John Cornforth

John Lewley Cornforth CBE (2 September 1937 – 5 May 2004) was a British architectural historian with a particular interest in the history of English country houses. He was the author of many books and articles, and architectural editor of Country Life from 1967 to 1977.

Early life Cornforth was born in 1937 at Etchinghill, Staffordshire, and was raised at Haywood Abbey, an only child of parents with private means. His childhood friends included Patrick Anson, later 5th Earl of Lichfield, at nearby Shugborough Hall. He took no interest in country pursuits – riding or shooting, cricket or golf – but enjoyed looking at Country Life from before he could read. The book was in preparation at the time of his death and what was to be a tribute became also a memorial to his life's work. As the book's dust-wrapper states: "John Cornforth's hope was that this publication would revitalise the study of the great house in the eighteenth century. As we leaf through the book on a journey of discovery it is as if he is still present, at our elbow."

Library In 2004 Cornforth's collection of books was bequeathed to the National Trust and subsequently transferred to the Paul Mellon Centre. Around eight hundred books were added to the Paul Mellon Centre's library and significantly increased the library's holdings of publications on history of the country house, including those in Northern Ireland, and 18th-century decorative arts.

In February 2016, the Paul Mellon Centre held an exhibition entitled John Cornforth: A Passion for Houses: Material on the Georgian Town House from the Cornforth Library Donation which highlighted some of the significant items from John Cornforth's collection.

Personal life He became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2001. He never married, but kept a convivial flat in Marylebone, and worshipped at the Anglo-Catholic church St Mary's, Bourne Street, near Sloane Square. Amongst his friends were Anne, Countess of Rosse (wife of Michael Parsons, 6th Earl of Rosse), Rupert Alec-Smith, and Gervase Jackson-Stops, David Mlinaric, Wilson Rockefeller and Martin Drury.

Cornforth died from a brain tumour at St John's Hospice in London on 5 May 2004, aged 66.

Selected works Attingham Park: Shropshire. London: National Trust, 1970 (with notes on the pictures by St John Gore) British Embassy, Paris: The house and its works of art. London: Government Art Collection, 1992 (with Mary Beal) Country Houses in Britain, Can They Survive? An independent report. London: Country Life for the British Tourist Authority, 1974 The Country Houses of England, 1948-1998. London: Constable, 1998 The Country Life Picture Book of Country Houses. London: Country Life, 1963 Early Georgian Interiors. New Haven, Conn.; London: Yale University Press for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, 2004 English Country Houses. London: Country Life, 1955, 3 vols (with Christopher Hussey and Oliver Hill) English Country Houses: Caroline, 1625–1685. London: Country Life, 1966 (with Oliver Hill) English Decoration in the 18th Century. London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1974 (with John Fowler) English Interiors, 1790–1848: The quest for comfort. London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1978 The Inspiration of the Past: Country house taste in the twentieth century; with photographs by Timothy Beddow. Harmondsworth: Viking in association with Country Life, 1985 London Interiors: From the archives of Country Life. London: Aurum Press, 2000 Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at Clarence House. London: Michael Joseph in association with the Royal Collection, 1996 The Search for a Style: Country Life and architecture, 1897–1935. London: André Deutsch in association with Country Life, 1988 Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire. London: National Trust, 1980, reprinted 1985 (with C. St. Q. Wall)