English country houses [closed]

Solution 1:

At its most basic, an English country house is (surprise, surprise) a house that is built in the English countryside. In practice, it ususally describes a large, often a very large, house situated in many acres of its own land. Typically, it will be of significant historical and architectural interest. Its owners will normally be very rich and, in many cases, members of the British aristocracy. If you have seen the recent British television series 'Downton Abbey', you will have seen an English country house. (It is actually Highclere Castle, in the southern English county of Hampshire.)

After World War II, many families found they were unable to afford the upkeep of their properties and handed them over to the National Trust. These properties are now open to the public.

Solution 2:

From Wikipedia:

In the United Kingdom, by tacit agreement, there have been no "palaces" other than those used as official residences by royalty and bishops, regardless of whether located in town or country.

In other words, an English country house is a palace if and only if it has been used as an official residence by royalty and/or bishops.