A study of the rise and fall of the fortunes of five land-owning families in the century before the Civil War, with case studies of land and livestock management..
Based on a wide range of records, this important study traces the fortunes of the families, revealing problems that arose about landownership and running their estates. The precise original sources on which the book is based are meticulously flagged up.
The families featured are:
- Isham of Lamport
- Spencer of Althorp
- Tresham of Rushton
- Fitzwilliam of Milton
- Brudenell of Deene
Naturally, there are also many references to members of other families and to places other than country houses. The book's separate indexes to places, people and subjects will help readers find material of particular interest.