Grace and favour rooms

“ I met Charles Dickens today, except he had clearly been so busy working on The Mystery of Edwin Drood that he had fallen asleep, so I didn’t get to speak to him!” I laughingly proclaimed to Ro when

It might be due to the popularity of Clarkson’s Farm , an increased concern for food provenance or the desire to have a lifestyle overhaul, but interest in smallholdings is on the rise, says Arabella Youens

Discover how the UK’s country houses defied the odds to survive as historic monuments and cultural centres

Owning a piece of Britain’s built heritage is a privilege, but to do so without having to navigate listed-building controls can be an attractive prospect. Arabella Youens finds properties that have slipped below the radar

Our round-up of the funny, fascinating and unusual stories this fortnight

Two great houses, rich with fascinating history and beautifully apportioned, put the county on the map