title: Danson House: The anatomy of a Georgian Villa
author: Richard Lea
description: Richard Lea is a historian and historic building analyst in the Properties Presentation department of English Heritage who has contributed to many English Heritage guidebooks. Chris Miele is an architectural historian and planning consultant who has written widely on British architecture and town planning, and in particular on William Morris. He is a trustee of the Bexley Heritage Trust, which maintains the house.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  State of Grace
  
  
  Elizabeth Davies
  
  
  Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Davies
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be
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  with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If
  you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, then please purchase your
  own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  Chapter 1
  
  
  
  
  
  I came home to die.
  
  
  Home is a small farm on the outskirts of the market town of Brecon, near the
  Welsh/ English border. My family have farmed this bleak hillside for as long
  as anyone can remember, and a building of some kind has been on this site for
  hundreds of years: rumours of a Roman villa are somewhat unfounded, though.
  The house and its outbuildings cower on the northern slopes of the Brecon
  Beacons, shielded from the worst of the prevailing west winds by a stand of
  trees. I grew up with the