Country houses have long stood as powerful symbols of national identity, conjuring images of the opulent world of the landowning aristocracy. Yet, the Jewish country house tells a more nuanced and complex tale of prejudice, assimilation, and resilience. Some were centres of lavish entertaining, while others served as hubs of intellectual and artistic innovation, inspiring the European avant-garde.

Today, a few of these estates are celebrated as museums of international significance, while many others remain hidden gems, bearing silent witness to a dream of belonging that was tragically shattered by the Holocaust.

Join Oxford historian Professor Abigail Green and Waddesdon Manor’s Senior Curator Juliet Carey for an insightful exploration into the fascinating and diverse world of the Jewish country house across Europe.

An event from Jewish Book Week 2025.