Lancashire's Historic Halls: The county's history as witnessed by some of its most famous buildings
David BrazendaleClick HERE to download the Table of Contents.
The great halls of Lancashire – Rufford, Samlesbury, Turton and the rest – are well-known tourist attractions, yet many of them in the past contributed greatly to one or more aspects of the county’s history. An important new look at the wider story.
The historic buildings in the old county of Lancashire can be enjoyed on so many levels. For some people it is the architecture or art; for others it is the chance to see and feel how the other half lived; and for some they are just beautiful places in grand settings where a good cup of tea and a homemade cake can be found. But whatever your motivation, there is no doubt that your visit will be greatly enhanced by the lively and superbly presented information in this excellent book.
If no man is an island, then neither is any historic building; there is a story to tell in each case, a particular part a hall or house has played in history that reveals much about the development of Lancashire. By placing the story of the halls and their various occupants in the context of the wider history of the county we can understand more clearly why the buildings are as they are, and can experience our past in a way which is relevant and ‘real’. This is truly an indispensable mine of information that can be used either in conjunction with a visit, or read as a stand alone look at Lancashire’s history from the Middle Ages to the coming of industrialisation in the eighteenth century.