In this Remembrance Day special, we step through the doors of Bateman’s, the 17th-century Jacobean house that became both a refuge and a muse for imperial poet, journalist and writer, Rudyard Kipling.

Nestled in the folds of the Sussex Weald, the sandstone gables, mullioned windows and heavy beams of Bateman's speak of endurance - a quality that runs like a golden thread through Kipling’s writing. From the carved oak staircase to the low, moody study, Bateman’s was more than a home: it was the stage for Kipling’s reflections on empire, loss, and belonging. As the First World War cast its long shadow, Bateman’s also became a house of grief. Kipling’s only son, John, was killed at the Battle of Loos in 1915, a loss that transformed the poet’s voice and deepened his understanding of duty and remembrance.

In this episode, we explore Kipling's idealised search for 'home', how the stillness of Bateman’s shaped his later work - and how its rooms echo with the unspoken cost of war. Join us as we walk the paths Kipling once took, tracing the lines between place, poetry, and remembrance... and discovering how a Sussex gentleman's farmhouse became a monument to both creativity and courage.

Then hold your head up all the more,

This tide,

And every tide;

Because he was the son you bore,

And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!

From My Boy Jack (1916) by Rudyard Kipling

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In this episode - the final part in our series on the shortlisted candidates for the HHA Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts) - we travel to the heart of the Forest of Bowland to visit Browsholme Hall, Lancashire’s oldest surviving family home.

We’re joined by Robert Parker, current custodian of Browsholme, who inherited his family home somewhat unexpectedly in 1975 upon the death of his fourth cousin. Robert shares the story of the Parker family, who built Browsholme in the early 16th century, and how the estate has evolved through the centuries - surviving political upheavals, social change, and the challenges of modern heritage stewardship. We explore the architecture of this Tudor house, from its oak-panelled Great Hall to its later Georgian additions, and discuss how each generation has left its mark on the building.

We also get a glimpse into Browsholme’s extraordinary collection of art, furniture, and historic artefacts - objects that tell the intimate story of one family’s place in English history. With Robert’s anecdotes and deep personal connection to the Hall, this episode offers a lovely insight into what it means to live amidst, and care for, centuries of heritage.

Join us for an evocative journey through time at one of Lancashire’s most captivating historic homes.

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Many country houses claim to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park, but few houses have such tangible links to Jane Austen as Chawton House in Hampshire.

On this week's podcast - the penultimate episode in our series on the HHA Collections Awards shortlisted candidates - Jane Austen’s world comes to life at Chawton House, the historic Hampshire estate once owned by her brother and now home to a unique library celebrating early women’s writing. In this episode, Chawton House Chief Executive Katie Childs shares the fascinating history of the house, its deep connections to Austen’s life and work, and the remarkable collection of rare books by women authors from the 1600s to the early 1800s. Together, we explore how Chawton House continues to champion women’s voices and inspire new generations of readers and researchers.

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What happens when the last in a line of viscounts has only one child - a daughter - but the family's ancestral seat is entailed to the male line (meaning it'll go to a distant cousin)? This was the dilemma facing Charles, 9th Viscount Fairfax, in the mid-18th century...

The answer (for Lord Fairfax, at least) was to purchase a prime site in the centre of the ancient cathedral city of York, and to commission the best architect in Yorkshire - the famous John Carr of York - to design an exquisite Georgian townhouse for Lord Fairfax's daughter, Ann.

On this week's podcast episode - the third instalment in our series looking at the houses shortlisted for this year's Historic Houses Association Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts) - Geoff meets with Sarah Burnage, Curator of Fairfax House, which is now open to the public and houses and exceptional collection of Georgian furniture, clocks, glass and porcelain.

Please join us for a fascinating glimpse of what high-life city living in the 18th century was like!

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A Cabinet of curiosity (also known as a wonder-room) is an encyclopaedic collection of objects assembled in post-Enlightenment Europe by noblemen, landowners and merchants who were fascinated by science and natural history.

In the second of our 5-part series looking at the houses shortlisted for this year's Historic Houses Association Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts) we discuss the finest intact Cabinet of curiosities in any country house in England - housed at Burton Constable Hall in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The ancestral home of the Constable family, Burton Constable is an impressive Elizabethan house set in Capability Brown parkland, with later work by John Carr of York. Housed within its 'Georgianised' rooms, this remarkable collection was assembled by polymath William Constable and includes an equatorial telescope, a concave burning mirror and antiquities including Roman coins and wax seals.

