The Arts Society Kington Langley July Lecture – Hybrid Illustrated Lecture

‘Bombed, Burned or Bulldozed’ – Britain’s Lost House‘.

There is something incomparably romantic about a long-lost country house, and although Britain still possesses some of the finest of these architectural treasures to be found anywhere, many have been destroyed.  A single ruined lodge or pavilion, an over-grown drive or group of mature trees are sometimes all that now exists to remind us of a lost house and pleasure-ground.

This lecture tells the story of just some of these losses to our National Heritage – destroyed for a variety of reasons; from neglect, arson, enemy action, incompetence, family rivalry, financial disaster or even insanity!  In the mid-twentieth century particularly, profound social change, wars, high taxation and bad management often contributed to the demise of many grand houses. Hundreds were demolished after 1945 – some beautiful, some ugly, but each lost house, as the lecture shows, is fascinating in its own way.

You can join Matthew Williams (experienced lecturer, writer and broadcaster) and us in either Kington Langley Village Hall or via zoom from 10:15am. More information can be found on the event website (see below link).