The Country House at War

This is an absolutely first-rate work, full of visual images which will draw the reader back many times. A number of the grand houses in the care of the National Trust were used as hospitals during WWI and family members, the owners, went off to war from estates such as Montacute. The author has gathered together a fascinating collection of stories about the estate workers who also went off to war. Some of the stories are sad – the son of Sir Henry Hoare of Stourhead was killed in WWI – while others have happier endings, and there is also the scandal of the Grenadier Guards officer, Rowland Winn the son of Lord St Oswald, who married an actress. The writing is very good and the illustrations incredible. Even if you have never visited a National Trust property, this will change your mind and make you want to go to one of the estates which has such a strong connection with WWI.