A fascinating illustrated history of the First World War told through the great houses of the National Trust. The First World War touched every family in the country and this book tells a story of national collective action and intense private experience.


The First World War touched every family in the country and this book tells a story of national collective action and intense private experience.


Country House at War presents a history of the war through the houses and estates maintained by the National Trust. It shows what happened to the people who lived and worked in many great houses, both upstairs and downstairs, and portrays how they were affected by the war and what happened to those estates in its aftermath. The progress and impact of war can be charted through the buildings and their estates – lawns that had once hosted tea parties and croquet given over to machine gun training and convalescent exercises, for example.


With many fascinating and poignant personal stories and many hitherto unpublished photographs of the time, this is an important celebration and commemoration of the First World War.