Are you ready to step into the rarefied world of the English country house? This richly illustrated guide takes you there, uncovering the secrets of these grand dwellings and the people who live (or lived) in them. England's country houses have never been more popular with visitors and it's easy to see why. These glamorous houses - often packed with masterpieces of art and antiques, and surrounded by vast landscaped gardens, lakes and fountains - reflect all the splendour of England's glory years. Using original colour drawings, diagrams and photographs, Trevor Yorke takes the reader on a careful tour of the country house and describes its features, exterior and interior, upstairs and downstairs. He looks at the different periods of large country houses from the mid 1500s up to 1914, explaining the changing architectural styles and the tastes of those who had them built. He describes the rooms within the main house and their role over the centuries. There is a glossary of architectural terms and a quick-reference time chart, listing country house architects and the notable buildings they designed, with drawings of the period details that help to date the houses.