Monday 12th January: Opening the doors – a brief history of country house visiting

Since at least the Middle Ages castles, monasteries and country houses have welcomed visitors.  Gradually a pattern for such visits developed, with great houses open to the respectable gentry and upper middle classes, who were shown around by the housekeeper or steward. Later pressure led to the formation of the National Trust and the Historic Houses Association.

Lecturer: David Winpenny

David studied English at Birmingham University and taught for several years before joining the Countryside Commission as Co-ordinator of its National Parks Campaign. He worked for the Central Office of Information in Leeds before setting up own public relations company. He is author of ‘Up to a Point – in search of pyramids in Britain and Ireland’.

(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)