I got a 2005 version of Hudsons Historic Houses & Gardens book from Half Price Books, and I'm struggling with picking and choosing what homes to see. I knew there were a lot of estates in England, but I had no idea how many we were talking about. Let me just say, I am enraptured...
I guess the Landmark Trust and a couple of other entities stepped in a few years ago and saved some of these homes, but there were many that were beyond repair or were destroyed before the trust could get to them. They talk of the losses to the national heritage because of it, but I'm just amazed at how much they still have left! There are thousands of these buildings to see in England in comparison to our few national landmarks and trust buildings.
Here in the States, we have some preservation and some trust organizations around the country that are working at conserving our heritage for future generations, but nothing like they do in England. And our old buildings are still relative babies in comparison to some of the manors, castles and halls of Great Britain.
So now you see my dilemna...how can I eliminate them? I mean, it's not like I can take a year-long sabbatical to see every home in England. And even then, I am probably being overly energetic and optimistic. It must take a host of writers to visit all these homes every year! HA!
More and more, I'm just thinking that I need to contact somebody (not sure who) and let them know that I would love to work on a book like this. I need to find out how to get this job! To be able to travel and visit these homes, to write about them and talk them up, to share the beauty and mystery of these magical places, and invite others to do the same -- I know I could do that. I want to do it. It would be like a dream come true...
I don't need to live in a home like that. This small-town girl doesn't need a lot, and my small one-bedroom flat will continue to do me fine. Thank you very much! But I do enjoy visiting places of beauty and history, which is why I am pining to visit England so very much.
