<description>&lt;p&gt;On this week's podcast episode, we are delighted to be joined by Helena, Lady Rees-Mogg. This marks the first time Lady Rees-Mogg has ever appeared on a podcast, and the first time she has spoken publicly about her extraordinary family history. The daughter of the sole surviving child of the 8th Earl Fitzwilliam, Lady Rees-Mogg offers a unique, intimate perspective on the rise and dramatic decline of one of Britain’s great aristocratic dynasties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;This wide-ranging episode delves into the untold stories of the many fascinating country houses of the Fitzwilliams - owners of the palatial Wentworth Woodhouse (with 308 rooms, it has the longest façade of any privately-owned country house in Europe) - as well as featuring exclusive, behind-the-scenes insights into the filming of the Discovery+ documentary “Meet the Rees-Moggs”, and her reflections on life as a political spouse.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“The [Labour] Minister Manny Shinwell told my grandfather ‘we will mine coal up to your back door, my Lord - and they almost literally did! ...The miners marched to 10 Downing Street in protest at being made to do open-cast mining in the park at Wentworth of this apparently worthless brown coal"&lt;/em&gt; | Helena, Lady Rees-Mogg﻿&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This episode is our 100th podcast episode, and to celebrate we are coinciding its publication with the launch of our Patreon membership tiers. Your kind support will enable us to upgrade our (hitherto self-funded) platform and truly 'up our game' when it comes to producing high-quality content for our audience. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCountryHousePodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Please follow this link for more information.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The rise & fall of the Fitzwilliam dynasty with Helena, Lady Rees-Mogg

On this week's podcast episode, we are delighted to be joined by Helena, Lady Rees-Mogg. This marks the first time Lady Rees-Mogg has ever appeared on a podcast, and the first time she has spoken publicly about her extraordinary family history. The daughter of the sole surviving child of the 8th Earl Fitzwilliam, Lady Rees-Mogg offers a unique, intimate perspective on the rise and dramatic decline of one of Britain’s great aristocratic dynasties. This wide-ranging episode delves into the untold stories of the many fascinating country houses of the Fitzwilliams - owners of the palatial Wentworth Woodhouse (with 308 rooms, it has the longest façade of any privately-owned country house in Europe) - as well as featuring exclusive, behind-the-scenes insights into the filming of the Discovery+ documentary “Meet the Rees-Moggs”, and her reflections on life as a political spouse. “The [Labour] Minister Manny Shinwell told my grandfather ‘we will mine coal up to your back door, my Lord - and they almost literally did! ...The miners marched to 10 Downing Street in protest at being made to do open-cast mining in the park at Wentworth of this apparently worthless brown coal" | Helena, Lady Rees-Mogg﻿ This episode is our 100th podcast episode, and to celebrate we are coinciding its publication with the launch of our Patreon membership tiers. Your kind support will enable us to upgrade our (hitherto self-funded) platform and truly 'up our game' when it comes to producing high-quality content for our audience. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCountryHousePodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Please follow this link for more information.</a><hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Where palatial homes & politics meet | Helena Rees-Mogg & the Fitzwilliam family | Ep. 100

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this timely episode, Rory steps into the shoes of Inspector Clouseau to give Geoff - and you - a tour of the Galerie d'Apollon; the scene of the crime for the latest Louvre heist in which eight priceless pieces from the French Crown Jewels were stolen in only eight minutes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;We invite our listeners to join us in the luminous splendour of the Galerie d’Apollon in Le Palais du Louvre; a room that reads like a manifesto of French royal ambition. Designed after the 1661 fire that ravaged the palace, the Galerie became a testing ground for the emerging language of the French Baroque - soaring ceilings, gilded stucco work and celestial frescoes celebrating the Sun King (Louis XIV). Its walls and ceiling, enriched by the work of Le Brun and later Delacroix, chart the evolution of French statecraft through art. The Louvre Palace opened as a museum in 1793, and the Galerie has been the home of the French Crown Jewels since the 19th century - their own turbulent history mirroring the political metamorphoses undergone by the nation of France over the centuries.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;By situating this palace interior within the broader tradition of European domestic architecture, the episode explores how courtly aesthetics shaped the ambitions of country houses and urban palaces alike - each aspiring to embody a choreography of power, spectacle, and cultivated magnificence.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

