Category Archives: Architecture

March 12, 2011

Field Trips Galore!

Just a quick hello, to thank everyone who has supported me with my study and exams recently – I passed with flying colours!

I am now doing several more History of Art and Scottish History courses.  I thought my regular readers might enjoy hearing about the Field Trips I am doing for the History of Art one.

Every other week, after a lecture on the topic, we take the field trips.  We visited/are visiting the following places:

It’s amazing to get to go out and experience art first hand, and I’d really missed this during my course last term.  Though it’s nice to read books and look at pictures, nothing compares to the real thing – so make sure you get out there and experience some art near you very soon!

I’ve enjoyed all my visits, but I loved the galleries in Edinburgh, and so nice to be able to catch the Young Vermeer exhibition before it finished.  I’ve just recently finished reading The Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, so it was a funny coincidence too!

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Filed under Architecture, Art, Exhibitions, Places to go

January 3, 2011

I’m Watching You…

If you readers are anything like me, your radar systems will be working to identify any potential programmes about historic houses – so here are a few of my favourites from the past and present…

Castle in the Country – a BBC series, originally shown throughout the week, and then cut into episodes and repeated.  There have been several series now at different properties.

  • Glamis Castle (Summer 2005)
  • Castle Howard (Winter 2005)
  • Burghley House (Summer 2006)
  • Mount Stuart (Winter 2006)
  • Waddesdon Manor (Winter 2006)
  • Floors Castle (Summer 2008)
  • Berkeley Castle (Summer 2008)

I loved Glamis best of all, and have seen them all now repeated apart from some of Mount Stuart and Floors Castle.  You can often catch the repeats on UKTV Gold.

Another series I haven’t seen all of, is about The National Trust (England).  This has also been repeated on UKTV Gold.

One I particularly like also is Great Country Houses, which you can often find on Horse and Country TV as well as Berkeley – An English Country Estate.

More recent series include a lovely one only shown over 2005/2006 called The Curious House Guest and was originally shown on BBC2, and then repeated on UKTV Gold.  Presented by Jeremy Musson, an architectural historian who has written for Country Life Magazine and has several books to his name, it documented visits to houses still in private family hands in a very warm and welcoming way.  I miss this programme very much.

My last addition to the list for now, and a rather more fraught one is Country House Rescue, shown on Channel 4.  This documents a businesswoman’s attempt to help people save their country house homes or business or both from failure.  This is still running as far as I know.

A slight change from these, but just as excellent was Lost Buildings of Britain, from 2004.  Introduced by Simon Thurley, the series focused on:

  • Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
  • Nottingham Castle
  • Whitehall Palace
  • Fonthill Abbey
  • Glastonbury Abbey
  • Millbank Penitentiary

As the title suggests, these buildings are partially, or totally lost to us now and the series recreated them using original records and accounts.  My favourite were Fonthill Abbey and Millbank Penientiary – I recommend you read more on these two particularly.

I’m sure I will have forgotten ones that I love from here, but I will update if I remember more!  Please let me know if I haven’t seen something brilliant!

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Filed under Architecture, Art, History, TV

August 28, 2010

Eleanor Restored

I was excited to hear recently that the Eleanor Cross at Charing Cross in London has been restored.  Though it is not an original cross, and in the incorrect place as well (outside Charing Cross station) I am still really fond of it.

It’s beautifully done, and also happens to be a Victorian replica, which makes it all the more attractive to me!

Check out the article and pictures on the BBC News website.

You can also see a postcard of the Charing Cross from my collection here (scroll down to the bottom image).

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July 30, 2010

Summer Visits

I managed to have some long overdue time off recently, and guess what?  I managed to squeeze in some castle visits!  Big surprise there eh?!

I went up to re-visit Huntly Castle, which is always a good one for a meander around, and picked up a book published by Historic Scotland called Clan and Castle.  It has a lovely section on Fraser castles and the different branches of the family, also included of course, is Castle Fraser.  A must buy then!

Went out with a friend to see Craigston Castle.  It’s a lovely private family home, which opens just a few times a year for visitors.  It reminds me in looks a little of Fyvie, a bit like a white-washed version.  It’s a really fascinating house, and do try and visit when you can.

Lastly, I took a trip around Pitmedden Garden.  I’d never had enough time to really look, and the Victorian house and the farming museum are really nice, but the gardens themselves are very old indeed, and beautiful.

I did my regular visit of Fyvie and Haddo last week too.  Yes, I am a castle junkie…did I mention I went to Glamis and Edzell Castles in April too??

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April 17, 2010

Monumental

Just ‘cos I’m in a postcard kind of mood.

The tomb of Queens Elizabeth and Mary at Westminster Abbey.  I love tombs, and I love wandering around them at the Abbey!

Following on from tombs, here is the Guard’s memorial.  A beautiful thing, not dissimilar to the Cenotaph – at least to me!  Got to love real photo postcards too.

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Filed under Architecture, History, Photos

January 30, 2010

Why Am I Haunted by Venice?

For some reason at the beginning of this week, for at least three nights in a row I dreamt about Venice.  Why?  I just don’t know.  I haven’t watched, read, looked at or otherwise done anything remotely involving Venice.  Yet, here we are.

I should explain my relationship with Venice, such as it is.  Years ago, I think it was when I was in my mid to late teens my maternal Aunt bought me a book called Tregaron’s Daughter by Madeleine Brent.  My Aunt, it should be said was, and is, a fabulous book and trinket supplier :smile:

Tregaron’s Daughter is a mystery story set in Cornwall and Venice.  I don’t know what it was about it exactly, as the book isn’t about to set the world on fire, (though I still love it anyway) but it instilled in me a deep desire to visit Venice myself when I was older.  By the age of 20, I had fulfilled that dream.

