Country houses and the British Empire, 1700–1930 (Studies in Imperialism, 116)

The 'Indian Room' label from Osterley's bell-pull system illustrates the economic and cultural aspects of the relationship between country houses and the British Empire. This book is a study of that relationship, of the ways in which country houses like Osterley served as venues for the expression of personal and national imperial engagement between 1700 and 1930. A rare scholarly analysis of the history of country houses that goes beyond an architectural or biographical study, and recognises their importance as the physical embodiments of imperial wealth and reflectors of imperial cultural influences, is presented. The book assesses the economic and cultural links between country houses and the Empire. In terms of imperial values, country houses expressed both the economic and cultural impact of empire. Carr and Gladstone were only two of the many examples of colonial merchants who turned landed magnates. Nabobs - men who made their fortunes either as employees of the East India Company or as 'free traders' in India - were willing to risk their lives in pursuit of wealth. Like nabobs, planters went to the colonies in search of wealth and were prepared to spend substantial time there in order to accumulate it. Military and naval were among categories of people who purchased landed estates with imperial wealth. The book identifies four discourses of empire - commodities, cosmopolitanism, conquest and collecting - that provided the basic categories in which empire was represented in country-house context. Country Houses And The British Empire, 1700–1930 Assesses The Economic And Cultural Links Between Country Houses And The Empire Between The Eighteenth And Twentieth Centuries. Using Sources From Over Fifty British And Irish Archives, It Enables Readers To Better Understand The Impact Of The Empire Upon The British Metropolis By Showing Both The Geographical Variations And Its Different Cultural Manifestations. Barczewski Offers A Rare Scholarly Analysis Of The History Of Country Houses That Goes Beyond An Architectural Or Biographical Study, And Recognises Their Importance As The Physical Embodiments Of Imperial Wealth And Reflectors Of Imperial Cultural Influences. In So Doing, She Restores Them To Their True Place Of Centrality In British Culture Over The Last Three Centuries, And Provides Fresh Insights Into The Role Of The Empire In The British Metropolis. This Title Assesses The Economic And Cultural Links Between Country Houses And The Empire Between The Eighteenth And Twentieth Centuries. Introduction : British Country Houses And Empire, 1700-1930 -- Colonial Merchants -- Indian Nabobs -- West Indian Planters -- Military And Naval Officers And Other Categories Of Imperial Estate Purchasers -- The Impact Of Imperial Wealth On British Landed Estates -- The Cultural Display Of Empire In Country Houses -- The Discourse Of Commodities -- The Discourse Of Cosmopolitanism -- The Discourse Of Conquest -- The Discourse Of Collecting. Stephanie Barczewski. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 291-313) And Index. Front matter Contents List of figures, charts and map List of tables General editor’s introduction Preface and acknowledgements List of abbreviations Introduction: British country houses and empire, 1700–1930 Colonial merchants Indian nabobs West Indian planters Military and naval officers and other categories of imperial estate purchasers The impact of imperial wealth on British landed estates The cultural display of empire in country houses The discourse of commodities The discourse of cosmopolitanism The discourse of conquest The discourse of collecting Conclusion Appendices Select bibliography Index