Roger Mitchell 11 February 2013
Mr Mitchell showed a cartoon published in 1894 of depressed dukes bemoaning the crippling death duties which had been introduced and which combined with the agricultural depression spelled the decline of many country houses and estates. WW1 also contributed to the decline by the loss of estate workers and falling incomes.
Some houses were built during this period – houses in the country – for wealthy business men and their companies, examples are Syon Hill House, Abbey House, Castle Drogo and Eltham Palace. Some of these would not have survived until today without the support of English Heritage and the National Trust.
After WW2 the decline accelerated and many houses were demolished. The families in those houses and estates that remained resorted to other means of providing income – opening to the public with restaurant and shop, opening museums, safari parks and holding corporate events, festivals, and weddings.
Local survivors include Ince Blundell – nursing home, Croxteth Hall – Liverpool Corporation and Knowsley Hall taken back into private ownership from the police. Some smaller manor houses – Crawford, Meols, Blythe House, Parbold have been bought and restored.
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