English Model Farm: Building the Agricultural Ideal,1700-1930

Book Description
During the Agricultural Revolution, the landowners of Britain carried out a great architectural experiment. Inspired by the Enlightenment ideals of beauty, utility and profit, they constructed an enormous range of picturesque or classical buildings on their farms. These model farms, a phenomenon unique to Britain, are a significant yet largely undiscovered aspect of our heritage. In this book Susanna Wade Martins tells their story. The book: - is richly illustrated with interior and exterior photographs, most of them specially commissioned, as well as plans, paintings and historic photographs - examines the architecture and landscape context of the farmsteads themselves, and considers the motives of the people who built them - draws on the first comprehensive national survey of model farms, recently completed by English Heritage - contains a county-by-county summary of the country's most important model farmsteads, enabling readers to explore them for themselves. The English Model Farm provides the history enthusiast with a guide to the rich built heritage of the 'Age of Improvement'.

About the Author
Susanna Wade Martins is a research fellow at the Centre of East Anglian Studies, University of East Anglia and a past chairman of the Historic Farm Buildings Group. She has published widely on agricultural and estate history with a special emphasis on farm buildings and the landscape.


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During the Agricultural Revolution, the landowners of Britain carried out a great architectural experiment. Inspired by the Enlightenment ideals of beauty, utility and profit, they constructed an enormous range of picturesque or classical buildings on their farms.These model farms, a phenomenon unique to Britain, are a significant yet largely undiscovered aspect of our heritage. In this book Susanna Wade Martins tells their story. The book is richly illustrated with interior and exterior photographs, most of them specially commissioned, as well as plans, paintings and historic photographs; examines the architecture and landscape context of the farmsteads themselves, and considers the motives of the people who built them; draws on the first comprehensive national survey of model farms, recently completed by English Heritage. contains a county-by-county summary of the country's most important model farmsteads, enabling readers to explore them for themselves. The English Model Farm provides the history enthusiast with a guide to the rich built heritage of the ￯﾿ﾽAge of Improvement'. AUTHOR BIO: Susanna Wade Martins is a research fellow at the Centre of East Anglian Studies, University of East Anglia and a past chairman of the Historic Farm Buildings Group. She has published widely on agricultural and estate history with a special emphasis on farm buildings and the landscape.


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