Geoff speaks with Alistair Hutson and Sarah Burton (both of the Burton Constable Foundation, which now owns the house) about the history of this exceptional home, and why they think it should be considered for the HHA Collections Award this year.

What do you think? Give this episode a listen, and please send us your thoughts or drop us a comment.

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Over the next five weeks, we will be exploring the history and collections of the five shortlisted candidates for this year's Historic Houses Association Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts). Geoff is a judge in this year's awards, along with Francis Terry (architect), Rita Konig (interior designer), Tessa Murdoch (art historian) and Will Richards (Chairman of Dreweatts).

First up is one of the great country houses of Scotland - Scone Palace in Perthshire. This gothic revival pile is particularly significant owing to its location adjacent to the 'Moot Hill;' for centuries the location of the Stone of Scone (upon which the early Kings of Scotland were crowned). The seat of the Murray family, Earls of Mansfield, for over 400 years, the collection housed at Scone is exceptional and of national importance.

Joining Geoff and Rory on this week's episode is the current custodian of Scone, and heir apparent to the Earldom of Mansfield, William Murray (Viscount Stormont).

Please join us for this fascinating discussion, and send us your thoughts or drop us a comment - we'd love to hear from you.

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The challenge for all portraitists is in painting not only what they see but in trying to distil and capture the essence or spirit of their subject in oil, ink or watercolour. This challenge applies as much to those who paint portraits of buildings as it does to those who paint people. On The Country House Podcast we often talk about how houses are far more than mere bricks and mortar - they are living, breathing family homes that imbibe and embody the spirits of those who live and work in them.

In this week's podcast episode, Geoff interviews co-host Rory Fraser about one of his main vocations - painting buildings (from ancestral homes and castles to cottages, colleges, churches and holiday villas). They discuss what inspired Rory to begin doing this, why and how he goes about the process, and the unique joys and challenges of using watercolours rather than other mediums.

Rory is currently taking Christmas commissions - the perfect gift for friends and family members, whether it's a portrait of a cherished family home or another significant building such as a church (great wedding or anniversary gifts), university or school, or something else entirely! Rory can work from photographs, so please don't hold back even if you live abroad!

For more information, please get in touch via Rory's website (www.rory-fraser.com) or send a direct-message on Instagram to Rory (@roryfraserr) or through our podcast page (@thecountryhousepodcast).

Pricing as follows (based on him painting from photographs):

A4 - £400

A3 - £600

A selection of prints from Rory's series on follies are also available (ranging from £65 to £95)

https://www.rory-fraser.com

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This week Geoff 'goes it alone' (Rory's on holiday) and visits Somerleyton Hall in Suffolk, where he's joined on the podcast by Hugh and Lara Crossley, Lord and Lady Somerleyton. The seat of the Crossley family since the late 19th century, Somerleyton has a fascinating story to tell.

Aside from the theatrical Jacobethan/Italianate architecture and the usual story of the rise and decline of the estate's fortunes in the 20th century, Somerleyton Hall - and the dedication and vision of the current Lord and Lady Somerleyton - also embodies the revival of country houses in recent decades. In particular, Geoff talks with Lord and Lady Somerleyton about the ongoing diversification of estate revenue streams (including the implementation of some unique new elements).

In this episode, we gain an insight into Lord and Lady Somerleyton's ongoing self-awareness in their role as stewards and custodians, and their personal recognition of their perceived position of privilege and responsibility in the local community and as overseers of an extensive working estate.

Please do tune in to learn more, and like and share if you wish. Comments and thoughts are always welcome.

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The shooting lodges of the Scottish Highlands have beguiled and entranced people from all walks of life for generations. But beyond the romantic facade - the magnificent architecture and breathtaking scenery - lies a complex and at times troubled past that continues to echo down through the centuries.

Joining Geoff and Rory on this week's episode is architectural historian, writer and proud Highlander - Mary Miers - who authored a book on 'Highland Retreats' and who is unafraid of tackling the storied past of Scotland's shooting lodges head-on whilst simultaneously celebrating their many delights.

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James Bond is one of Britain's most iconic fictional characters, and without a doubt the most famous spy in the world. And the man behind the legend - author Ian Fleming - lived a life almost as thrilling as Bond's.

