Product Description

The Hills are a great English family and this book is their 'biography', or history, carefully researched and interestingly written by a member of the family who is both an historian and a professional writer. For several centuries the Hills played a prominent role in shaping the history of England and especially of Shropshire. No fewer than six Hills of Hawkstone boast entries in the Dictionary of National Biography, from Sir Rowland Hill, Kt., the first Protestant Lord Mayor of London in the mid-16th century; the 'Great' Hill, a highly influential diplomat and spy at the end of the 17th century; the brothers, Sir Richard and the Reverend Rowland, who were leading figures in the early Evangelical movement; and General Rowland, 1st Viscount Hill, Wellington's right hand in the Napoleonic Wars and his successor as Commander in Chief of the Army. The family is responsible for building two of Shropshire's most important houses; Hawkstone and Attingham. The latter, as one sees it today, was mainly built by Noel Hill, 1st Lord Berwick, and his equally extravagant son, Thomas, 2nd Lord Berwick. John Nash designed the Picture Gallery, in 1802, with its innovative curved glass ceiling, giving natural top lighting for the pictures. Nash is also responsible for Cronkhill, the Steward's house, which, in the Mediterranean style, is an oddity in deepest rural Shropshire. The great landscape designer, Humphry Repton, was responsible for the Park. At Hawkstone, the Hills created one of Europe's most important Romantic landscaped parks. Now restored, it is once again open to the public. Through extravagance and a decrease in agricultural revenue, the Hill family fortunes suffered a dramatic decline in the late 19th century, with the senior branch declared bankrupt in 1894, the Estate, house and contents sold and the family archive scattered. The junior branch, at Attingham, had gone bankrupt in 1827, but had been rescued by William, 3rd Lord Berwick, who was responsible for most of the present furnishings, largely acquired during his diplomatic postings to Italy. Sadly, by the end of the Second World War, the struggle to maintain the fabric had become too great and the Estate was made over to the National Trust. This fascinating, well researched and entertainingly written book is a family history, an architectural history, and a valuable contribution to the story of England's social evolution over the past few centuries.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1912232 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.61 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 212 pages