I visited museums and galleries, including the Basilica San Marco and the Doge’s Palace, I took boat rides – including one on a gondola – and walked the length and breadth of Venice.  Sadly, I didn’t take very many pictures, and I think they are rubbish, so I won’t include them here!  The fact is, when I left all those years ago, I didn’t feel that I needed to return.

So why now?  No idea, not a clue.  I hunted out my photos (eek), found a couple of guidebooks, and most importantly – remembered my Venetian Palazzi book – which is gorgeous indeed.  Even while writing this I remembered my Venetian mask that I bought (I was enthralled by the mask and costume shops), but it doesn’t seem to be enough.

I suppose time will tell, but I cannot see myself getting to Venice any time soon, time permitting, never mind anything else!  So, I have ordered myself a second hand copy of Tregaron’s Daughter (no idea what I did with the last one) and a DVD of Francesco’s Venice which is supposed to be very good.  All I know is that for now, my subconscious mind will have to be content.

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Filed under Architecture, Art, Books, Costume, Photos, Places to go, Travel

August 1, 2009

Hopeful Castle Visits

I completely forgot to update on the results of my castle poll from June.

Apart from the one or two of you that voted ‘Other’ and didn’t specify where (doh), the top castles were:

  1. Cairness House
  2. Balmoral Castle
  3. Glamis Castle

Sadly, I’ve heard some really bad reports about Balmoral, and that it is not worth the visit, as you only see one room.  I’ve not seen it myself, but it has moved down my list priority-wise.  This leaves Cairness and Glamis.

I hope to visit Cairness very soon, as I love the classical style mansion house look.  It is not open very much, but I have some time off coming up, so I will do my best.  Glamis is a little far, so unless it’s a whole day trip I doubt I’ll get to go this year, sob.  The good thing is, as a very popular castle to visit, it tends to be open more than some.

I’ve also been thinking about castles and houses all over the UK, and indeed the world.  Where would you suggest I go?  Please tell me your favourites, and leave a link to a website if you have one too, I’d love to visit some of them vicariously through guide books if possible also!  :smile:

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July 29, 2009

Mystery Church Revealed

Thanks to some lovely online (mostly Flickr) help, I now know the location of the church.

It is St Mark’s Church, Talbot Village, Bournemouth.

Thanks to everyone who helped.  Mystery solved!

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Filed under Architecture, Genealogy, History

July 14, 2009

History Books I’d Like to Get My Hands On

Been thinking about these a lot lately, keep updating and trimming the list.  Have absolutely no space in the house either, but who cares…

Here are my top books that I want to own:

  • Sir Thomas Lawrence: the Artist by Mark Levey
  • Momento Mori: Churches and Churchyards of England by Simon Marsden
  • Strawberry Hill: Horace Walpole’s Gothic Castle by Anna Chalcraft and Judith Viscardi
  • Thomas Hope: Designer and Patron in Regency London by David Watkin and Philip Hewat-Jaboor
  • Saving the Tsar’s Palaces by Christopher Morgan and Irina Orlova
  • William Morris and Red House: A Collaboration Between Architect and Owner by Jan Marsh
  • Adam Houses (Country Life) by Eileen Law
  • The Jacobean Country Houses (Country Life) by Nicholas Cooper
  • The Regency Country House (Country Life) by John Martin Robinson
  • Versailles: A Biography of a Palace by Tony Spawforth
  • Van Dyck and Britain by Karen Hearn
  • The Wallace Collection by Stephen Duffy
  • The V&A Guide to Period Styles by Anna Jackson
  • Discovering Scottish Architecture by T.W. West
  • 1001 Paintings From the Louvre by Vincent Pomarede
  • Art Treasures of Kelvingrove by Hugh Stevenson
  • The National Gallery Complete Illustrated Catalogue by C. Baker
  • Jane Austen: the World of Her Novels by Deidre Le Faye
  • The History of British Art 1600-1870 by David Bindman
  • Shoes, Hats and Fashion Accessories by Carol Belanger Grafton
  • The Lonely Empress: Life of Elizabeth, Empress of Austria by Joan Haslip
  • Emperor Francis Joseph by John Van Der Kiste
  • Childhood At Court 1819-1914 by John Van Der Kiste
  • Mode Ilustree Fashion Plates by Florence Leniston
  • Houses of the National Trust by Lydia Greeves
  • Treasures From the Trust
  • Belton House by Adrian Tinniswood
  • London’s Country Houses by Caroline Knight
  • Sir John Soane’s Museum, London by Tim Knox
  • Sleuth: the Amazing Quest for Lost Art Treasures by Philip Mould

This also doesn’t include the books that I’m looking for that are out of print!  Any recommendations?

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Filed under Architecture, Art, Books, Costume, History

June 5, 2009

Decisions, Decisions

June is a very busy time of the year for me in the day job, so when I can I’m already planning some things to do during July and early August and to take some time off to do them.

First plan is to visit some more furnished castles/houses this year.  Visited a lot of ruins last year, and although I love them, I love furnished historic properties best.  So what you may ask?  Well, here’s how you get to vote for your favourite, and the top ones you think I should go to this Summer if possible.

You will see the choices in the poll box below, but here are the links to the properties or in some cases pictures if no official website is available:

Cairness House, Balmoral Castle, Glamis Castle, Craigston Castle, Lickleyhead Castle and Delgatie Castle.  Note that I went to Glamis many years ago, and I visited Delgatie last year.  I just think they would merit further visits/updates.


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