The Country House Podcast

In this timely episode, Rory steps into the shoes of Inspector Clouseau to give Geoff - and you - a tour of the Galerie d'Apollon; the scene of the crime for the latest Louvre heist in which eight priceless pieces from the French Crown Jewels were stolen in only eight minutes.We invite our listeners to join us in the luminous splendour of the Galerie d’Apollon in Le Palais du Louvre; a room that reads like a manifesto of French royal ambition. Designed after the 1661 fire that ravaged the palace, the Galerie became a testing ground for the emerging language of the French Baroque - soaring ceilings, gilded stucco work and celestial frescoes celebrating the Sun King (Louis XIV). Its walls and ceiling, enriched by the work of Le Brun and later Delacroix, chart the evolution of French statecraft through art. The Louvre Palace opened as a museum in 1793, and the Galerie has been the home of the French Crown Jewels since the 19th century - their own turbulent history mirroring the political metamorphoses undergone by the nation of France over the centuries.By situating this palace interior within the broader tradition of European domestic architecture, the episode explores how courtly aesthetics shaped the ambitions of country houses and urban palaces alike - each aspiring to embody a choreography of power, spectacle, and cultivated magnificence.If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode - the final part in our series on the shortlisted candidates for the HHA Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts) - we travel to the heart of the Forest of Bowland to visit Browsholme Hall, Lancashire’s oldest surviving family home.We’re joined by Robert Parker, current custodian of Browsholme, who inherited his family home somewhat unexpectedly in 1975 upon the death of his fourth cousin. Robert shares the story of the Parker family, who built Browsholme in the early 16th century, and how the estate has evolved through the centuries - surviving political upheavals, social change, and the challenges of modern heritage stewardship. We explore the architecture of this Tudor house, from its oak-panelled Great Hall to its later Georgian additions, and discuss how each generation has left its mark on the building.We also get a glimpse into Browsholme’s extraordinary collection of art, furniture, and historic artefacts - objects that tell the intimate story of one family’s place in English history. With Robert’s anecdotes and deep personal connection to the Hall, this episode offers a lovely insight into what it means to live amidst, and care for, centuries of heritage.Join us for an evocative journey through time at one of Lancashire’s most captivating historic homes.If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the last in a line of viscounts has only one child - a daughter - but the family's ancestral seat is entailed to the male line (meaning it'll go to a distant cousin)? This was the dilemma facing Charles, 9th Viscount Fairfax, in the mid-18th century...The answer (for Lord Fairfax, at least) was to purchase a prime site in the centre of the ancient cathedral city of York, and to commission the best architect in Yorkshire - the famous John Carr of York - to design an exquisite Georgian townhouse for Lord Fairfax's daughter, Ann.On this week's podcast episode - the third instalment in our series looking at the houses shortlisted for this year's Historic Houses Association Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts) - Geoff meets with Sarah Burnage, Curator of Fairfax House, which is now open to the public and houses and exceptional collection of Georgian furniture, clocks, glass and porcelain.Please join us for a fascinating glimpse of what high-life city living in the 18th century was like!If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the next five weeks, we will be exploring the history and collections of the five shortlisted candidates for this year's Historic Houses Association Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts). Geoff is a judge in this year's awards, along with Francis Terry (architect), Rita Konig (interior designer), Tessa Murdoch (art historian) and Will Richards (Chairman of Dreweatts).First up is one of the great country houses of Scotland - Scone Palace in Perthshire. This gothic revival pile is particularly significant owing to its location adjacent to the 'Moot Hill;' for centuries the location of the Stone of Scone (upon which the early Kings of Scotland were crowned). The seat of the Murray family, Earls of Mansfield, for over 400 years, the collection housed at Scone is exceptional and of national importance.Joining Geoff and Rory on this week's episode is the current custodian of Scone, and heir apparent to the Earldom of Mansfield, William Murray (Viscount Stormont).Please join