Tag Archives: Capability Brown

Holkham

Where do I start in trying to describe Holkham?  And it’s not just me. Historic England’s  Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest says : ” Because of the complexity of this site, the standard Register entry format would … Continue reading

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Transplanting Trees

  A 250 year old wild pear tree hit the news headlines recently [Oct 20th 2020] for the second time in recent years.  In 2015 it was voted Britain’s Tree of the Year but the latest mention was no cue … Continue reading

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With Torrington to Tintern…

Colonel the Honourable John Byng was just another  younger son of another not-very-well-known 18thc aristocratic family. He followed the normal route for younger sons, choosing the army over the navy or church and ended up as a minor government tax … Continue reading

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Ickworth

I was lecturing in  Suffolk recently and took the opportunity to call in at Ickworth, for the first time in many years. What a revelation that was. Not the grand rotunda of the house, splendid on the outside but  rather … Continue reading

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The Darlys: Chinoiserie and big hair

Mary and Matthias Darly were designers, engravers and printsellers in late 18thc London, who were particularly well-known for their caricatures and satires on contemporary politics and fashion. Matthias [sometimes refererred to as Matthew] illustrated books of designs for ‘ornament’,  furniture … Continue reading

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