Never received this book.///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A magical photographic wonder into the estates that simple folk will never live, but will always love. The Cotswolds is the stuff of of fairy tales and wonder, and this book gives us a small vacation.

Secret Houses of the Cotswolds is a nonfiction book written by Jeremy Musson and with photographs by Hugo Rittson Thomas, that takes readers on a personal tour of twenty of the UK’s most beguiling castles, estates, palaces and manor houses in this much-loved area of western England. Estates visited include Daylesford, Stanway, Sudeley Castle and Hilles House. This collection offers privileged access to twenty houses, from castles and manor houses, as well as eighteenth- and nineteenth-century mansions, revealing their history, architecture and interiors, in the company of their devoted owners. Readers will find a series of fascinating country houses of different sizes and atmospheres, which have shaped the English identity. Each house has their own story, but their distinctive honey-colored stone walls, set among rolling hills, in different ways express the ideals of English life. Most of the houses included here are privately owned and not usually open to the public.

Secret Houses of the Cotswolds is a wonderful book to read if you are a fan of English estates and architecture, or just want to learn more about the styles. The information is well framed in understandable and interesting ways to hold the researcher or curious reader's attention. I will admit that I mostly picked this book up for the photographs. And I was not disappointed. I loved getting a detailed and revealing look at some of these estates. It was just an interesting read, and a visually stunning book that has me going back to glance at my favorite pages again and again. Anyone interested in architecture, decorating, or art will find something to capture their attention in this book. Readers that just love getting an exclusive look at something, or love all things English will also want to take a gander at this beautiful book

Book received from NetGalley

I have to admit I'm a bit of an Anglophile and a bit of a British History buff. This book ticked all the boxes for me. It's basically a private tour of some not so well known houses in one of the most gorgeous parts of the British countryside. One of my favorite places to visit is the Cotswolds and I had no clue some of these places were even there. I loved having a chance to see them even if only in photographs. My only issue with the book was that I thought it was too short, I would have enjoyed seeing more of these places.

What a glorious book! Jeremy Musson and photographer Hugo Rittson Thomas visited 20 carefully chosen Cotswolds properties, most now private homes not open to the public, and they take us along with them. The photographs are gorgeous, displaying vistas, architecture, gardens, interiors and details, so clearly and sometimes intimately that you can imagine yourself stepping into the spaces and even living there. If only!

These incredible properties (castles, estates, manor houses, homes, a priory) include structures built from the 13th to the 20th centuries and one built in 2016. And what histories they have! There are houses associated with Charles I, Cromwell, the Mitfords, designer William Morris, one that serves as Trenwith House in Poldark, and so much more.

Musson gives us succinct details about architectural history, character and previous owners of each house, as well as some historical events and visitors. He speaks with current owners about how they came to the houses and the careful and loving processes of restoration, renovation, decoration and garden/landscaping choices, and also how they made these treasures work as family homes.

There is information at the back of the book on 10 houses not open to the public at all, 6 which can be booked for private events or tours (1 of gardens only), and the hours and details for the 4 that currently have scheduled public open times.

I recommend this book very highly, and plan to purchase a hardcover copy for myself.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for a Digital ARC of this book, of which I gave an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended read! Thanks for providing through Net Galley. Five Stars *****

his is a gorgeous book which includes the history and pictures of such beautiful houses as Burford Priory, whose owner once defied Charles 1, and Clevenage - Trenwith in the Poldark series. These historical houses have stunning features, such as decoration in the Arts and Crafts style, antique stained-glass, and Regency four-poster beds. There are interviews with the owners who tell how why they bought the houses (unless they were inherited) and how they restored them.



I found the writing a bit staid and it was hard to read online because the print is quite small.





This is a must-buy for anyone who loves beautiful historical houses and architecture.



I received this free ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.



DITION Other Format
ISBN 9780711239241
PRICE $29.99 (USD)

Ugh. House envy. Aside from the frequent use of antlers as decor, I loved everything about these buildings.

This book is full of beautiful photos and the history of these wonderful houses. 9/20 of these hoses are completely private so it's wonderful to see inside and learn about them. I also love that there is input from the owners of all if the houses.
Information is included on the opening times of the houses that are open to the public.

I live in UK, and Cotswolds is one of my favorite places to visit. The region reflects the history of 18th and 19th century history. It has an amazing landscape and historical spirit.
This book focuses on the hidden houses of Cotswolds, showing 20 houses located there. It has great pictures of the houses, talks about their history, owners, etc.
If you're a fan of visiting historical places and seeing the local life, this book is for you. I will definitely take this book with me next time i visit Cotswolds and see these houses that I didn't know of.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love visiting stately homes and have been a member of National Trust since I've discovered it -being a foreign soul in the UK!
This book excited me as it lists properties which are not open to public at all, and it's focusing one of the most beautiful parts of the UK: Cotswolds. Filled with details and historical information as well as architectural key facts, if you like visiting this gorgeous properties you'll love the photos in this book and may well read it in one sitting.

