Today, January 24th marks the 350th anniversary of the birth of Sir John Vanbrugh, architect of Kings Weston House and many of the estate buildings.

Vanbrugh partying (from a contemporary engraving)

Sir John Vanbrugh is one of Britain’s most important and innovative architects. He is most famous for the design of Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace, but also for a number of other houses across Britain, each imaginative and innovative in design. Vanbrugh was also a playwright whose works are still performed today.

This anniversary has sadly gone largely unnoticed at other Vanbrugh-designed properties, but not at Kings Weston! Unfortunately our campaigning for the event to be suitably marked came to nothing when we began planning in 2011. But here in Bristol we hope to have a series of small events during this year to help mark the event so stay tuned.

Blenheim Palace, perhaps Vanbrugh’s most famous work, has strong parallels with his work at Kings Weston

Kings Weston House was begun on 16th June 1712 and has not long enjoyed its tercentenary. It’s worth noting that Bristol is the only City in the UK outside London to have any Vanbrugh building, let alone one of the largest collections of individual buildings by him in the world! The House, the Echo, Penpole Lodge, the Loggia, Brewhouse and most likely Kingsweston Inn, and a cottage on Kings Weston Lane can all be attributed to him, remaining a fine and varied example of his work.   Well worth celebrating we hope you’ll agree!

So spread the work and let everyone you know you’re celebrating along with us.

Find out more about Vanbrugh’s contribution to Kings Weston here.

Kings Weston House enjoyed its tercentenary in 2012