One of our project trustees Dr Alan Wilson has a new book coming out soon on the technology of the country house in west Wales.
Comfort, Pleasure and Prestige describes the various ways the Welsh gentry used domestic technology to ensure that their country-house lifestyle was as comfortable and prestigious as possible. While the focus of the book is unashamedly on the technology of country houses, in order to explain why some technologies were adopted while others were not, domestic technology is placed squarely in its social and historical context.
The Welsh gentry’s fortunes fluctuated wildly between 1750 and 1930, but throughout that period they continued to pursue their hedonistic lifestyle in the relative opulence of their country houses. To a large extent, they did so, due to their willingness to install new forms of technology such as flush toilets, electric lighting and central heating. In exploring the relationship between technology, domestic service and the gentry’s social aspirations, Comfort, Pleasure and Prestige draws on examples of country houses from across west Wales.
It is essential reading for all those who would like to know more about the technologies that enabled country houses to run smoothly. It is also essential reading for those who wish to understand more fully how the gentry actually lived, and the social, technical and economic factors that lay behind the introduction of new technology in Welsh country houses.
ALAN WILSON gained his doctorate from the University of Manchester with a thesis exploring the history of Manchester’s water supply and sanitation. He then went on to produce a permanent exhibition on the same subject at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester., and was subsequently appointed as the curator of the museum’s National Electricity Gallery and National Gas Gallery.
On moving to Wales, he lectured on the history of technology and civil engineering at Swansea University and with The Open University in Wales. Throughout his academic career he has researched, written about and lectured on the social and technical history of country houses, and has now brought all that research together in this study of the country houses of west Wales.
Comfort, Pleasure & Prestige
Posted: 06/06/2016 by Admin
One of our project trustees Dr Alan Wilson has a new book coming out soon on the technology of the country house in west Wales.
Comfort, Pleasure and Prestige describes the various ways the Welsh gentry used domestic technology to ensure that their country-house lifestyle was as comfortable and prestigious as possible. While the focus of the book is unashamedly on the technology of country houses, in order to explain why some technologies were adopted while others were not, domestic technology is placed squarely in its social and historical context.
The Welsh gentry’s fortunes fluctuated wildly between 1750 and 1930, but throughout that period they continued to pursue their hedonistic lifestyle in the relative opulence of their country houses. To a large extent, they did so, due to their willingness to install new forms of technology such as flush toilets, electric lighting and central heating. In exploring the relationship between technology, domestic service and the gentry’s social aspirations, Comfort, Pleasure and Prestige draws on examples of country houses from across west Wales.
It is essential reading for all those who would like to know more about the technologies that enabled country houses to run smoothly. It is also essential reading for those who wish to understand more fully how the gentry actually lived, and the social, technical and economic factors that lay behind the introduction of new technology in Welsh country houses.
ALAN WILSON gained his doctorate from the University of Manchester with a thesis exploring the history of Manchester’s water supply and sanitation. He then went on to produce a permanent exhibition on the same subject at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester., and was subsequently appointed as the curator of the museum’s National Electricity Gallery and National Gas Gallery.
On moving to Wales, he lectured on the history of technology and civil engineering at Swansea University and with The Open University in Wales. Throughout his academic career he has researched, written about and lectured on the social and technical history of country houses, and has now brought all that research together in this study of the country houses of west Wales.
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