Country Life
The voice of the
countryside
Country Life, the
quintessential English magazine, is undoubtedly one of the biggest
and instantly recognisable brands in the UK today. The magazine
comments in depth on a wide variety of subjects, such as
architecture, property, the arts, gardens and gardening, the
countryside, schools and wildlife. This eclectic editorial mix,
combined with stunning photography and high-end property advertising
ensures that week after week, Country Life is read by people who live
the real country house lifestyle. Countrylife.co.uk brings over 100
years of editorial and commercial excellence to the web and is one of
the best and most enjoyable places to browse for luxury property for
sale online. The site also showcases the best of the editorial from
Country Life magazine as well as carrying its own exclusive online
content covering rural news, seasonal recipes and countryside events.
Country Life was
launched in 1897, incorporating Racing Illustrated. At this time it
was owned by Edward Hudson, the owner of Lindisfarne Castle and
various Lutyens-designed houses including The Deanery in Sonning.
At that time golf
and racing served as its main content, as well as the property
coverage, initially of manorial estates, which is still such a large
part of the magazine. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the late Queen Mother,
used to appear frequently on its front cover. Now the magazine covers
a range of subjects in depth, from gardens and gardening to country
house architecture, fine art and books, and property to rural issues,
luxury products and interiors.
The frontispiece of
each issue usually features a portrait photograph of a young woman of
society, or, on occasion, a man of society: Princes William and Harry
have both been frontispieces in recent years.
In 2016, in its
119th year, Country Life was the subject of a three-part documentary
series made by Spun Gold and which aired on BBC Two on consecutive
Friday nights in March. The magazine has also celebrated its
best-ever selling issue - the double issue from Christmas 2015 - and
a 6th ABC increase in a row, which is an achievement no other weekly
magazine publishing original content can claim.
In 1997, the
centenary of the magazine was celebrated by a special issue, the
publishing of a book by Sir Roy Strong, the airing of a BBC2 TV
programme on a year in the life of the magazine, and staging a Gold
Medal winning garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. In 1999, the
magazine launched a new website.
In 2007, the
magazine celebrated its 110th anniversary with a special souvenir
issue on 4 January.[4] Starting on Wednesday 7 May 2008 the magazine
is issued each Wednesday, having been on sale each Thursday for the
past 111 years, with the earlier day being achieved using electronic
publishing technology.
The first several
dozen pages of each issue are devoted to colour advertisements for
upmarket residential property, which are one of the best known
attractions of the magazine, and popular with everyone from the super
rich looking for a country house or estate to those who can only
aspire to own such a property.
The magazine covers
the pleasures and joys of rural life. It is primarily concerned with
rural communities and their environments as well as the concerns of
country dwellers and landowners and has a diverse readership which,
although mainly UK based is also international. Much of its success
has historically been built on its coverage of country house
architecture and gardening at a time when the architectural press
largely ignored this building type. An extensive photographic archive
has resulted, now of great importance to architectural historians.
The other rural
pursuits and interests covered include hunting, shooting, farming,
equestrian news and gardening and there are regular news and opinion
pieces as well as a firm engagement with rural politics. There are
reviews of books, food and wine, art and architecture (also many
offers) and antiques and crafts. Illustrative material includes the
Tottering-by-Gently cartoon by Annie Tempest. The property section
claims to have more prime agents than anywhere else. In addition.
monthly luxury and interiors sections offer readers some informed
ideas about the latest in jewellery, style and travel, and interiors.
Recent feature
articles have included Charles, Prince of Wales guest-editing an
issue of Country Life in 2013, an historic revelation which revealed
the true face of Shakespeare for the first time in 2015, and in 2016
an exclusive on where the Great Fire of London really began in 1666.
Upcoming are a special commemorative issue in June 2016 on the
occasion of the Queen's 90th birthday, and a Best of Britain
celebrating the very best of what the United Kingdom has to offer,
from craftsmen to landscapes.
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