The acclaimed country house firm Robert Adam Architects has won an award for designing new classical houses.
More details: ‘Country house architect wins award‘ [Country Life]
country house
Times Blog ponders ‘Who invented the “stately home”?’
A Twitter post from @Archispeak asking “Who coined the term “stately home” and when?” prompts the Times to delves into it’s archives to try and find an answer.
The earliest mention in their archives is from February 1847 in a story relating the terrible destruction by fire of Easton Lodge in Essex. A gallery of images of the house can also be found on the ‘Lost Heritage’ website: Easton Lodge
As to whether 1847 is really the earliest use of the term it seems unlikely – I’m sure with a bit of research something earlier can be found.
Blog post: ”Who invented the “stately home”?’‘ [The Times]
Floors Castle saved from fire
An alert member of staff (who should get a especially generous Christmas bonus this year) saved Floors Castle near Kelso from a potentially devastating fire. The largest private house in Scotland was designed by William Adam in the 17th century and then ‘gothicised’ in the 19th century with the addition of many pinnacles.
Smoke from the fire in the private living area of the Duke of Roxburghe, who wasn’t in residence at the time, was spotted and the fire brigade called. They made their way through the thick smoke and extinguished the blaze which had started in a freezer and had spread to the lath and plaster wall. Luckily damage was limited to one room with minor smoke damage to a few surrounding ones.
Fire has been a constant danger to country houses with many over the years being reduced to a smoking ruin within hours. Fire is the most devasting way to lose a house as usually the historic and beautiful contents are destroyed as well. Thankfully in this case disaster was averted but it again shows the value of having staff in residence who are able to take swift action.
Full story: ‘Castle saved by ‘quick actions” [BBC News]
Burglars in £200,000 raid on Upton-upon-Severn stately home
The former seat of the Earls of Coventry, the 16th century Earls Croome Court, near Upton-upon-Severn in Worcestershire, which was sold by the family following the death of the 11th Earl in 1992, was recently for sale. However, as a classic example of an empty house being a prime target, thieves broke in and removed historic (and some less historic) fixtures and fittings which will no doubt turn up somewhere inappropriate thus depriving the house of some key elements of it’s historic fabric. These thieves have such a callous disregard for the damage they visit on these houses and their contents. Full story: ‘Burglars in £200,000 raid on Upton-upon-Severn stately home‘ [Birmingham Mail]
The Country Seat 