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The Country House Podcast

The Country House Podcast

By: Hancock Productions
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"If these walls could talk..." | Please join us as we discuss all things country houses. These are far more than mere bricks and mortar; they are family homes - living, breathing, changing and adapting over time. On The Country House Podcast we explore everything from their architectural history, gardens and collections to the lives of those who have lived and worked in them.


The goal of our platform remains true to its founding principles. We hope to inform people on a subject we are knowledgeable about, while proving that architectural and art history are accessible and engaging for everyone and can be enjoyed by all of us, whatever background or demographic we come from!


Country houses bring these subjects to life - their architecture encapsulates the progress of nations through the centuries, their collections speak of changing tastes, and their social histories include the lives of many great and powerful figures (and occasionally some rather unsavoury ones!) Country houses are not only beautiful buildings, but also important historical monuments and essential aspects of our respective national identities.


If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit.


Love Geoff & Rory x

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Episodes
  • Knowsley Hall Pt. I | With the Earl of Derby

    Knowsley Hall Pt. I | With the Earl of Derby
    Feb 9 2026

    Join us for an exclusive 3-part series with the Earl and Countess of Derby at the extraordinary Knowsley Hall!


    In this episode, we peel back the layers of the Stanley dynasty - a family that turned the tide at the Battle of Bosworth Field, and once ruled as Kings of the Isle of Man. In this series, Lord and Lady Derby will give us a tour of Merseyside’s only stately home... sharing personal stories behind its magnificent exterior and world-class collection.


    From the origins of the famous Derby horse race to the challenges of maintaining a historic house and estate in the 21st century, discover the enduring legacy of one of Britain’s most powerful aristocratic families and the house that they have been entrusted to steward.

    If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Almshouses | Architecture for the soul | Ep. 103

    Almshouses | Architecture for the soul | Ep. 103
    Jan 23 2026

    In this episode, we explore how guilt-ridden medieval merchants and eccentric Victorian philanthropists built almshouses - so-called 'hospitals of the soul.' We deconstruct the classic almshouse form - the defensive gatehouse, the peaceful quadrangle, and the central chapel - to understand how architecture was used to engineer social cohesion.

    Join us as we discover why these 600-year-old designs remain the gold standard for dignified communal living today.

    If you like our podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Your kind support will enable us to upgrade our (hitherto self-funded) platform and truly 'up our game' when it comes to producing high-quality content for our audience. Please follow this link for more information.


    If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    44 mins
  • Big Ben: At the stroke of midnight... | An Architectural Icon | Ep. 102

    Big Ben: At the stroke of midnight... | An Architectural Icon | Ep. 102
    Jan 4 2026

    As the resonant peals of the Great Bell usher in the New Year, we turn our eyes to the Elizabeth Tower; the neo-gothic sentinel that is universally - if erroneously - known as 'Big Ben'!


    In this New Year's special episode, Rory helps deconstruct the architectural swan song of Augustus Pugin, whose feverish medieval detailing perfectly complements Charles Barry’s structural ambition. We venture beyond the gilded clock face to explore the Victorian horological engineering within, examining how this Westminster icon became the unshakeable metronome of British life.


    Join us as we traverse the history of the world’s most famous four-faced clock, celebrating the design, the restoration, and the enduring symbolism behind the dings and dongs that ring out hope for the year ahead.

    If you enjoy tuning in, please consider supporting us by joining one of our membership tiers on our Patreon page - we love getting to know members of our community. Please also like, share and comment as you see fit. For more information, please visit our website.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
All stars
Most relevant
This is a most informative and entertaining podcast on country houses. The narrators have a great knowledge and passion of the subject, and have managed to create something that is fun and enjoyable, at the same time as being of intellectual interest. Greatly enjoyed, and looking forward to the next series.

Most Informative and Entertaining

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