly upon the subject.
Several previous students have experienced difficulties
in obtaining some of the recommended books; a number of alternatives
are therefore listed. You may not be able to buy several of the
following books in the United States. Some bookstores are more
helpful than others—shop around. You may not want to purchase
some of the more expensive books that are available in American
bookstores; in that case, try various libraries. If they do not have
what you want, they may be able to get them for you on interlibrary
loan. Taking brief notes from borrowed books is often preferable to
owning them, since it forces you to consider what is most important.
There is no need to bring any books with you to the U.K.
Copies of these and other books will be available in Oxford, and
duplicated extracts from original sources will be used for much of
the coursework.
Randle, John,
Understanding Britain: A History of the
British People and Their Culture (Filmscan Lingual, 1988,
paperback). A brief outline of English history intended especially
for foreign visitors. As useful as any overarching study can be.
Girouard, M.,
Life in the English Country House: A
Social and Architectural History (New Haven and London, 1978,
paperback available). Essential reading.
Franklin, J.,
The Gentleman's Country House and Its
Plan, 1835-1914 (London, Boston and Henley, 1981). Better than
Girouard on the 19th century.
Girouard, M.,
The Victorian Country House (New
Haven and London, 1979). An entertaining and informative substitute
for Franklin.
Stone, L., has written several stimulating books about
the history of the English aristocracy. The most important for our
purposes are:
-
An Open Elite? England 1540-1880 (Oxford, 1984).
A curious title for a most important book that discusses many aspects
of country house building and their occupants in three sample
counties.
-
The Crisis of the Aristocracy 1558-1641 (London,
Oxford and New York, 1965; abridged paperback edition, 1967). Useful
but not essential.
Mingay, G.E.,
The Gentry: The Rise and Fall of a
Ruling Class (London and New York, 1976, paperback). A useful
summary of the entire gentry class.
Bush, M.L.,
The English Aristocracy: A Comparative
Synthesis (Manchester, England and Dover, New Hampshire, 1984,
paperback available). Excellent but assumes knowledge of chronology
found in Mingay.
Norbert, E.,
The Court Society (English
translation by Blackwells, Oxford, 1983, paperback available). About
France, but a stimulating sociological approach to the subject.
Powis, J.,
Aristocracy (Blackwells, Oxford, 1984,
paperback). Another essay on historical sociology; easier reading
than Bush but not as informative.
The development of architectural styles will be a minor
concern but it would be useful if you have a nodding acquaintance
with the principal phase of English secular styles before coming to
the U.K. Browse the shelves of bookstores and libraries. Amongst
others you may find:
Bannister-Fletcher, Sir,
A History of Architecture on
the Comparative Method (1st ed. 1986; continually reprinted and
revised). The drawings and very brief text to each section make this
the standard crib for architectural students.
Pevsner, Sir N.,
An Outline of European
Architecture (1943 and several reprints). Another standard crib,
particularly useful for comparisons and contrasts in a European-wide
setting. NB: Chapter 7 on Britain and France.
Watkin, D.,
English Architecture: A Concise
History. London, 1979, paperback. A recent, sound, but boring
general survey.
Summerson, Sir J.,
The Pelican History of Art:
Architecture in Britain, 1530-1830 (London and Baltimore, 5th
ed., 1969/70). Covers the periods of most significant change and is
probably the most useful single book for our purposes.
Girouard, M.,
Robert Smythson and the Architecture of
the Elizabethan Era (London, 1966; 2nd ed., 1983). Deals
interestingly with an important transitional period; marred only by
untenable attempts to see Smythson's hand at work everywhere.
Mowl, T.,
Elizabethan and Jacobean Style
(Manchester, 1993);
Architecture Without Kings: The Rise of
Puritan Classicism under Cromwell (London, 1995). These are
interestingly controversial books revising views on style in the 17th
century.
Thornton, P.,
Authentic Decor: The Domestic Interior
1620-1920 (London, 1984). An amazingly informed book.
Lloyd, N.,
A History of the English House (1931
and various reprints). Well worth reading despite its old-fashioned
appearance.
Thornton, P.,
Seventeenth Century Interior Decoration
in England, France and Holland (New Haven and London, 1978,
paperback available). Breaks entirely new ground in its approach and
is as much social as art history; highly recommended.
Lancaster, Osbert,
From Pillar to Post and
Homes Sweet Homes will be in the humor section of your
bookshop, but you will find either an informative, brief, and amusing
guide to styles and polite living.
Course Requirements
Students are required to write one essay.
Tutor
R. Machin, M.A., formerly Senior Lecturer, Department for
Continuing Education, University of Bristol.
Tutor's Address
Grey Cottage
Askerwell
Dorchester
Dorset DT2 9EL
Field Trips and Fees
There are three field trips that include visits to
Chepstow, Raglan and Goodrich, Canons Ashby, and Chiswick Villa,
Marble Hill House, and Ham House. The field trip fee is still to be
determined and will be collected in Oxford.