In this high-octane podcast episode, Rory guides Geoff through the life (and many country houses) of Fleming - from his time at Eton and Sandhurst, via his string of high-profile love affairs and service in WWII, to his love of the island nation of Jamaica. All fuelled, of course, by gallons of champagne and thousands of cigarettes.

It was at Goldeneye, Fleming's coastal estate in Jamaica, that the author would pen the first of his Bond novels - Casino Royale - in 1952, and it was at Goldeneye that all subsequent James Bond novels were written.

Please let us know what you think of this episode by leaving a comment, and feel free to share with us your favourite Bond quotes!

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How a fire reduced this 18th century Palladian house to a mere shell... and the questions that it raises.

This week, Geoff and Rory are joined by Cornelia Van Der Poll - an Oxford academic and co-founder of Restore Trust - a lobbying group that encourages the National Trust to focus on its founding principles to safeguard our nation's heritage for all to enjoy.

In this fascinating episode, we discuss Clandon Park in Surrey - from the architectural and social history of this wonderful Palladian-come-Baroque house (the former seat of the Earls of Onslow) to its current status as one of the most controversial country houses of recent times; after a devastating fire in 2015 reduced the house to a shell, debate continues to rage over whether to restore the house fully or do something 'alternative' with the insurance pay-out.

What are your thoughts on the future of Clandon Park? Please leave comments!

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How a humble Venetian artist became synonymous with Britain's country house collections...

This week Geoff and Rory are joined by renowned Canaletto expert, Charles Beddington, to discuss all things Canaletto! From the artist's humble Venetian beginnings to his 'discovery' by the British Consul in Venice - Joseph Smith - who became Canaletto's patron and agent, placing him firmly on the map for Grand Tourists.

In time, paintings by Canaletto would become the souvenir-du-jour for Britain's travelling aristocrats - with the Duke of Bedford commissioning 24 paintings - of which twenty hang in the dining room at Woburn Abbey (one of the famous 'Canaletto Rooms' that we discuss on this podcast episode!)

Please join us, and if you enjoy this episode please like it and write us a review. Please also send in questions for our soon-to-be-resurrected Q&A episodes!

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Every summer, dozens of country houses open their gates for festival-goers, with a huge array of different events hosted within the grounds of our most cherished estates. Off the back of our recent episodes on 'Capability' Brown and Vache Baroque Festival, we have chosen this week to dedicate an entire episode to festivals held on country estates, where fabulous houses provide the most beautiful of backdrops.

In this light-hearted episode, Rory takes Geoff on a tour of different types of country house festivals - from the Game Fair at Ragley Hall and motor racing at Goodwood, to Badminton Horse Trials and The Grange Opera Festival.

Please join us, and if you enjoy this episode please like it and write us a review. Please also send in questions for our soon-to-be-resurrected Q&A episodes!

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This week, Geoff and Rory are joined by countertenor, arranger of classical music and co-founder of 'Vache Baroque', Jonathan Darbourne, to discuss the storied history of the The Vache - an elegant, privately owned Elizabethan country house nestled in the gently rolling Chiltern Hills - and the Baroque music festival he directs every summer in its grounds.

Every year in late August and early September, the discreet and immensely private gardens of The Vache are to be found buzzing with people immersed in music and surrounded by beauty, as Vache Baroque celebrates baroque music in all its splendour. The festival transforms this magical Grade II‑listed country house setting into a vibrant, multi-sensory stage with pop‑up performances, art installations and opera under the trees, all designed to captivate both novice aficionado alike.

With a keen vision for community outreach and engaging audiences who aren't usually exposed to baroque (or classical) music, Vache Baroque succeeds both in reaching new audiences with music and championing the history and importance of country houses and their place in our nation's history. Critics have lauded its 'astonishing acoustics' and 'thrilling performance', while audiences delight in the relaxed, picnic‑style ambience as evening opera unfolds beneath the Chiltern sky.

Please join us for this fun episode celebrating music, the country house and their enduring relationship with each other. If you like this episode please like it and write us a review. Please also send in questions for our soon-to-be-resurrected Q&A episodes!

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Lancelot 'Capability' Brown is known throughout the world as the master of the English landscape garden. A visionary who created carefully curated, idyllic and natural-looking landscapes at many of the greatest country houses in England, Brown is one of those true 'greats' after whom a whole style is named; the 'Brownian' landscape continues to inspire and entrance gardeners, landscape designers and punters alike.

