Tony Ray-Jones was one of a generation of photographers who chronicled life in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s, demonstrating the gulf between the dreams of town planners and the…
Architecture
Pitshill House: A 20-year restoration that’s created one of the finest country seats in West Sussex
A major restoration project has brought 18th-century Pitshill House and its gardens to life. The work involved far more than simple repair, as John Martin Robinson explains, with photography by…
Six of Britain’s finest art and building conservationists on history, technology and the secrets of their trades
It takes a huge amount of skill and technical expertise to restore historic objects and interiors. John Goodall speaks to six specialists about their work and its challenges.
The most haunted houses that you can visit in England and Wales
Ghosts and country houses go together like strawberries and cream. We name some of the country's best known haunted houses that you can actually visit.
Amanyangyun, Shanghai: Enjoying history in luxury
A newly opened luxury resort is the product of extraordinary conservation project. It offers visitors an intriguing insight into Chinese culture, as John Goodall explains.
Hinton Ampner: The great Hampshire house shaped by fire, fashion and Country Life
A few miles down the road from Winchester lies the beautiful house and gardens at Hinton Ampner, a house whose history has been shaped by fire, fashion and Country Life.…
The stone conservationist: ‘You can’t beat good old-fashioned hand tools that differ little today from those used centuries ago’
‘I’ve seen lots of modern contraptions designed to speed up the re-pointing process, but, when it comes to traditional lime mortar, you can’t beat good old-fashioned hand tools that differ…
Lowther Castle: The incredible transformation of the ruins of one of Britain’s greatest Regency castle
An ambitious restoration campaign has transformed the ruins of one of Britain’s greatest Regency castles and brought it back to life and use. John Martin Robinson tells its remarkable story,…
Ten stately homes which became hospitals during the First World War
To mark 100 years since the end of the First World War, The Royal British Legion draws our attention back to those grand family homes which opened their doors to…
How an Arts-and-Crafts architect fought to preserve the beauty of Chipping Campden
Clive Aslet tells the remarkable story of Frederick Landseer Griggs, his struggle, his triumphs and his legacy. Photographs by Justin Paget.
Inside Haworth: The humble parsonage where the Brontë sisters changed literature
Some of our most enduring stories were conceived at Haworth – Jeremy Musson enjoys a literary pilgrimage.
The story of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, Westminster Abbey’s first major addition in 250 years
The architectural choices behind the recent additions to Westminster Abbey mark them out as a radical departure. John Goodall admires the success of the project, with photographs by Paul Highnam.
Palaces on the sea: The story of the father of promenade piers
Eugenius Birch, father of the promenade pier, was born 200 years ago. Kathryn Ferry considers the life and remarkable legacy of this outstanding figure.
When small is beautiful: 10 types of cottage you’ll find in Britain
Dream cottages come in many forms, from the half-timbered to the stone-built. Mary Miers casts her eye across the country and looks at the full panoply of rustic beauty they…
Mawarden Court, Wiltshire: Humble, but fit for a lord
The Pitt family controlled one of the kingdom’s most notorious Parliamentary boroughs from this now compact house, reveals Clive Aslet.
Château de Chambord: A jewel and its setting
An ambitious garden re-creation complements the architecture of perhaps the most celebrated château on the Loire and has linked it with its wider parkland. Tim Richardson reports.
Life after Downton Abbey: How Highclere Castle is moving on
Highclere Castle was made famous across the world as Downton Abbey – and the money that it generated saved this beautiful country home for future generations. But they're still moving onwards…
Palazzo Grimani, Venice: The entire 17th-century palace restored by a British architect
The restoration of a Venetian palazzo by the architect John Simpson has unexpectedly revealed a splendid 18th-century decoration scheme, Clive Aslet reveals. Photographer Colin Dutton.
Six ways to fix Parliament Square – and make it the centrepiece London deserves
It was Edward the Confessor who first concentrated English power at Westminster. But for years, the space at its heart – Parliament Square – has been an unsatisfactory urban muddle at…
Norfolk House: The lost London palace that was razed to the ground, recreated 80 years on
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the sale and demolition of Norfolk House. John Martin Robinson re-creates the splendours of this outstanding Georgian town house with the help of…