Review of 'The Destruction of the Country House, 1875 - 1975', with 383 illustrations, (1974), compiled by Roy Strong, Marcus Binney, and John Harris, published by Messrs. Thames and Hudson, London.

Abstract

'The Destruction of the Country House, 1875 - 1975' was compiled by Roy Strong and published in late 1974 to commemorate an exhibition of the same name, also conceived of by Roy Strong, set up to launch European Architectural Heritage Year by the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London. The purpose of both was to draw the public's attention to the country house as a major part of the British national heritage, to show the tragic losses over the last century, and to stress the need to preserve important houses with their contents and settings intact. The positive achievements since 1950 were stressed, as were the problems that lie in the future. The importance of the country house was shown in four sections consisting of paintings, photographs, furniture and furnishings, together with an audio-visual display: (1) Architectural history: photographs of existing buildings which illustrate the stylistic development of the country house. (2) People and country: families and estate workers, the idea of a self-supporting community, activities indoors and outside. (3) Parks and gardens: materials illustrating the evolution of landscape design. (4) Furniture and furnishings, with the presentation of rooms as designed 'ensembles'.