A comprehensive study of Welsh country house interpretation has not previously been undertaken. Much of what has been written regarding Welsh country house
interpretation focuses on specific aspects of a property that are presented in
interpretation, for example the servants at Erddig Hall, rather than interpretation
practice itself.
This research is underpinned by the question ‘to what extent is the interpretation of country houses in Wales effective?’ As part of this assessment, the research understands who creates interpretation at country houses in Wales, what it is based on, and who it is created for.
The thesis presents qualitative and quantitative data resulting from an online analysis of social media and websites, a survey of 306 respondents, and interviews conducted with 20 leading practitioners or custodians of country houses in Wales. It identifies the uses for and shortcomings of interpretation online and on-site. Furthermore, the thesis outlines what people want from a country house visit, assessing interpretation content, as well as the limitations, challenges, and opportunities in analysing interpretation methods.
The role and relevance of the Welsh country house has shifted considerably over the last century. Yet, the relationship between relevance, significance, interpretation, and the country house are critical to their futures. Through interpretation, past and present significance can be communicated to audiences to maintain or create relevance, which, in turn, can generate audiences to ensure their preservation. This was threatened during the coronavirus pandemic, and interpretation during the pandemic is discussed in this thesis.
“Authentic of what?” is a question posed in this thesis. Country houses are often multiperiod in their architecture and design, and across their histories typically housed multiple generations of families or different families. Consequently, this thesis discusses whether authentic interpretation can exist at all when there is so much to be represented. The prioritisation and navigation of multiple narratives and time periods in interpretation is discussed in relation to this issue.
Stemming from the research presented, it is recommended that an overarching
interpretation toolkit is developed that should be made available to country house practitioners and custodians to aid those who may not have the experience or expertise required to create effective interpretation. This toolkit could be partially informed by a report of social media and website use and output to aid practitioners and custodians with their online objectives through interpretation. The marketing of sites through interpretation represents a core focus in this thesis. Furthermore, it is advised that practitioners and custodians of country houses in Wales have access to site-specific repositories of information that can be drawn upon to create accurate, engaging interpretation. These are necessary owing to the frequency of inaccuracies or embellishments that this research encountered.
The interpretation of country houses in Wales is changing out of a necessity for change and a desire for change, outlined in this research, moving toward honest and holistic interpretation which moves beyond the traditional focus on the lineage of male owners associated with particular sites, their political and military accomplishments, and the architectural and art history of the houses. Country houses in Wales were significant, are significant, and will be significant for many generations to come. Interpretation has a substantial role to play in communicating this significance.