Felling the Ancient Oaks: How England Lost its Great Country Estates
'A poignantly illustrated volume. Robinson writes with passion of the fate of ancient landed families...there are numerous spellbinding illustrations.' - Marcus Binney, Architecture Correspondent The Times 'An eloquent study of some 20 'lost' estates. Dr Robinson is a distinguished architectural historian. There can be few people better placed to tell this story. His introductory essay should be read by anyone interested in the history of land-owning in England.' - Jeremy Musson Country Life magazine 'Stunning visual record of our most spectacular and scenic country estates...magnificent book.' 9/10 Lancashire Evening Post 'An extremely handsome volume packed to the rafters with fascinating stories and stunning images of now-vanished stately homes...a great book all round' Morpeth Herald 'Informative, trenchant and often poignant book.' Eastern Daily Press 'There is something compelling and evocative about abandoned, lost or ruined homes that appeals to the voyeur in all of us, and this book hits that sweet spot again and again. It is gloriously illustrated with some mesmerising black-and-white pictures of the houses in the pomp. This is the world of Downton Abbey brought to life, or rather death, and all the more interesting for that. Every chapter could form a mini-series in its own right. The accompanying text is a joy, shot through with nostalgia for what has been lost and a disdain for the modern horrors.' Welovethisbook.com 'Beautifully rendered book' Five stars***** Yorkshire Evening Post 'Magnificent...this treasure trove of history offers a stunning and heart-breaking photographic record of our most spectacular and scenic country estates' Lancashire Evening Post 'This book doesn't just tug one's heart-strings but yanks them heartily...beautifully illustrated' The Field THis book is a particularly powerful and poignant reminder that a house - whether grand or modest - is so much more than bricks and mortar This England 'Mr Robinson provides an important introduction whose elegiac tone must not be regarded as undermining its historic acuteness.' Contemporary Review