My programme of Friday morning online lectures via Zoom covers a wide range of historical and architectural subjects. In the course of an hour we might look at the history of a country house, take a virtual architectural walk or consider working people’s lives. These lectures are recorded and then made available for two weeks.
These courses can also be given face to face to groups and I have been doing this since 2001 for a variety of organisations. I can also deliver dayschools if you are interested in a more concentrated look at a topic.
I also give longer courses online looking at similar subjects in greater depth over a number of weeks in sessions which last two hours. Often these relate to English country houses, their architecture and those who lived and worked in them, these courses may look at a particular period like Victorian Country Houses or at houses in an area like the Chilterns.
Programme January February 2026.
Online Lectures.
I will deliver Zoom lectures once a week on Fridays at 10.00 a.m. giving six lectures which will be recorded and available for two weeks. The lectures are all standalone sessions so there is no need to commit to the whole series. I will continue to email details of the next week’s events weekly and lectures will be charged at £6 per connection unless you prebook the whole series which will cost £30 for all six. Booking by midday on the day before the lecture (by emailing Zilphahistory@gmail.com) will ensure a place. Please feel free to pass these details onto anyone who may be interested.
Friday 9th January 2026 : Paul Sandby, Georgian Domestic Scenes.
Paul Sandby produced many watercolours in the second half of the 18th Century showing not only the gentry enjoying their houses by reading, playing cards etc but also their servants in kitchens, working at the laundry and other tasks. We will examine a selection of these pictures to catch glimpses into Georgian homes.
Friday 16th January 2026 : Tales From a Churchyard; New Mill Baptist Church, Tring.
This Baptist congregation traces its history back to the late 17th Century and the church was rebuilt in 1818. Many nonconformist churches did not have their own burial grounds and so we have here an opportunity to look at a particular community in the 19th Century and the monuments they chose to be remembered by.
Friday 23rd January 2026 : The Silver Jubilee Walkway IV, Gray’s Inn to St. Pancras Station.
In 1977 Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee was marked in London by the creation of a walking route indicated with metal discs set into the pavement. On the fourth section of this journey through London we will see Georgian houses, including those lived during the 20th Century by luminaries such as George Orwell, Kenneth Williams and Dorothy L. Sayers. In addition there will be pubs to consider and the late 1960’s concrete mega structure of the Brunswick Centre.
Friday 30th January 2026 : Lady Desborough (1867-1952), An Aristocratic Life.
In 1870 Ethel Fane was orphaned and she grew up in her family’s great houses including Wrest Park and Panshanger; which she later inherited. While young woman she was a leading member of “The Souls” where she was able to hone her wit and skills as hostess. Marriage to William Granfell brought children who she adored and through her friendship with A.J. Balfour she was able to get William made Baron Desborough. The First World War saw two of her sons die in action and her remaining son died in 1926 leaving Lady Desborough to concentrate on how her daughters might be able to continue as chatelaines of country houses.
Friday 6th February 2026 : A Sophisticated Tomb, Sir Anthony and Lady Grace Mildmay.
The interior of the parish church of St. Leonard in Apethorpe, Northamptonshire is dominated by the tomb of the Mildmays erected in c.1621. This is an unusually sophisticated and classical monument which was at the cutting edge of architectural taste and reflects the Mildmays’ connections to James I.
Friday 13th February 2026 : The Mezquita, Cordoba.
Built in phases between the 8th and 10th centuries as the main mosque in this ancient city, which became the capital of an independent caliphate, the Mesquita is one of the world’s greatest buildings. In the 16th century a cathedral was built in the centre of the existing mosque and its rich decoration shows the wealth that was flowing into Spain at this time. We will get a flavour of this important building.
Online Courses 2025-6.
The courses will be held online via Zoom on Wednesday evenings 7.00 - 9.00 p.m. each session having a break of about 10 minutes in the middle. All sessions will be recorded and available until two weeks after the end of the course. There will be a maximum of 20 connections. To book please contact Adam Smith at zilphahistory@gmail.com.
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English Country Houses : Through Two World Wars (c.1910-50).
Starts 25th February 2026, 7.00-9.00 p.m. 6 Weeks.
Despite appearance to the contrary many owners of country houses were in a difficult financial position by 1910 and this was only going to get worse as agriculture remained in depression and taxes increased. The World Wars impacted owners and houses in way unlike previous wars breaking up households and leading to many houses being used to support the nation. Despite this the life of the English gentry was still something that was aspired to and purchaser were found for those houses that came onto the market and new ones were built. We will examine these strands of Country House history. (£50)