Le financement du coût d’un domaine écossais du xviiie siècle

Abstract

After the Union of 1707, many landowners who perceived the need for improvement participated in the debates of the Enlightenment and carried out innovations on their estates. The development of the classical country house in a designed landscape and the “revolution of manners” went hand in hand with the agricultural improvement of the estates and, to a lesser but increasing extent, with the industrial development of the land. The more lavish aspects of country-house living had to be supported by fruitful activities, while the direct ties between the estate and the house allowed larger estates to finance bigger houses. Due to high living expenses and the massive costs of architectural construction, landowners made use of all the resources available to them. These ranged from rental and estate incomes to sinecures from political office.