Secrets of an English Country House by Julie Montagu Countess of Sandwich
This is a delightful glimpse into a year at Mapperton House, “one of the most remarkable surviving manor houses in England.” It’s also the home of the 12th Earl and Countess of Sandwich, and is told through the four seasons. Each chapter explores a different part of the estate, gives the reader a sense of the dedication required to maintain the house and grounds, and offers a glimpse into Mapperton House's previous occupants.
Mapperton has existed for more than 900 years, and consists of 850 acres of gardens, farmland and woodlands. Its survival depends not on privilege but on innovation. There are always plaster ceilings to repair, pipes that need replacing, tiles, paintings and furniture to be restored, gates to be fixed, fallen trees to remove and gutters to repair. The family have turned to hosting weddings, festivals, open-air theatre, operating a cafe and running tours of the home to help pay for maintenance. The property has also been used as a film location, which helped to fund some repairs.
One of the Countess’s favourite projects is the scanning of thousands of letters, journals and household documents. As she works, she learns more of the lives of those who have made Mapperton home.
In spring we meet the 1st Earl of Sandwich, a man of contradictions: a Parliamentarian who helped restore a king; a reformer who became a peer; a commander who died in sacrifice. In spring, the swimming pool is emptied, cleaned and refilled. It was once a pond stocked with fish for the house, but now it’s used for swimming. No lining, no chlorination and no filtration; it’s fed by a spring that takes several days to refill.
In summer the property is at its busiest. We are introduced to Louisa Montagu, 6th Countess of Sandwich, a woman who lived at the intersection of public duty and private influence in the social worlds of London, Paris and Elba, the island home of an exiled Napoleon Bonaparte whom she socialised with.
In Autumn, when the leaves begin to colour and the numbers of guests and tours dwindle, the work increases. There are preparations to be made for winter. The 4th Earl of Sandwich introduces scandal to the family history as we learn of the Hellfire Caves. It also details his 15-year relationship with the famous gifted singer, Martha Ray.
Winter brings a slower rhythm to the estate, and although the gates are closed to visitors, there is much behind-the-scenes work to do. In this chapter, the author introduces us to Alberta Sturges, an American heiress who became the 9th Countess of Sandwich and left behind thousands of letters, each with instructions for the letter to be returned. She also left diaries and cookbooks.
Secrets of an English Country House comes with a family tree, a map of the property and many beautiful colour images of the property over the seasons. If you enjoy English history, this book is a must.
Reviewer: Carole Brungar
Allen & Unwin
