SNN114369 - The Motor Car and the Country House: Historic Buildings Report

This report attempts to identify the ways in which the ownership and development of the motor car affected life in the English country house in the 20th century. Special reference is made to the buildings constructed and converted to house and maintain this new form of transport. The methodology adopted for this survey was based largely on the library and archives held by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain at Ashwell in Hertfordshire. The initial research to find the leading country house owners involved in the early development of the motor car through the journals of the period was followed by visits to establish the survival of these early motor houses. Other examples of motor houses were brought to my attention by members of the public, English Heritage colleagues and the staff of the National Trust. A number of country houses were visited at random, many belonging to the National Trust, in order to attempt to identify any buildings built or converted to accommodate motor cars. This report forms part of the larger Motor Car Project being undertaken by John Minnis and Kathryn Morrison