But Brown's style wasn't without controversy... many felt that his reckless sweeping away of traditional formal gardens and parterres (replacing them with lawns, ha-has and rolling parks) was the height of vandalism.

In this episode, Geoff gives Rory a whistle-stop overview of the life of Capability Brown from his humble birth to sudden death. We discuss the controversies surrounding Brown's style, and reflect on his extraordinary genius and long-term legacy.

Please join us for a 'walk in the [Capability Brown] park' and if you like this episode please like it and write us a review. Please also send in questions for our soon-to-be-resurrected Q&A episodes!

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We were delighted to host our first LIVE podcast recording at Nevill Holt Festival - an arts and culture festival held in the grounds of Nevill Holt Hall, a historic country house set within a thriving working estate.

In front of a packed-out audience of over 200 people, we discussed The rise, fall and rebirth of the English country house through the lens of Nevill Holt Hall - a country house that reads like a biography of English domestic architecture over the past 800 years.

For the second half of the recording we were joined by David Ross - entrepreneur, philanthropist, patron of the arts and owner of the Nevill Holt estate - whose care, diligence, long-term view and extraordinary vision over the past 25 years has transformed Nevill Holt from a tired, dilapidated former country house with a small acreage back into a stunning family home surrounded by immaculate gardens and an extensive wider working estate.

What an extraordinary and enjoyable day! Thank you so much to all our supporters, listeners and followers who came along and supported us. We are so grateful for you. Thank you to the Nevill Holt Festival team for their help. And thank you to David Ross - our guest on the show, owner of Nevill Holt and our host at the Festival!

We hope that this LIVE show will be the first of many!

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Geoff and Rory are joined by renowned writer, film-maker and Mughal historian, Sam Dalrymple, for a fascinating and storied episode on the history of Elveden Hall in Suffolk.

Once the English home of the last ruler of the Sikh Empire - Sir Duleep Singh, Maharajah of Punjab - and now the seat of the Guinness family, Earls of Iveagh, Elveden is a resplendent Mughal palace (complete with scalloped arches, lotus-bud capitals, drop-traceried arcading, and a four-storey Marble Hall reminiscent of the Court of Lahore)... all encased within a Victorian Italianate shell.

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Geoff and Rory are joined by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and his nephew, Ben Montagu-Scott, for a fascinating episode on the extraordinary and storied history of Beaulieu Palace House in the New Forest, Hampshire.

Originally the 13th-century gatehouse to a medieval abbey, Beaulieu Palace House is an unusual example of Scots Baronial architecture in southern England (see our episode on Scots Baronial with Dr Ralph St Clair Wade). Owned by the Montagu family since the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII, this podcast traces the transformation of Beaulieu through centuries of architectural change, royal visits, decline and ultimate resurrection begun under the pioneering stewardship of the current Lord Montagu's father, whose seminal book 'The Gilt and the Gingerbread (or how to live in a stately home and make money)'  gives this podcast episode its title.

With lively anecdotes and insights, you will be drawn into a world where medieval roots meet modern comforts, where traditional farming meets cutting edge tourism... and where a public attraction meets a family home.

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Geoff and Rory discuss the remarkable life of a Victorian genius; the upwardly mobile Joseph Paxton. The son of a farmer, he found a patron in the 6th Duke of Devonshire and by the age of 23 Paxton was Head Gardener at Chatsworth. He would later become a nationally sought-after engineer and latterly a Member of Parliament.

The Silicon Valley entrepreneur of his day, Paxton embraced the latest technology, designing the Great Conservatory and Conservative Wall at Chatsworth, before catapulting to fame as the designer of the Crystal Palace in London.

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Nestled in the Howardian Hills of ‘God’s own country’ of Yorkshire, something extraordinary is happening at Vanbrugh's great English Baroque masterpiece, Castle Howard. Famed for its seminal role in Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton, for 75 years, an entire wing of Castle Howard has remained a burnt-out shell after fire ravaged the house in 1940.

But in recent years, Castle Howard’s current custodian - Nick Howard - and his wife Victoria, have overseen a remarkable 21st century renaissance, bringing in the country's best architects, designers and craftsmen to begin the monumental task of returning these burnt-out rooms to their former glory.

Joining Geoff and Rory on the podcast this week, Nick Howard discusses the decision making process behind this revival, and talks us through the renovation journey. The results are a triumph, and testify to Nick and Victoria's dedication to Castle Howard and their desire to secure its future for many generations to come.

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