As the need for huge castles declined, noblemen and landowners looked imposing but more comfortable to live in. Medieval manor houses were based around a great hall with private spaces for the owner and rooms for the household workers.
By the time of the Tudors, the dissolution of the monasteries in the late 1530s saw former ecclesiastical properties added to the wealth of noble families, which in turn, led to a boom in housebuilding. Imposing defences were no longer needed, resulting in large windows and open aspects. The stately home, built and owned by the ruling upper classes, became a statement of wealth and power. They provided employment for the local workforce and acted as hubs for social events. These grand country houses were often surrounded by acres of land, which
