This book is an illustrated chronicle of some of England's least known - and finest houses - built between 1066 and the end of the 17th century many of which are still private homes. Beginning with fortified manor houses, like Helmingham in Suffolk, where the drawbridge is still raised nightly, the author covers a variety of styles all over the country: courtyard houses, such as Cothele in Cornwall; timber-framed manors like Pitchford Hall, Shropshire; gatehouses as at Stanway, Gloucestershire; moated houses like Markenfield, Yorkshire and castles such as Broughton Castle, Oxfordshire. He has photographed both exteriors and interiors, revealing details of plasterwork, stone carving and panelling. The author's other books include "Private Palaces" (Chatto, 1985) and his photographs have appeared in "Harper's", "Tatler", "Vogue" and "Interiors".