Purpose and Hopes of the Blog

Good morning, a new Blog is launched:

Detailed Context:

Today I am launching a new blog devoted to the marvellous 18th Century (and earlier) artistocratic stately homes that still exist for the public to visit. For simplicity these manors, palaces, castles and homes are called in this blog 'treasure houses' because all have in them priceless art, sculpture, ceramics, furniture and other wonderful treasurers of a past wealthy, but slower and more stately world.

These homes were the country residences of the artistocratic wealthy class, who largely drew their wealth and high social station from their ownership of vast tracts of land with in their estates. Many families in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Century owned numerous estates, often in the 10's of thousands of acres.With the application of an Inheritance Tax on these families by Prime Minister Lloyd George shortly after WWI added to income taxes, many were forced to close and fell into disrepair. Others were given by their families - many of whom had lived uninterrupted on the estate since the 15th Century - to the National Trust, an agency of the government which manages them today. The National Trust moved whenever possible to open them to the public to raise money for their repair and maintenance.Other estates have remained in the hands of the original families - the Montagu family on Beaulieu Palace and Abbey estate west of Southampton in the New Forest - is one example. They have proudly stayed and shouldered the burden of the crippling taxation, opening their homes to tourism, starting farming, timber and other industries on their estates.This blog is devoted to these proud families and aims to be of assistance to them to have the Inheritance Tax - a weapon of long ago - removed so they can keep their revenues from tourism and other efforts to ensure the prompt restoration and maintanace of their homes and estates for the enjoyment of future generations.

Background:

In the 15th-17th Centures the treasure houses of the artistocratic society were the seats of real political power in the United Kingdon - not London where the Monarch and Parliament stood. They were built large to show the real politica power and wealth of these ancestral families from whose ranks the advisors of Monarchs at the very highest levels were drawn. Political discussions were very much part of the activities of these great houses, it can be said that the houses themselves opened doors for the most impressive families to be awarded Dukedoms by the Monarch because they drew attention to their wealth and good breeding.Their 'wealth' was not the wealth of today. It was land-based, with tens of thousands of individuals and families working for the Lord of the estate and living on the property. Their positions were passed down from father to children and many of them remained working on the estates.

As industry and commerce appeared in the 19th Century a new 'monied' wealth class appeared from the cities, who bought many of the treasure houses from the original aristocratic families who could no longer generate the funds to keep them going.But their real demise was at the hands of the highly critical Welshman, David Lloyd George, who when Prime Minister set himself to bring down these idle rich, as he saw them. The result was the punative and disasterous Inheritance Tax. When a Lord died, his heir had to pay a large tax before he could inherit. Often this was impossible and the estate was sold or abandoned. Many have disappeared.This Blog says unappologically - a POX on Lloyd George. It is time to save these houses and support the brave families who soldier on trying to keep them afloat by withdrawing the Inheritance - almost 100 years after it was put on their backs.

These treasure houses are not dinosaurs, no longer reflective of modern times or modern culture. Indeed they represent priceless art, architecture and beauty. They represent proud families who want to keep their names and the houses of their ancestors alive. They represent the pride that these families still have in them and in the generations of their families - often captured on art on palace walls - who have lived there for, in some cases well over 400 years! They also represent a window into the politics and social world of an earlier era, when these homes and their owners play a leading role in political and state events of the UK. Many still do today.With the loss of each additional treasure house leaves a gaping, never to be retrieved, tear in the UK, of its past and what has made it so special amid the cultures and nations of the world.

The Government has responded to their value: It is important to note that the UK government is becoming more and more aware of the need to preserve these masterpieces. On July 8, 2008, just a few weeks ago, a new program was launched by the national government that tracks these 'treasure houses' and their present condition. The 'Heritage at Risk Project' creates a national register of the state of 'neglect' of thtese houses and estates, and helps their ownes find ways to fund repairs and restorations to protect them for succeeding generations. We laud all those behind such efforts The reader may want to contact the project directly to see how he/she can help. Just Google the project's name and contact them.Also by relatively new British law, if a stately home is designated a 'Scheduled Ancient Monment', the property is forever protected from change by law. Many of the properties that will be presented in the Blog over the coming weeks are so designated, such as Burghley House. Recently the owners of many of the major houses have taken another step to help one another with the preservation of their proudly owned estates. Several have formed the 'Treasure Houses of England' organization, a heritage foundation created initially by 10 of the foremost estates to promote tourism and to generate funds for restoration and maintenance.

How The Blog Will Present The Stories of These Treasure Houses:

Eighty five (85) homes are currently to be entered into this Blog, alphabetically, with pictures and information on its history and present, who the family is, where the estate is, how you get tickets - often from their own websites via the Internet, when they are open to the public and the major attractions that should be seen. The information is gleaned from personal visits and an extensive Internet search. Any use of whole phrasing from any resource, should there be any, is quite unintentional.

Three or so homes will be added to the record on this Blog, until all 85 are available in the next few days to the reader.

The intentions of the Blog are simple:

1. to encourage the reader to plan a trip, often packaging 3 estates in the same general area so he/she will come to appreciate them as I do;

2. to encourage the reader to search the Internet...for others not listed, and add to this record him or herself so it ever grows as a living resource for anyone who is studying them and/or wishes to visit them.

3. and...the major intention is to gather force to the voices calling for the removal of the Inheritance Tax on these families and these homes, and a reduction of income taxes, as long as they do all they can to use the income they generate through tourism, estate industries...to keep these estates in a high level of restoration and repair for future generations to enjoy.

And Finally: 4. The great houses and estates of this Blog are still there and they are success stories. The author has been to several of them - many with his wife and 93 year old aunt who loves them! But their struggles are not over, nor will they ever be as the forces of Mother Nature relentlessly wear on these grand buildings, and continued taxes of all kinds weigh on the families. As you visit an estate you will see clearly how they still struggle valiantly to keep repairs up and bring back gardens long since overgrown.We salute these noble families and encourage them in their efforts. This author has petitioned the British P.M. Gordon Brown to remove the Inheritance Tax.Another way we can all help is to VISIT them as tourists and go back to relive an earlier, more sublime, more mannerly and supremely wealthy quiet country existence away from the smog, noise and political bantering in London. You can join the 'Friends' of a particular house, contribute to it and /or get information on upcoming events at it. You will be greatly helping them...and yourself.

In a few days the first Treasure Houses will appear: Abbotsford House, Alnick Castle, Althorpe, Anmer Hall and Apsley House.

I am a Canadian, majoring in University in Honors History, and as a retired gentleman, gets the opportunity to travel to these great houses, as well as many places and wonders around the world. I hope to see you in one of these marvellous Treasure Houses.