Author(s): Charles Phillips

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The Tudor and Stuart period is one of the most fascinating in British history, not least of all thanks to their impressive architectural legacy. These grand royal residences and historic houses, the lasting symbol of those magnificent times, are illustrated and interestingly described in this comprehensive reference book. Divided into four chronological sections this fabulous book opens with the early Tudor palaces such as the well-known Hampton Court Palace, the beautiful Leeds castle and the hilltop Edinburgh Castle. The next section covers the so-called ‘Prodigy Houses’ of the Elizabethan era from Hardwick Hall to Montacute House which are followed by an inspiring selection of Jacobean palaces and stately homes including Knole and the Queen’s House, Greenwich. The final section explores the more modern buildings of the Restoration style, the most celebrated of which must be Windsor Castle itself. More than 200 lavish photographs, paintings, reconstructions and maps help bring to life the true majestic glory of these houses and their times. The intriguing individual histories of each castle or stately home are expertly described in a stimulating and entertaining way, while fact boxes explain the developments in architecture and focus on some key architects including Robert Smythson, Inigo Jones and Sir Christopher Wren. Useful timelines and maps of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland help to put the individual buildings in context, creating an interesting overall impression of the development during those times. Captivating, compelling and enchanting, the castles and stately homes of the Tudor and Stuart period make for an engrossing study and this exceptional book is an essential reference guide.