Staging the Baroque

May 2026 Bulletin (Part Two)

Me at Castle Howard, April 2026 (photo: Richard Bratby).

Last month I went to Newcastle with my husband for a concert, and we took the opportunity to spend a few days in the Northeast before making a lesisurely journey back to the Midlands. Naturally, I was keen to revisit two of my favourite Vanbrugh houses (Seaton Delaval in Northumberland and Castle Howard in Yorkshire). At the latter I was happy to catch Staging the Baroque: an exhibition which is showing as part of the Vanbrugh300 celebrations (until October 21st 2026). I’ve gathered together some of my photos from our trip below.

I’ve also reviewed the Vanbrugh: The Drama of Architecture exhibition, currently on at the John Soane’s Museum in London (until June 28th 2026). You can read it on the website of the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies here.

Staging the Baroque at Castle Howard, April 2026 (photos: Annette Rubery).

Francis Terry’s design for the Tapestry Drawing Room restoration at Castle Howard.

The Tapestry Drawing Room, April 2026.

Letters from Vanbrugh and Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough from the Castle Howard archives.

Me at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland, April 2026 (photo: Richard Bratby).