tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post387376111763138747..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: The Lost Houses of EnglandDebra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-8735637360160586382020-11-13T08:35:47.496-08:002020-11-13T08:35:47.496-08:00I have only recently learned that Sir John Bramsto...I have only recently learned that Sir John Bramston the Elder was my 10X grandfather. Fortunate to have found photographs of the now demolished manor from several vantage points. Was even sent some photos of the interior. Much information regarding the Bramston's online. <br />Would love to have a copy of a coloured painting of Skreens manor and one of my 9X grandfather Sir Mondeford Bramston.<br />Regards, Ken Duncan, Vancouver, BCKen Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11830378002768972180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-4082849060582640552011-12-15T08:54:40.976-08:002011-12-15T08:54:40.976-08:00Thanks for your reply, Jenna. It is nice that us o...Thanks for your reply, Jenna. It is nice that us ordinary people can see these houses nowadays. How nice that you can hold meetings in one! <br /><br />Are not some still self-sufficient? Until the death of Diana, the Spencers still ran their home alone, did they not? Now they do allow a period of visitation per year in Diana's honor as people want to see the place. Or is it because they needed the money? Then Earl Spencer married a philanthropist- that must help. I'm sure some still look to marry well.<br /><br />Thanks Matthew, I'll read your post.Debra Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-24457089323513810432011-12-15T03:18:55.449-08:002011-12-15T03:18:55.449-08:00What a loss. Anyone who loves the work of Robert A...What a loss. Anyone who loves the work of Robert Adam should oppose this awful scheme for Wyreside Hall: http://dasteepsspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/12/adam-would-turn-his-grave.htmlMatthew Steepleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01853121889645086008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-49985486333770733972011-12-15T00:16:07.111-08:002011-12-15T00:16:07.111-08:00Debra, lots of houses are still owned privately, b...Debra, lots of houses are still owned privately, but it's true that the First World War and changes to taxation meant that only the very cleverest people have kept them. The National Trust (NT) has lots of houses under their care, but they will only take on new houses if there is some kind of fund for the upkeep. The NT relies mainly on volunteers to help run these houses. Some other houses are owned by English Heritage (but they tend to take on castles more). Others have had to adapt. For example: Longleat House is a safari park and theme park as well as a stately home owned by the Marquis of Bath. Some offer Wedding venues, hotels, conference facilities. In fact me and my husband run our own business and have met with our customers in a stately home (as a meeting room) for the day at a very reasonable rate. hth Jenna.Jenna Dawlishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17041431937600905275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-34228047516984332922011-12-14T19:23:42.356-08:002011-12-14T19:23:42.356-08:00Weald House was gorgeous! What a loss.Weald House was gorgeous! What a loss.Katherine Ashehttp://www.katherineashe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-44731891323397010722011-12-14T19:15:36.056-08:002011-12-14T19:15:36.056-08:00It makes me sick to think of these fabulous houses...It makes me sick to think of these fabulous houses being left to die. I'm glad there is provision to take care of them. When I watch period movies, it seems as if there is a new house for every movie. I just can't believe there are so many of them, and those are just the ones I have seen. <br /><br />Do many families still manage to keep up their own houses?Debra Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-53953858858347973172011-12-14T18:33:59.178-08:002011-12-14T18:33:59.178-08:00Thanks everyone. I would love to visit the Lost G...Thanks everyone. I would love to visit the Lost Gardens, M.M.Maggi Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15430261880092452319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-80290966467435898502011-12-14T06:05:46.917-08:002011-12-14T06:05:46.917-08:00The impact of WWI on these great houses is beyond ...The impact of WWI on these great houses is beyond reckoning. It often wasn't just one son who died, leaving the family without an heir. But several sons and cousins. The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall are the result of that kind of loss--by the end of the war, there were just two little old ladies left in the family, and they hadn't the money or the energy to maintain the huge garden. And so it slept, forgotten, until it was accidentally rediscovered, long after the ladies had died, in 1991. <br /><br />Many of the big houses are still changing hands, chiefly because taxes so high, but maintenance costs are higher than anything. These old piles are all Grade I listed, which means the owner has to restore the house (if work is being done) with reclaimed whatever from the same period and it has to be exactly right--whether it's window frames, roof tiles, chimney pots, doors, paint (must be an historic colour)...the list is endless. And the costs make your eyes water.<br /><br />Also, as you mention, the taxes. During the 1960s the upper tax band was 80%. Which effectively meant that if you were a landowner and a fence came down, you didn't have the money to repair it. If the roof leaked, you didn't have the money to repair that either--you just brought in extra buckets. And this was devastating to the fabric of these houses... <br /><br />A number of the big houses have been sold to Russian oligarchs in the last decade--they have the money for the upkeep, and frankly, from those houses I've seen, they're willing to be patient and restore the houses properly. <br /><br />Though, interestingly, one other way to earn a bit of cash to be used in the restoration works is to let said house out for filming.M.M. Bennettshttp://www.mmbennetts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-23813201236438372642011-12-14T02:30:48.529-08:002011-12-14T02:30:48.529-08:00That's awfully sad... I love big old houses wi...That's awfully sad... I love big old houses with centuries of history...Phoebe's Sistershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03548739602100284299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-66274768246848368312011-12-14T02:28:39.312-08:002011-12-14T02:28:39.312-08:00Most interesting. It's good to know that orga...Most interesting. It's good to know that organizations like the National Trust are focusing on preservation. It's so easy to destroy something; too often, it's a huge mistake.Lauren Gilberthttp://www.heyerwood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-37234905999720870902011-12-14T00:54:58.470-08:002011-12-14T00:54:58.470-08:00We are NT members and it's just great they hav...We are NT members and it's just great they have so many properties that would otherwise have gone to ruin. Such sad stories of great houses. I sometimes visit Barrington Court in Somerset which was the NT's first property and it nearly bankrupted them! It's a tudor building and doesn't have any furnishings at the moment - great for toddlers to run around in, but a bit sad all the same! Thanks for the post.Jenna Dawlishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17041431937600905275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-72128958900417345742011-12-14T00:14:36.492-08:002011-12-14T00:14:36.492-08:00So sad to hear of such a beautiful piece of histor...So sad to hear of such a beautiful piece of history coming down. I can understand how it would be hard on the average family to maintain such an estate in the modern age, but its nice that there is an interest in preserving some of them.<br /><br />Thanks for the post! Really enjoyed the pictures.Sophia Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07909417504496472472noreply@blogger.com