Speed, Style & the English Country House: Auto, Horse, and Airplane Racing at England’s Historic Houses

During the Interwar Years—between 1919 and 1939—much of England’s upper-class lifestyle was characterized by fast cars and an abundance of glamour and glitter.

To understand the full story, Curt will take us back to the 17th century, when the turf ruled the aristocratic taste for racing and horses were de rigueur for the fast set. Tales of lions, murder, and movies mixed with ambition and houses filled with sublime art come together to reveal deliciously English stories that have left a residue for us to marvel at today.

Burghley House Courtyard. ©Curt DiCamillo

Curt DiCamillo

Curt DiCamillo is an architectural historian and authority on the British country house. He has taught classes in Boston at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and the School of the MFA. Mr. DiCamillo leads tours on the architectural and artistic heritage of Britain. Since 1999 he has maintained an award-winning website, The DiCamillo Companion to British & Irish Country Houses (TheDiCamillo.com), which seeks to document every country house, standing or demolished.

In recognition of his work, he has been presented to the late Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and The Prince of Wales. He is a member of The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and is an alumnus of the Royal Collection Studies program and The Attingham Summer School. He is currently Curator for Special Collections at the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston. From 2004 to 2012 he served as Executive Director of The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA (today he serves as Executive Director Emeritus). Previously, he worked for 13 years for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.