Exploring building history
Church of Sts Peter & Paul, Muchelney Somerset: The early 17th C ‘Beauty of Holiness’ in a Painted Ceiling
The parish church of St Peter & St Paul at Muchelney in the Somerset levels lies adjacent to the remains of Muchelney Abbey. Whilst there was an earlier church, the one standing today is mainly a late 15th-century[i] construction of Blue Lias and Ham Hill stone….
Pattern, Principle & Place: William Morris & Co Wallpapers & Wall Hangings at Wightwick Manor
Introduction There are houses that preserve a moment, and then there are houses that embody one. Wightwick Manor, the Victorian house near Wolverhampton now in the care of the National Trust, belongs firmly to the second category. Built in two phases between 1887 and…
SAGRADA FAMILIA: The Passion Facade – Stone, Suffering & Sacred Art
If you visit Barcelona and only see one building, it will almost certainly be the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia.[1] Rising improbably from the Eixample grid, its spires seem to belong to a world between cathedral and coral reef. But for all its fantastical beauty,…
CHISWICK HOUSE: A Palladian Manifesto in Stone
Few buildings in England can claim to have fundamentally altered the course of the nation’s architectural history. Chiswick House, the compact neo-Palladian villa in west London designed and built by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, between 1726 and 1729, is one…
MONTACUTE HOUSE BALUSTRADE: Individual Masons at Work
Surrounding the east court of Montacute House is a balustrade, an elegant feature idea that made its way from Renaissance Italy. Often used for loggias and balconies, it has been applied at Montacute as a running feature on top of a wall. The balustrade is punctuated…
CHURCH OF ST. CUTHBERT, WELLS: A Carved Pulpit of Independence – 1636
The church of St. Cuthbert in Wells contains a remarkable carved oak pulpit of 1636. Its degree of craftsmanship and intriguing subject matter make it a standout piece of 17th century woodwork. The Jacobean period (c. 1603-1625) extends in terms of style into the mid…
Exploring Building History
Exploring Building History is a non-commercial site. It is my own personal musings on architectural history. There is wealth of built heritage in England, and as I explore and think about what I see, I post my reflections on this site.