Visitors to the Country House in Ireland and Britain

Welcome and Unwelcome

Terence Dooley & Christopher Ridgway, editors

“This book will appeal to readers interested in social history and the history of architecture as well as general readers … The essays profile country house owners and visitors in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales ... the main focus is on the period from the eighteenth century to the present day. All the essays concur that far from being isolated properties, country houses have been open to visitors whose curiosity or need has impelled them to make their way, often with some difficulty, to these buildings, at least to their exteriors, if not in all cases, with permission to gain access to their interiors. Visitors have not always been friendly; many country houses were not immune from wars and civil disturbances. The writers of this varied collection of articles examine a fascinating aspect of social history in considerable detail.” The Historian, David Wilson 

“This finely produced series of essays is the sixth volume on themes relating to the country houses of Ireland and Britain emerging from the annual Historic Houses Conference held at the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates at the Department of History at Maynooth University, headed by the indefatigable Professor Terence Dooley in association with Christopher Ridgway, adjunct professor at Maynooth and Curator of Castle Howard, Yorkshire. As expected, the contributions are of rigorous academic standard, comprehensively researched and footnoted, and generously illustrated, though with nothing in colour which renders lifeless fine paintings and drawings.” Thomas Lloyd, Archaeologia Cambrensis (Vol 173 for 2024)