'The scene of the crime' for the latest Louvre heist

In this timely episode, Rory steps into the shoes of Inspector Clouseau to give Geoff - and you - a tour of the Galerie d'Apollon; the scene of the crime for the latest Louvre heist in which eight priceless pieces from the French Crown Jewels were stolen in only eight minutes. We invite our listeners to join us in the luminous splendour of the Galerie d’Apollon in Le Palais du Louvre; a room that reads like a manifesto of French royal ambition. Designed after the 1661 fire that ravaged the palace, the Galerie became a testing ground for the emerging language of the French Baroque - soaring ceilings, gilded stucco work and celestial frescoes celebrating the Sun King (Louis XIV). Its walls and ceiling, enriched by the work of Le Brun and later Delacroix, chart the evolution of French statecraft through art. The Louvre Palace opened as a museum in 1793, and the Galerie has been the home of the French Crown Jewels since the 19th century - their own turbulent history mirroring the political metamorphoses undergone by the nation of France over the centuries. By situating this palace interior within the broader tradition of European domestic architecture, the episode explores how courtly aesthetics shaped the ambitions of country houses and urban palaces alike - each aspiring to embody a choreography of power, spectacle, and cultivated magnificence.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Heists & heavenly frescoes | Galerie d'Apollon at Le Palais du Louvre | Ep. 99

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this Remembrance Day special, we step through the doors of&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Bateman’s&lt;/em&gt;, the 17th-century Jacobean house that became both a refuge and a muse for imperial poet, journalist and writer,&amp;nbsp;Rudyard Kipling.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nestled in the folds of the Sussex Weald, the sandstone gables, mullioned windows and heavy beams of &lt;em&gt;Bateman's &lt;/em&gt;speak of endurance - a quality that runs like a golden thread through Kipling’s writing. From the carved oak staircase to the low, moody study, &lt;em&gt;Bateman’s&lt;/em&gt; was more than a home: it was the stage for Kipling’s reflections on empire, loss, and belonging. As the First World War cast its long shadow, &lt;em&gt;Bateman’s&lt;/em&gt; also became a house of grief. Kipling’s only son,&amp;nbsp;John, was killed at the Battle of Loos in 1915, a loss that transformed the poet’s voice and deepened his understanding of duty and remembrance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we explore Kipling's idealised search for 'home', how the stillness of &lt;em&gt;Bateman’s&lt;/em&gt; shaped his later work - and how its rooms echo with the unspoken cost of war. Join us as we walk the paths Kipling once took, tracing the lines between place, poetry, and remembrance... and discovering how a Sussex gentleman's farmhouse became a monument to both creativity and courage.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Then hold your head up all the more,&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;This tide,&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;And every tide;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Because he was the son you bore,&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;From &lt;em&gt;My Boy Jack&lt;/em&gt; (1916) by Rudyard Kipling&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

A special episode for Remembrance Day

In this Remembrance Day special, we step through the doors of&nbsp;Bateman’s, the 17th-century Jacobean house that became both a refuge and a muse for imperial poet, journalist and writer,&nbsp;Rudyard Kipling. Nestled in the folds of the Sussex Weald, the sandstone gables, mullioned windows and heavy beams of Bateman's speak of endurance - a quality that runs like a golden thread through Kipling’s writing. From the carved oak staircase to the low, moody study, Bateman’s was more than a home: it was the stage for Kipling’s reflections on empire, loss, and belonging. As the First World War cast its long shadow, Bateman’s also became a house of grief. Kipling’s only son,&nbsp;John, was killed at the Battle of Loos in 1915, a loss that transformed the poet’s voice and deepened his understanding of duty and remembrance. In this episode, we explore Kipling's idealised search for 'home', how the stillness of Bateman’s shaped his later work - and how its rooms echo with the unspoken cost of war. Join us as we walk the paths Kipling once took, tracing the lines between place, poetry, and remembrance... and discovering how a Sussex gentleman's farmhouse became a monument to both creativity and courage. Then hold your head up all the more,This tide,And every tide;Because he was the son you bore,And gave to that wind blowing and that tide! From My Boy Jack (1916) by Rudyard Kipling<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

