England's thousand best houses

by Simon Jenkins

"Jenkins has travelled throughout England, from Cornwall to Cumbria, to choose its most impressive, interesting and unusual houses. Not only does he include a full, rich selection of its great and famous houses and estates; he also presents an eclectic mix from the many thousands of towers, castles, halls, abbeys, cottages, private homes - even schools and prisons - of the country. From Blenheim Palace to Milton's Cottage, from Chatsworth to John Lennon's childhood home, from Spencer House to a tiny hop-pickers' shack in Kent, every architectural style and period is included, providing a setting for almost every kind of English life. Jenkins's only criteria are interest, distinction, and that the property should be open to the public." "Even more lavishly illustrated than its predecessor, and full of stories about the past occupants of the houses which bring them vividly to life, England's Thousand Best Houses is an essential companion for anyone wishing to explore England or its histo