Renishaw Hall: The story of the Sitwells by Desmond Seward (PDF)

Description

This is the story of one of England’s most beautiful houses and of the family who have lived there for nearly four centuries.Built by a Cavalier, enlarged by a Regency Buck who hunted and killed a tiger with his hounds, it has been the home of many colourful Sitwells.Now triumphantly restored, Renishaw continues to flourish, attracting more visitors every year to the place that Rex Whistler called ‘the most exciting place I know’.Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire has been the seat of the Sitwell family since 1625. Its remarkable story is only matched by that of the family who have dwelled there, and with whose fortunes it has risen and fallen, only to rise again.In telling the tale of the Sitwells through the centuries, Desmond Seward also takes us on a tour through English history, to the house’s restoration at the end of the twentieth century, and the return to its former glory as a jewel of British heritage, winning the coveted Historic Houses’ Association Award for Garden of the Year in 2015.Desmond Seward is a British popular historian, best known for The Hundred Years War, never out of print since 1978, The Monks of War, The Wars of the Roses and Richard III – all republished by the Folio Society. His latest is The Demon’s Brood, a history of the Plantagenet kings in one short volume.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I bought this book after reading a positive review, and with the hope it would help me understand Sir George Sitwell’s contributions to Renishaw and the gardens. Also, to help make sense of Edith, Osbert, and Sacheverell’s rocky upbringing. It is terribly disappointing. The book is poorly edited. Presumably in an effort to rehabilitate Sir George’s reputation the author makes the stupid mistake of discounting the very real accomplishments of Edith and Osbert. This ahistorical approach reeks of amateurism and meanness. It reads like a ham-fisted attempt to settle family scores. Whatever their flaws, Edith and Osbert left behind for western civilization works of occasional beauty and great imagination (Edith’s “Facade”). The author fails to make his case that Sir George was a more important historical figure. After a hundred pages one can see why the children turned on their parents. AND aside from a contemporary shot of the inhabitants standing in front of Renishaw, there are no good images of this extraordinary house’s exterior. What a missed opportunity. The whole book is a shabby affair.

⭐The book is quite informative and entertaining. Arrived early and in great shape, too.

⭐To read!

⭐Not a lot of substantial information here.

⭐as adverrized

⭐This is the engrossing, compact history of a time when grand houses had names, and those who lived in them were engaging characters, be they saintly or devilish. Desmond Seward has written a tight book that, nevertheless, provides full portraits of family members and charts the rise, fall, and rise again of both the family’s fortunes and Renishaw Hall itself.The magnificent John Singer Sargent portrait of George, Ida, and Edith Sitwell on the book’s cover is the perfect prelude to the enjoyment that awaits within.

⭐I have just finished this story of Renishaw Hall, and would fully recommend this version to anyone who would like to know more about the Sitwells. It’s history takes the reader from the 17th century to the current owner of Renishaw in the 21st. An odd family who down the years managed to just about hang onto the old house, it gains its recognition due to the 20th century literary trio of Edith, Osbert and Sacherverell. Fairly new to the history of this family I must say I do particularly admire Edith’s output of poetry. A strange, eccentric individual perhaps it is true to say that her work was not always taken seriously in her day but I am hopeful that the present and future generation of readers will at some point begin to appreciate her contribution to literary history.

⭐Well-written, surprisingly entertaining and engaging. Desmond, has written something that makes what could be a dry topic a vibrant and interesting. It has pace, explores each historical figure in sufficient detail and explores the rise and fall and rise again of the Sitwell’s, and their influence upon Renishaw Hall, it’s gardens and the socio-economic history of North East Derbyshire. To sum up, well researched and as evocative and entertaining as history gets.

⭐I am going to renishaw hall and gardens soon and wanted some background information on the Hall and Sitwells, this book certainly gave me that. There was a great deal of history of the family and i feel the book is of more interest if you want to know all about the family rather than the building and architecture of the Hall itself. The title does indicate that. An interesting read, what a family.

⭐An extraordinary family throughout the ages. I laughed out loud so many times – the Sitwells were so gloriously nuts! If you want a well-written biography that will make you smile, this is the book for you.

⭐A house close by which I have never visited or did I know anything of the family and the businesses they ran in the neighbourhood. A fascinating book only diminished by the poor graphics/pictures on the Kindle.

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