Two renowned architectural historians, Jeremy Musson and Dr Steven Parissien, join to discuss the future of the country house. The two explore the fate of the English country house since the war, looking at demolition and adaptation, at the country house as a business, and at the crucial role of the National Trust. They focus in particular on two nearby examples of great houses that were rescued from dereliction and oblivion: Compton Verney and Moggerhanger. 

Musson is a renowned writer, editor and TV presenter and former architectural editor of Country Life. He is founder of Wheatsheaf Press, which specialises in publishing histories of significant houses. He co-wrote and presented the BBC2 series The Curious House Guest. Among his recent books are English Country House Interiors, English Ruins, and The Country Houses of Si John Vanbrugh.

Parissien is director of the award-winning Compton Verney art gallery in Warwickshire. Among his books are The Georgian House in America and Britain, Palladian Style and Regency Style. He will be talking about his new book, The Life of the Automobile, later in the day.

Presented by Compton Verney.