Destruction of the Country House exhibition
Encyclopedia
The Destruction of the Country House 1875-1975 was an exhibition held at the Victoria and Albert Museum
in 1974, curated by
V&A Director Roy Strong
with John Harris
and Marcus Binney
(then working at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
and Country Life
respectively).
The exhibition included a "Hall of Destruction", decorated with falling columns and illustrations of some of the thousand country houses demolished since 1875
, brought down by falling estate incomes, rising costs, death duties, and damage caused by government requisitioning during the Second World War.
Described as a "landmark" exhibition, the graphic illustration of the scale of destruction of Britain's built heritage changed public opinion, and encouraged moves to protect the country houses that remained.
The success of the exhibition inspired the formation of the campaigning group, SAVE Britain's Heritage
, in 1975 - a year that was designated as European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe
- but the changed public mood could not prevent the sale of the extraordinary collection of art and furniture at Mentmore Towers
in 1975, and of the empty building itself in 1977, to pay taxes following the death of Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery
in 1973.
The exhibition was followed in 1977 and 1979 by two further exhibitions at the V&A on British architectural heritage: Change and Decay: The Future of our Churches (curated by Strong, Binney and Peter Burman), and then The Garden: A Celebration of a Thousand Years of British Gardening (organised by Harris).
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in 1974, curated by
V&A Director Roy Strong
Roy Strong
Sir Roy Colin Strong FRSL is an English art historian, museum curator, writer, broadcaster and landscape designer. He has been director of both the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London...
with John Harris
John Harris (curator)
John Frederick Harris OBE is an English curator, historian of architecture, gardens and architectural drawings, and the author of more than 25 books and catalogues, and 200 articles...
and Marcus Binney
Marcus Binney
Marcus Binney, CBE is a British architectural historian and author. He is best known for his conservation work regarding Britain's heritage.-Early and family life:...
(then working at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
and Country Life
Country Life (magazine)
Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
respectively).
The exhibition included a "Hall of Destruction", decorated with falling columns and illustrations of some of the thousand country houses demolished since 1875
Destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain
The destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain was a phenomenon brought about by a change in social conditions during which a large number of country houses of varying architectural merit were demolished...
, brought down by falling estate incomes, rising costs, death duties, and damage caused by government requisitioning during the Second World War.
Described as a "landmark" exhibition, the graphic illustration of the scale of destruction of Britain's built heritage changed public opinion, and encouraged moves to protect the country houses that remained.
The success of the exhibition inspired the formation of the campaigning group, SAVE Britain's Heritage
SAVE Britain's Heritage
SAVE Britain's Heritage has been described as the most influential conservation group to have been established since William Morris founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877. It was created in 1975 - European Architectural Heritage Year - by a group of journalists,...
, in 1975 - a year that was designated as European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
- but the changed public mood could not prevent the sale of the extraordinary collection of art and furniture at Mentmore Towers
Mentmore Towers
Mentmore Towers is a 19th century English country house in the village of Mentmore in Buckinghamshire. The house was designed by Joseph Paxton and his son-in-law, George Henry Stokes, in the revival Elizabethan and Jacobean style of the late 16th century called Jacobethan, for the banker and...
in 1975, and of the empty building itself in 1977, to pay taxes following the death of Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery
Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery
Albert Edward Harry Meyer Archibald Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery and 2nd Earl of Midlothian , known by his third name of Harry, was a UK politician who briefly served as Secretary of State for Scotland in 1945...
in 1973.
The exhibition was followed in 1977 and 1979 by two further exhibitions at the V&A on British architectural heritage: Change and Decay: The Future of our Churches (curated by Strong, Binney and Peter Burman), and then The Garden: A Celebration of a Thousand Years of British Gardening (organised by Harris).
Further reading
- The Destruction of the Country House. Roy Strong, Marcus Binney, John Harris, 1974. Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0500240949