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Saints alive: How St Albans Cathedral has entered the 21st century in vibrant style, thanks to sculptors, artisans and dazzling colour projections
The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans is one of the oldest churches in Britain — and quite possibly the very oldest — but no building survives through hundreds of generations without change. John Goodall examines some of the recent changes made to highlight the saints associated with this ancient church. Photographs by Paul Highnam and John Goodall for Country Life.
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The 12 architecture books you should read in 2025, by our architectural editor John Goodall
John Goodall assembles a shortlist of his favourite architecture books published recently.
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Guinness rustling in the Midlands, how to look after a listed building and why oat milk might make you depressed
Plus a property perfect for a sweet summer's evening near Salcombe, the bewitching joy of darkness and a quiz.
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The tale of St Alban: An abbey, a Cathedral, and a martyr so holy that 'his executioner’s eyes popped out of his head'
A church built for Britain’s first known Christian martyr developed into The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans, Hertfordshire. John Goodall tells the tale of the saint and the building he inspired; photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Country Life's top 10 architecture stories of 2024, from the palace that's 'the stuff of dreams' to a Palladian masterpiece you can rent by the weekend
We take a look back at our most popular architecture articles of the last 12 months.
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Thomas Hardy and the country house: 'Irregularity is the genius of Gothic architecture'
With the help of specially commissioned drawings by Matthew Rice, Jeremy Musson considers the abiding presence of the stone-built manor house in the stories of Thomas Hardy.
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Stationers’ Hall, one of London's best-kept secrets: 'The observant pedestrian might briefly glimpse it through an archway. Most pass by oblivious'
The home of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers Established in 1403, the Stationers’ Company was long responsible for regulating the printing industry. Lucy Denton looks at the history of this remarkable institution and its headquarters: Stationers’ Hall, London EC4.
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James I's love affair with Apethorpe, the great country house that 'surpasses all belief'
Apethorpe Palace in Northamptonshire — a seat of Baron and Baroness von Pfetten — was enlarged in the 1560s and 1620s specifically to receive first Elizabeth I, and then James I. John Goodall tells the story.
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When it comes to heritage development, the conservation officer is king. We need more of them
A lack of funding and expertise is having a detrimental effect on our listed heritage. To survive, these buildings need to adapt, and to adapt, these buildings need more people who understand what makes them special.
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Apethorpe Palace, 'the stuff of dreams', and the spectacular renewal of one of England's great Jacobean houses
Apethorpe Palace, Northamptonshire — a seat of Baron and Baroness von Pfetten — is as grand as a country house can get, especially since its recent restoration work. Jeremy Musson celebrates the spectacular renewal of one of England’s great Jacobean houses.
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Knowsley Hall: How Liverpool's grandest country house — and one of the largest homes in England — was brought back to life
Knowsley Hall in Merseyside was returned from institutional use in the 1990s to become the seat of the Earl and Countess of Derby. John Martin Robinson reports on progress to one of the most ambitious restorations of an English country house.
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'Wrecking balls swung from the ceiling, pillars were shown toppling, cornices crumbled... it was sensational': The groundbreaking museum exhibition that helped save the country house
After years of neglect and countless demolitions, 1974 witnessed a revolution in attitudes towards country houses. It proved a turning point in Britain’s treatment of its old buildings generally and the saviour of places such as Covent Garden, as Simon Jenkins explains.
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‘They knew they were all going through the same hell’: The graffiti of the First World War
Memorials to those lost in the First World War can cloud the fact that each name represents a man’s life. The inscriptions they left behind, however, recall them as individuals, says David Crossland.
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Ashby St Legers: The spectacular house where the Gunpowder Plot was hatched
A house associated with the Gunpowder Plot was splendidly enlarged by Lutyens and is now enjoying a new lease of life as a modern family home, as John Goodall explains. With photography by Paul Highnam.
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London's Lost Interiors: Inside the houses of the capital's plutocrats in the days when money was literally no object
A new book, 'London: Lost Interiors', explores the lost riches of London’s grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages, using wonderful images preserved in the Historic England Archive.
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'The scream you wake on at the end of a nightmare': Meet the buildings designed by the 'Rogue Goths'
A new book published by The Victorian Society and Liverpool University Press shines a light on three lesser-known Victorian architects.
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Holyrood: Inside The King's official residence in Scotland, from throne room to the bed chamber of Mary, Queen of Scots
Holyrood — or, to give it its full title, The Palace of Holyroodhouse — is the official residence in Scotland of His Majesty King Charles III. To coincide with the publication of a new history of the palace, John Goodall offers an overview of the creation, abandonment and rebirth of this working royal residence over the past 900 years. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Curious Questions: Why was the original Euston Station destroyed in one of the greatest acts of cultural vandalism Britain has ever seen?
One of the great masterpieces of 19th century, the original Euston Station, was built in the years after Queen Victoria came to the throne. Less than 125 years later it was razed to the ground; Martin Fone takes a look at the reasons why.
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All the winners from the 2024 Georgian Group Architectural Awards
This year’s Georgian Group’s Architectural Awards, sponsored by Savills, attracted another outstanding crop of entries. Here are all the winners, as chosen by a panel of judges chaired by Country Life's Architectural Editor, John Goodall.
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Fresh calls to list Jubilee Line extension stations
The stations opened in 1999 deserve to be recognised and protected from future development, according to campaigners.
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Opinion: A vanishingly rare thing has happened — we have a minister for culture who actually sounds like he's visited some of the places he has responsibility for
Our culture columnist Athena is cautiously optimistic about the future of arts, culture and architecture — even if the same old problems remain.
