From Sligo to Wales – the Flight of Charles Phibbs

by Einion Thomas, Bangor University Following the withdrawal of the British army from southern Ireland in 1922, the disbandment of the Royal Irish constabulary, and onset of Civil War, many landed families, who had relied on their presence for the maintenance of law and order and their own safety, found themselves in a vulnerable position.

‘…it seems everything we love goes’: The burning of Castleshane, 15 February 1920

by Terence Dooley One hundred years ago, in the Spring of 1920, Irish country houses came under unprecedented attack as revolutionary and agrarian conflict swept across the country. Approximately 300 Big Houses were burned. This is the first in a number of short case studies that will be posted between now and the end of

Fire and the Country House

by Christopher Ridgway Eighty years ago, in November 1940, Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, almost died. A calamitous fire broke out and nearly destroyed the building: between the early morning and lunchtime of 9th November there was a real battle to save Castle Howard from incineration.

The Historic House in Time of Emergency

by Christopher Ridgway Historic houses like everywhere else in the world have always faced challenges and threats to their existence. In past centuries, as private homes to elite families, difficulties might arise through death, money, or ill-fortune. Untimely death or the failure to produce an heir, when estates were strictly entailed and had to be

‘The Duchess was unhappily stricken with that dread disease consumption’

by Terence Dooley There were many diseases in the nineteenth century which could be fatal if contracted, and which knew no class boundaries. Granted those in the Big House had access to much better medical advice, facilities, and care, than the working classes, but if the disease had no cure, or if it got to