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 November-December 2025.
Online Lectures.
I will deliver Zoom lectures once a week on Fridays at 10.00 a.m. giving six lectures over seven weeks, 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 31st October 2025 : The Uncertain Inheritance of the 3rd Earl Brownlow.
Adelbert Wellington Brownlow Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow (1844-1921) inherited estates of over 58,000 acres and country houses including Ashridge in Hertfordshire and Belton in Lincolnshire. The Earl had no children and for much of his life his heir was a distant cousin, Harry Cust (a member of “the Souls”), who also died childless. We will see what happened to the estates and titles on the Earl’s death.
Friday 7th November 2025 : The University of Oxford Museum of Natural History.
The architects Deane and Woodward used Gothic architecture to create a museum of advanced design for the study of the natural world. Opening in 1860 the building was intended to be part of the museum display and we will see how style and materials are brought together in the building.
Friday 14th November 2025 : Caroline Bennet Lawes; A Hertfordshire Lady.
The daughter of Sir John Bennet Lawes, who devoted much of his life to agricultural research at Rothamsted, Harpenden, Caroline died aged 101 in 1946. During this long life she was a mother, sportswoman, author and socialite. We will investigate this little known Victorian.
Friday 21st November : The Silver Jubilee Walkway III, St. Paul’s to Gray’s Inn.
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 third section of this journey through London we will see a Wren Church, a livery hall, a variety of Victorian commercial buildings before leaving the City. That will lead us to inns of court before ending at a water pump.
Friday 28th November : No Lecture.
Friday 5th December : Holker Hall and the 7th Duke of Devonshire.
Holker was part of the 12,681 acres of Lancashire owned by the Duke of Devonshire when in 1871 a large part of the Hall was destroyed by fire. We will see how this house on the edge of the Lake District was rebuilt in Elizabeth style by the architects Paley and Austin and how the Duke was able to use it during his involvement in the development of Barrow in Furness as a major industrial town.
Friday 12th December : A Suitable Gift; Faberge, Cartier or Another Jeweller?
The exchange of objets d’art as gifts was common among the Edwardian elite at Christmas and while visiting one another. We will look at some of these made by jewellers of the period that are held in the Royal Collection and Margaret Greville’s Collection at Polesden Lacey.
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.
The English Country House 1990-Present ; Country Houses in Rude Health?
Starts 7th January 2026, 7.00-9.00 p.m. 6 Weeks.
The destruction of country houses had slowed to a trickle by 1990 and a point would be quickly reached when demand outstripped supply leading to a wave of new houses being built. Existing houses were increasingly being bought to be used as private homes while established owners found new ways of making their houses and estates pay. Institutional guardians of houses began to question how they were interpreting their properties and their relevance in the new millennium. We will examine these strands of Country House history. (£50)
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)