Country houses

Referred to by some as the county of 'spires and squires', Northamptonshire has been well-endowed with country houses, whether created on a monumental or a more domestic scale. Financial difficulties arose for their owners when the late-Victorian agricultural depression reduced the rental income of landed estates that supported them, followed by a shortage of the lowly-paid and deferential staff who traditionally kept such properties going.

The books and articles listed below discuss a broad spectrum of buildings, including some such as Brixworth Hall which no longer survive. However, many of the edifices do still flourish, often performing fresh functions.

Particular places

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