“Country Houses of Britain and Ireland”, by Tom Quinn, photographs by Paul Riddle

 

240 pages, New Holland Publishers, ISBN-13: 978-1843308997

Country Houses of Britain and Ireland is what it says it is: an exploration of several grand estates across Britain and Ireland. Paul Riddle’s captivating photography brings to life the uniqueness of each country house and complements Tom Quinn’s enthusiastic and informative text perfectly; together, author and photographer explore the historical background of the families connected to each house and guides the reader around each sumptuous abode, focusing on architecture, furnishings, artefacts and gardens. Naturally, since there must be thousands of these things dotting the countryside, the authors have had to be selective with their choices, but they have managed to provide a diverse cross-section of aristocratic dwellings from a range of periods, from Owlpen Manor – a Tudor Grade I manor house of the Mander family in the village of Owlpen in Gloucestershire – to the beautiful Knebworth House – an English country house in Hertfordshire. The British Isles have a wealth of country houses, and this delightful book is a celebration of over 50 of the best examples, with informative text accompanied by breathtaking photography that covers the finest examples of the country house in the United Kingdom and Ireland.