The Country House Podcast

The Country House Podcast episodes:

• 05.13.2024

  What To Expect On The Grand Tour | The Country House Podcast 26

  Geoff and Ben discuss the Grand Tour of the 17th-19th century. Expect to learn the history of it, what it would entail, how it influenced the culture of the country house, and why it stopped being a tradition.

  
• 05.06.2024

  Balmoral Castle: The Famous Scottish Royal Holiday Home | The Country House Podcast 25

  In today's episode, Geoff and Ben discuss the architecture and history of Balmoral Castle, near Aberdeenshire. This is the famous summer holiday home of the Royal Family built in the mid-1800s during Victoria & Albert's reign. 

  
• 04.29.2024

  Kings Weston House: Vanbrugh's Bristol Icon With Wilf Lytton | The Country House Podcast 24

  Today we are joined by Wilf Lytton, an interior designer at Sybil Colefax. Together we discuss Kings Weston House, from it's unique chimney arcade, grand staircase, it's predecessor's Tudor Mansion to it's sad decline in popularity due to the industrial...

  
• 04.22.2024

  Country House Opera & Nevill Holt With Carl Ross | The Country House Podcast 23

  In this episode we are joined by Carl Ross of Nevill Holt to discuss the history and culture of the quintessentially English Country House Opera festival. You can get 15% off your Nevill Holt Festival ticket with the code CHP15 at...

  
• 04.15.2024

  Blenheim Palace: The Most Inhospitable Home In England? | The Country House Podcast 22

  Today we discuss another of Vanbrugh's works, Blenheim Palace, coined by Alexander Pope as the most inhospitable home in England.

  
• 04.08.2024

  Sir John Vanbrugh: The Greatest English Country House Architect? | The Country House Podcast 21

  In today's episode we discuss the life of Sir John Vanbrugh through his greatest works, a radical figure in theatre, design, politics and art. Sir John Vanbrugh's legacy is kept alive most notably by Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard.

  
• 04.01.2024

  Country Sports Of The Country House With Tim Bonner | The Country House Podcast 20

  In today's episode we are joined by the Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, Tim Bonner, to discuss the relationship between the country house and country sports. 

  
• 03.26.2024

  Sandringham House: The Royal Retreat | The Country House Podcast 19

  In today's episode, Geoff, Conor and Ben discuss Sandringham House, a long-running Royal retreat. We discuss the criticisms of the estate, the joyful traditions, and the significance of the community's relationship with the house.

  
• 03.19.2024

  What Causes The Transition Of Country House Design Eras? | The Country House Podcast 18

  In this instalment of The Country House Podcast, hosts Geoff, Conor and Ben discuss how the politics and goings-on of the time influenced the architectural styles and designs of country houses. Much ground is covered, from the Norman conquest to...

  
• 03.12.2024

  Highgrove House: The King's Country Residence | The Country House Podcast 17

  Geoff, Conor and Ben discuss Highgrove House, the country residence of Their Majesties King Charles & Queen Camilla. All aspects of their home are discussed from the rustic garden temples to the chintzy interiors. 

  
• 03.05.2024

  The Palladian Country House | The Country House Podcast 16

  Andrea Palladio's influence is possibly unmatched in the history of architecture. Ben, Geoff, and Conor discuss what Palladian architecture is and why it became fashionable in many country house designs.

  
• 02.27.2024

  Osborne House: Victoria & Albert's Treasured Isle Of Wight Home | The Country House Podcast 15

  In today's episode we discuss the beloved family home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert - Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. A testament to Prince Albert's innovation and Thomas Cubitt's famous building mind. 

  
• 02.20.2024

  Discussing Our Favourite Follies | The Country House Podcast 14

  In this episode, Geoff, Conor and Ben discuss what follies are, their purpose, and some of their favourite follies. If you haven't already, we'd love if you could leave a 5-star rating and share with a friend. 

  
• 02.13.2024

  Why Country Houses Are Great Film Locations | The Country House Podcast 13

  In part 2 of 2, we ask why Country Houses provide such an amazing location for films, and the storytelling that they proffer. 

  
• 02.06.2024

  Downton Abbey's Profound Impact On Highclere Castle | The Country House Podcast 12

  In this first part of a two-part episode, Geoff, Conor and Ben discuss Highclere Castle in the broader context of Country Houses featured in films and television shows. 

  
• 01.30.2024

  Ireland's Unique Big Houses | The Country House Podcast 11

  In today's episode we find ourselves discussing the unique aspects of the Irish Country House, from quoins to rich colours, exterior ruggedness to Desmond Guinness. 

  
• 01.23.2024

  Inside An Estate Village: Purposes & Motives | The Country House Podcast 10

  In this episode, Geoff, Conor and Ben discuss the privately-owned estate villages. 

  
• 01.16.2024

  The Decline & Destruction Of The Country House | The Country House Podcast 09

  Geoff, Conor, and Ben discuss the decline and destruction of country houses - primarily during the 20th century.  *Our apologies for Ben's poor audio on this episode and previous - this has now been resolved for all future episodes!*

  
• 01.09.2024

  Blickling Hall: Home Of Anne Boleyn's Headless Ghost | The Country House Podcast 08

  Today we discuss Norfolk's Blickling Hall. From Dutch Gables to ghastly ghouls, Jacobean design to a 9-year old owner, fairytale ceilings...there is so much to learn about this magnificent home. 

  
• 01.02.2024

  What To Expect Inside A Country House | The Country House Podcast 07

  Continuing from the previous episode, we take a step inside general country houses of the past - noting that no two are the same - to discuss the main rooms and layout, and the intention or purpose behind them. 

  
• 12.26.2023

  What To Expect On A Country Estate | The Country House Podcast 06

  In this episode, we delve somewhat into what you can expect to find on a country estate. There is so much and so we primarily cover gate lodges, serpentine lakes, and follies. We will return to the subject with more...

  
• 12.19.2023

  The Duchess of Rutland: Christmas at Belvoir Castle | The Country House Podcast 05

  We're joined for this special Christmas episode by The Duchess of Rutland, Emma Manners, who explains the experience of running an estate at Christmas time. Belvoir Castle has teamed with Charlotte Lloyd-Webber to bring the theme of the '12 Days...

  
• 12.12.2023

  Wentworth Woodhouse: The Longest Country House In Europe | The Country House Podcast 04

  In today's episode, we delve into the rich history of Wentworth Woodhouse, the longest country home in Europe and the original home of George Stubbs' famous painting 'Whistlejacket.' 

  
• 12.05.2023

  The Evolution Of Country House Architecture: Baroque-Arts & Crafts | The Country House Podcast 03

  In this episode we take a tour across the Country House architectural periods and give a rundown and examples of each one. This week is part 2 of 2 and includes everything from Baroque to the Arts & Crafts movement,...

  
• 11.28.2023

  The Evolution Of Country House Architecture: Earliest Houses-Carolean | The Country House Podcast 02

  In this episode we take a tour across the Country House architectural periods and give a rundown and examples of each one. This week is part 1 of 2 and includes the earliest forms of country houses and ends at...

  
• 11.21.2023

  Why We Are Creating The Podcast: An Introduction | The Country House Podcast 01

  Join us for the very first episode of The Country House Podcast. We discuss what got us all interested in country houses, what people misunderstand about country houses, and what you can expect from the podcast moving forward.  Follow The Country...