Arcadia In Dorset Part 1
The Northern Loggia at Cranborne Manor House King James I of England had granted the manor of Cranborne to Robert Cecil in recognition of his role in bringing about the peaceful transition from the Tudor dynasty to the Stuart dynasty after James claimed the English...
In Praise of Hands
Figure 1: Hand gestures: The Bayeux Tapestry - the arrival of Halley’s Comet in the sky (Source: Thames & Hudson, The Bayeux Tapestry (London: Thames & Hudson, 1985), p. 32) The other day I was watching my dog scrabbling to get at a treat that had slid under...
ROYAL HUNTING LODGE TO JACOBEAN STATEMENT: Cranborne Manor House
I have long wanted to visit Cranborne Manor House and in July 2019 I did just that. During the summer months Cranborne Manor House opens its gardens ever Wednesday to the public. It is in a stunning setting with fabulous gardens. Whilst the house is closed and...
Imagination in Wrought Iron
The Sign Bracket of the Old Ship Inn, Castle Street, Mere, Wiltshire (circa mid-18th century) Many of us are familiar with the main trunk road that runs from Hampshire to East Devon, namely the A303. This thoroughfare forms part of the road system linking London to...
Moustachioed Gargoyles at Castle Cary
In the fallow period between Christmas and New Year I like to escape for a few hours on a local adventure. It was one such day I took myself and my camera to Castle Cary. I came upon All Saints Church on a low hill on the outskirts of the town. It has an impressive...
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.