'Country Houses, Jewish Homes' mobile exhibition

Country houses are symbols of national identity, evoking the glamorous world of the landowning aristocracy. “Jewish” country houses tell a more complex story – of prejudice and integration, difference and belonging.

This exhibition - Country Houses, Jewish Homes - explores how Jews arrived in Britain, and fought for the right to acquire land and the political rights and social status that came with it. This was a society still structured by Christianity and dominated by the landed aristocracy. What did owning an English country house mean for immigrant Jewish families like the Rothschilds or the Sassoons? Was it easy to lead a Jewish life in the countryside? And what did those Jews who bought country houses both grand and small bring to the places they came to call home?

From the early struggles for religious equality in Georgian Britain to the rise of modern political antisemitism and the tragedy of the Holocaust, this exhibition illuminates what it means to be British, and the changing place of both Jews and the country house in British life.

Some comments from exhibition visitors:

"Such an informative and empathetic exhibition. I learnt a lot more about Jewish history links to our country houses".

"All round excellent exhibition. So interesting to learn about the place of Jewish history in the history of local places. Also I learned from public life in Britain I didn't know before."

"The subject in general is of great interest. The amount of work put into the exhibition is astonishing and very worthy of praise. We only found out about the exhibition by chance and visited immediately. Congratulations". 

"I thought it was really well presented and written. It was great. Will bring friends and daughter here to view it. As a British Indian, really interesting to hear about how other cultures settled in Britain. I drive past Waddesdon Manor quite a lot. Will stop and have a look next time."

"I very much appreciate this being curated and displayed. It is illuminating and incredibly important in the current world climate".

"Its prominence in an external part of the museum grounds (public park) that made it very accessible to all park visitors. A great location!"

The exhibition at Gunnersbury Park

The exhibition at Crawley Museum

The exhibition at Ightham Mote 2023