5 Stars!! Wow!! These homes/mansions/estates are amazing! I can’t even imagine what it would be like to call a place that big & that old home! The photography done for this book is incredible! I love looking at historical buildings, the older the better. This book is great for anyone who likes historical buildings, architecture, or a peek at the homes of the wealthy! (It would make a great ‘coffee table book’!) I do wish there were more pictures, but I’d probably be saying that even if the book had every picture the photographer took in it! Just imagining who could’ve walked the grounds and halls of these homes and how they’d be dressed, which era they were in & what secrets those walls hold, stays on the mind for a while! Don’t even get me started on the ghosts these homes must have! So... if you’re looking for a book to pique your interest & imagination, this is a good pick! I definitely recommend this book! The pictures alone are worth checking out & the writing is like an added bonus! It tells about the history of the home & who the owners have been. Some of the rehabs that have been done are also talked about. Since reading this book, I am now looking into visiting England! I’m due for a trip & I’d love to see some of these homes in person!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*

Secret Houses of the Cotswolds by Jeremy Musson, is a stunning look at 20 of the castles, estates, palaces and manor houses is the Cotswolds. Most of these houses are privately owned and this book will be the only way you will ever see inside of these homes.

The pictures in this book show not only the home but also some of the grounds, and original architecture, that has been preserved over the years. You also learn a bit of the history of the home and the current owners.

I am an armchair traveler and have gotten a huge taste of England with this book. Jeremy Musson and his crew has done a wonderful job bringing these homes to all of us who will probably never get to see them in person.

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

"Secret Houses of the Cotswolds" looks at 20 country houses, manors, mansions, and castles in this area. The book contained beautiful, full-color photographs of several angles of the outside of each house and of some of the rooms inside the house. The author talked about the history of each house, including who owned the house at various times and the changes they made to the inside and to the area surrounding the house. We also got some stories about what it's like to renovate or live in the house from recent or current owners. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to people who are interested in the large, historical houses of the Cotswolds.

If you love English country houses, decorating, or the Cotwolds, you'll love this book with chapters devoted to 20 private homes in this part of England. The houses are all Cotswold stone in creamy and yellow colors. Most, but not all are Tudorish or net-gothic in style with plenty of beautiful and ornate woodwork.

All are decorated in what is known as the "English country house" style with eclectic collections of furniture that nicely compliments the surrounding.

Each chapter has a lengthy essay about the house, it decoration and its owners.

At the back there is information about visiting hours.

It's treat for lovers of this style.

This is a wonderful illustrated edition that narrates the background of various homes in the Cotswolds. A lovely read that enables readers to explore the history of Cotswolds homes in the comfort of their own home.

Secret Houses of the Cotswolds offers a rare opportunity to see the inside and outside of many of these stately private homes in the English countryside. The photographs are stunning and vividly portray the beauty of the local area, as well as the signature gardens and architecture.

An architectural historian adds some background knowledge on the structures, and all in all, this a book perfectly suitable for any anglophile’s bookshelf or coffee table.

As an aside, my mom took me on a trip to England as a college graduation present. One of our favorite places we visited due to the architecture and quaint coziness was Bath, which happens to be on the southern edge of the Cotswolds. I imagined a time in which I could have lived there!

Thank you to Jeremy Musson, Hugo Rittson Thomas, Frances Lincoln/Quarto, and Netgalley for the ARC, and my friend, Melisa, for the recommendation!

While most people imagine quaint cottages and villages when they think of the Cotswolds, this book takes readers inside 20 beautiful manor houses, telling of both their histories and the style inspirations of current owners.

Let’s face it, most of us will never own a grand estate in England, but in this book, you can explore the interiors and gardens of some of the loveliest historical homes in the Cotswolds. Twenty estates are featured, with information about how and when they were built, interesting tidbits about their histories and who owns them now. The gorgeous photographs of homes and gardens are enough to make anyone wish they part of the landed gentry. Lovely

Large homes have always been interesting to me alike museums too, in this guide to some of the hidden homes in the Cotswolds, we learn years of history the homes hold and continue to honour. Whether it's finding dated furniture to upkeep the old style way of the house or just keeping the original features of the house in great condition, the owners allow us in to their lives by sharing why they care and love their homes so much.



Each home also is accompanied by a large, vast area of garden complete with many plants, features such as statues or possibly stables for owners horses as well as some having moat like water surrounding them giving the already large manor homes the essence of being castle like in their design.



Hugo Thomas has captured the houses vast size with clear photography throughout of the outsides and insides of each home we are invited to explore with crisp photography showing off the features throughout each area explored.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!