The poet & the house that inspired an empire | Kipling & Bateman's | Ep. 98

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode - the final part in our series on the shortlisted candidates for the &lt;em&gt;HHA Collections Award&lt;/em&gt; (sponsored by &lt;em&gt;Dreweatts&lt;/em&gt;) - we travel to the heart of the Forest of Bowland to visit&amp;nbsp;Browsholme Hall, Lancashire’s oldest surviving family home.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;We’re joined by&amp;nbsp;Robert Parker, current custodian of Browsholme, who inherited his family home somewhat unexpectedly in 1975 upon the death of his fourth cousin. Robert shares the story of the Parker family, who built Browsholme in the early 16th century, and how the estate has evolved through the centuries - surviving political upheavals, social change, and the challenges of modern heritage stewardship. We explore the&amp;nbsp;architecture&amp;nbsp;of this Tudor house, from its oak-panelled Great Hall to its later Georgian additions, and discuss how each generation has left its mark on the building.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;We also get a glimpse into Browsholme’s extraordinary&amp;nbsp;collection&amp;nbsp;of art, furniture, and historic artefacts - objects that tell the intimate story of one family’s place in English history. With Robert’s anecdotes and deep personal connection to the Hall, this episode offers a lovely insight into what it means to live amidst, and care for, centuries of heritage.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join us for an evocative journey through time at one of Lancashire’s most captivating historic homes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Shortlisted for the HHA Collections Award, sponsored by Dreweatts

In this episode - the final part in our series on the shortlisted candidates for the HHA Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts) - we travel to the heart of the Forest of Bowland to visit&nbsp;Browsholme Hall, Lancashire’s oldest surviving family home. We’re joined by&nbsp;Robert Parker, current custodian of Browsholme, who inherited his family home somewhat unexpectedly in 1975 upon the death of his fourth cousin. Robert shares the story of the Parker family, who built Browsholme in the early 16th century, and how the estate has evolved through the centuries - surviving political upheavals, social change, and the challenges of modern heritage stewardship. We explore the&nbsp;architecture&nbsp;of this Tudor house, from its oak-panelled Great Hall to its later Georgian additions, and discuss how each generation has left its mark on the building. We also get a glimpse into Browsholme’s extraordinary&nbsp;collection&nbsp;of art, furniture, and historic artefacts - objects that tell the intimate story of one family’s place in English history. With Robert’s anecdotes and deep personal connection to the Hall, this episode offers a lovely insight into what it means to live amidst, and care for, centuries of heritage. Join us for an evocative journey through time at one of Lancashire’s most captivating historic homes.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

An unexpected inheritance: Robert Parker & Browsholme Hall  | Ep. 97

<description>&lt;p&gt;Many country houses claim to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park, but few houses have such tangible links to Jane Austen as Chawton House in Hampshire.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;On this week's podcast - the penultimate episode in our series on the HHA Collections Awards shortlisted candidates - Jane Austen’s world comes to life at Chawton House, the historic Hampshire estate once owned by her brother and now home to a unique library celebrating early women’s writing. In this episode, Chawton House Chief Executive Katie Childs shares the fascinating history of the house, its deep connections to Austen’s life and work, and the remarkable collection of rare books by women authors from the 1600s to the early 1800s. Together, we explore how Chawton House continues to champion women’s voices and inspire new generations of readers and researchers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Many country houses claim to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park, but few houses have such tangible links to Jane Austen as Chawton House in Hampshire. On this week's podcast - the penultimate episode in our series on the HHA Collections Awards shortlisted candidates - Jane Austen’s world comes to life at Chawton House, the historic Hampshire estate once owned by her brother and now home to a unique library celebrating early women’s writing. In this episode, Chawton House Chief Executive Katie Childs shares the fascinating history of the house, its deep connections to Austen’s life and work, and the remarkable collection of rare books by women authors from the 1600s to the early 1800s. Together, we explore how Chawton House continues to champion women’s voices and inspire new generations of readers and researchers.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

If walls could talk: Jane Austen & Chawton House | Ep. 96

A deep dive into all things Country House.&nbsp;<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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