Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Vanbrugh 300 is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to develop a nationwide project that aims to broaden the awareness of Vanbrugh through special displays, free education programmes and lectures, throughout his tercentenary year in 2026.
Library of the Four Winds
Saturday 13th June - Sunday 27th September
Castle Howard, Yorkshire, YO60 7DA
This luminous new revolving artwork takes over the Temple of the Four Winds, created by internationally renowned artist and designer Es Devlin.
The artwork honours the National Year of Reading and celebrates the Temple as a place originally designed by Castle Howard’s architect Sir John Vanbrugh, as a place for reading and refreshments.
The Temple, on the edge of Castle Howard’s Gardens, will be surrounded by four concentric tables, where you can read, draw, talk, eat and listen. A magnificent sculpture made from hundreds of books is inside the Temple, with books curated from the personal libraries of Vanbrugh and Devlin.
Visitors of all ages are invited to pause and join in communal reading.
Experience the Library of the Four Winds at dusk with late entry to the Gardens on Friday 3rd July, Friday 7th August and Friday 4th September. Last entry is at 7pm.
More about Es Devlin
Es Devlin is a celebrated British artist and designer, known for public sculptures and installations outside at Tate Modern, and Trafalgar Square in London, and Lincoln Centre in New York, and inside at the V&A, Serpentine, Imperial War Museum and Somerset House. Es has designed stage productions at the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera and the National Theatre, as well as the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony, and the 2022 Superbowl Halftime show (featuring Dr Dre and Kendrick Lamar). She has also designed stadium tours for music artists, including Adele, The Weeknd and Beyonce.

