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Stirling Castle: Renaissance of a Royal PalaceIt was within sight of Stirling Castle that two of the most famous Scottish victories over the English were won. John Goodall takes a look at this impressive building and its history; all photographs by Paul Barker for the Country Life Picture Library.
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Chequers: The salvation and restoration of a house which became the Prime Minister's official country retreatChequers Court, Buckinghamshire, is the country seat of Britain’s Prime Ministers. By courtesy of the Chequers Trust, John Goodall paid a visit to find out more, and uses a diary to explain the circumstances of its magnificent Edwardian transformation. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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London has never been this quiet in 2,000 years — here's what it looks like, and what we can learnIn all of its 2,000-year history, it seems unlikely that the City of London has ever stood so silent as it does presently. Can we learn from the quiet, asks Architectural Editor John Goodall, who also took the photographs on this page.
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Llandaff Cathedral: The creation, destruction and re-buidling of a monumental, expected and unforgettable buildingJohn Goodall looks at the remarkable history of the 900-year-old Llandaff Cathedral, from its early beginnings to the trailblazing post-Second World War restoration. Photographs taken by Paul Highnam for the Country Life Picture Library.
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Shawford Park, Hampshire, an idyllic 17th century house by the river where 'the old and the new spark off each other'John Goodall visits Shawford Park, Hampshire, the home of Peter and Elisabetta Mallinson, and finds an idyllic 17th-century house set between two branches of the River Itchen. All photographs by Paul Highnam for the Country Life Picture Library.
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The Bishop's Palace, Wells: How a magnificent episcopal residence was built in the shadow of one of our greatest cathedralsEncircled by water in the shadow of its cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace at Wells is a captivating survival. John Goodall looks at the history of this outstanding building 800 years after its construction. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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Why now is the best time since 1845 to enjoy the incredible interiors of Brighton PavilionJohn Goodall reports on the latest at Brighton Pavilion, detailing how an extraordinary loan from The Queen has made it possible to enjoy the inside of the building more completely than at any time in living memory.
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The Athenaeum: Ancient history, old rivals and a recent revival for the old Carlton House hauntOne of the grandest Regency clubs in London has undergone a revival in recent years. John Goodall looks at the remarkable story of its development on the former site of Carlton House.
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Cumberland Lodge: The 17th century marvel 'a thousand times more agreeable than Blenheim'This year, a remarkable educational foundation in a spectacular parkland setting celebrates its 70th anniversary. John Goodall considers the history of the building it occupies in the Great Park at Windsor.
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Mount Stewart, Co Down: How an ambitious restoration transformed one of Northern Ireland's most important country housesUndertaken by the National Trust with the aid of the donor family, the restoration of Mount Stewart has restored it to its rightful place as a gem in Northern Ireland's countryside.
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Winchester Cathedral: The tale of a remarkable church and its astonishing contentsThere is perhaps no building in Britain that connects the modern visitor more immediately with the foundational figures of English history. John Goodall explains more; photographs by Paul Highnam.
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Sherborne Abbey's stained glass: The spectacular Victorian addition to a building with 1300 years of historyThe spectacular stained glass at Sherborne Abbey is only part of what makes this building one of the grandest in England, as John Goodall explains.
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Pitzhanger Manor: The Ealing villa that's the great John Soane's 'architectural self-portrait'Following a boldly conceived restoration, the interest and quality of Sir John Soane’s Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing villa shines out again. John Goodall reports, with photographs by Will Pryce.
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The oldest house in Britain — and how we were able to tell it apart from the other contendersThere are many nominations for the oldest home in Britain — in this piece from the Country Life archive, John Goodall gives as close to a definitive answer as we may ever get.
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New College, Oxford: The 650-year story of the college that dreamt it was a palaceJohn Goodall looks at New College, Oxford, the most widely copied university college in England, a building inspired by a great 14th-century palace.
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The photographs (and photographers) who shaped the English country house style from the 1900s up to todayTo coincide with the publication of his new book illustrated from the archives of Country Life, 'English House Style', John Goodall considers the long tradition of the magazine’s peerless interior photography.
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The ancient windmill in Sussex that became a stunning contemporary homeThe redevelopment of a house within a former windmill complex has inspired a remarkable contemporary home with striking interiors. John Goodall reports, photographs by Will Pryce.
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Inside Highclere Castle: The true story of the ‘real-life’ Downton AbbeyAs the new Downton Abbey film hits cinemas, John Goodall takes a look at the real history of what has become one of the world’s most famous stately homes, the seat of the Earl of Carnarvon. Photography by Paul Highnam for the Country Life Picture Library.
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Ardgowan House: An 'almost miraculous' survival with a fascinating historyArdgowan House in Renfrewshire, the seat of Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart, is a remarkable building that's coming back to life, as John Goodall reports.
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The latest update to Pevsner brings the 21st century update 'tantalisingly close to completion'The work of updating Nikolas Pevsner and Ian Nairn's magnum opus on the buildings of England continues with a volume focusing on West Sussex. John Goodall takes a look.
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Belvoir Castle: From Norman conquest to Regency prodigyNew discoveries in the archives at Belvoir are fleshing out the history of this outstanding castle. John Goodall delves into the fresh evidence for the development of Belvoir from the Norman Conquest to the eve of its wholesale reconstruction from 1800.
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Osborne House: Victoria and Albert’s Italian getaway on the Isle of WightThe search for privacy and peace encouraged Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to create an Italianate seaside villa. It offers an unparalleled insight into their domestic life and private interests, as John Goodall explains.
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The tale of Avington Park: ‘I have just bought a house. It doesn’t have five bedrooms, but 50. I think you should probably come home.’Avington Park, Hampshire — the home of Sarah and Charlie Bullen — is a home with rather astonishing history that’s superbly set in the valley of the River Itchen. John Goodall finds out more; photographs by Will Pryce.
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Notre Dame: The soul of Paris, the heart of FranceThe devastating fire at Notre Dame in Paris has illustrated the huge affection in which this cathedral is held in Paris and across the world. It is an exceptional building that deserves its high reputation – John Goodall explains why.