us for this fascinating discussion, and send us your thoughts or drop us a comment - we'd love to hear from you.If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Geoff 'goes it alone' (Rory's on holiday) and visits Somerleyton Hall in Suffolk, where he's joined on the podcast by Hugh and Lara Crossley, Lord and Lady Somerleyton. The seat of the Crossley family since the late 19th century, Somerleyton has a fascinating story to tell.Aside from the theatrical Jacobethan/Italianate architecture and the usual story of the rise and decline of the estate's fortunes in the 20th century, Somerleyton Hall - and the dedication and vision of the current Lord and Lady Somerleyton - also embodies the revival of country houses in recent decades. In particular, Geoff talks with Lord and Lady Somerleyton about the ongoing diversification of estate revenue streams (including the implementation of some unique new elements).In this episode, we gain an insight into Lord and Lady Somerleyton's ongoing self-awareness in their role as stewards and custodians, and their personal recognition of their perceived position of privilege and responsibility in the local community and as overseers of an extensive working estate.Please do tune in to learn more, and like and share if you wish. Comments and thoughts are always welcome.If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Bond is one of Britain's most iconic fictional characters, and without a doubt the most famous spy in the world. And the man behind the legend - author Ian Fleming - lived a life almost as thrilling as Bond's.In this high-octane podcast episode, Rory guides Geoff through the life (and many country houses) of Fleming - from his time at Eton and Sandhurst, via his string of high-profile love affairs and service in WWII, to his love of the island nation of Jamaica. All fuelled, of course, by gallons of champagne and thousands of cigarettes.It was at Goldeneye, Fleming's coastal estate in Jamaica, that the author would pen the first of his Bond novels - Casino Royale - in 1952, and it was at Goldeneye that all subsequent James Bond novels were written.Please let us know what you think of this episode by leaving a comment, and feel free to share with us your favourite Bond quotes!If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How a humble Venetian artist became synonymous with Britain's country house collections...This week Geoff and Rory are joined by renowned Canaletto expert, Charles Beddington, to discuss all things Canaletto! From the artist's humble Venetian beginnings to his 'discovery' by the British Consul in Venice - Joseph Smith - who became Canaletto's patron and agent, placing him firmly on the map for Grand Tourists.In time, paintings by Canaletto would become the souvenir-du-jour for Britain's travelling aristocrats - with the Duke of Bedford commissioning 24 paintings - of which twenty hang in the dining room at Woburn Abbey (one of the famous 'Canaletto Rooms' that we discuss on this podcast episode!)Please join us, and if you enjoy this episode please like it and write us a review. Please also send in questions for our soon-to-be-resurrected Q&A episodes!If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Geoff and Rory are joined by countertenor, arranger of classical music and co-founder of 'Vache Baroque', Jonathan Darbourne, to discuss the storied history of the The Vache - an elegant, privately owned Elizabethan country house nestled in the gently rolling Chiltern Hills - and the Baroque music festival he directs every summer in its grounds.Every year in late August and early September, the discreet and immensely private gardens of The Vache are to be found buzzing with people immersed in music and surrounded by beauty, as Vache Baroque celebrates baroque music in all its splendour. The festival transforms this magical Grade II‑listed country house setting into a vibrant, multi-sensory stage with pop‑up performances, art installations and opera under the trees, all designed to captivate both novice aficionado alike.With a keen vision for community outreach and engaging audiences who aren't usually exposed to baroque (or classical) music, Vache Baroque succeeds both in reaching new audiences with music and championing the history and importance of country houses and their place in our nation's history. Critics have lauded its 'astonishing acoustics' and 'thrilling performance', while audiences delight in the relaxed, picnic‑style ambience as evening opera unfolds beneath the Chiltern sky.Please join us for this fun episode celebrating music, the country house and their enduring relationship with each other. If you like this episode please like it and write us a review. Please also send in questions for our soon-to-be-resurrected Q&A episodes!If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.