Country Houses and their Collections was the title of a talk given to the March meeting of Wythall History Society by Bernard Pumfrey, lecturer in Heritage Studies at Warwickshire College in Leamington Spa.

His talk and slide show ranged over a wide area and spanned five centuries - starting with what were originally large fortified houses with a military purpose, one magnificent example being Stokesay Castle, a medieval castle to which the Tudors added a large banqueting hall and a new gatehouse around the year 1540.

Broughton Castle, near Banbury, dating from 1300, was remodelled by 1599 and includes the finest indoor porch in England.

Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton, is remembered as the place where Charles II hid in a cheese store between floors to escape capture by Cromwell - now in the care of the National Trust, its gardens have won repeated awards. Rousham House, near Oxford, designed by William Kent, and Hanbury Hall, Droitwich, with Christopher Wren's wonderful Grand Staircase, are examples of the great architecture of the 1600s.

The following century's masterpieces included Ardington House, home of the Baring family and housing the finest imperial staircase in the world, and Claydon House near Aylsbury with memories of Florence Nightingale.

Moving on to Victorian times, Mr Pumfrey described Harlaxton Hall in Lincolnshire, now used as an American university. Wightwick Manor, near Wolverhampton and Hill House, Helensburgh were built in the 1890s - and if you want an example of a 20th century castle, take a look at Castle Drogo in Devon!

The next meeting of the society will be on April 29, when Brian Draper presents part two of his slide show about The River Severn.