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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.
This Vanbrugh300 newsletter launches a year-long exploration of Sir John Vanbrugh’s great houses, beginning with Blenheim Palace and its new exhibition, Blueprints of Power. The exhibition explores Vanbrugh’s genius, ambition, rivalries, and dramatic partnership with Sarah Churchill, 1st Duchess of Marlborough, combining immersive storytelling with rare archival material and costumes from The Favourite (2018).
As a partner house of the Vanbrugh300 festival, Kimbolton is using its historic setting to inspire students to explore Sir John Vanbrugh’s architectural legacy. Through participation in the National Gallery’s Articulation Prize, pupils have researched, analysed and presented on Vanbrugh’s work and wider artistic themes, connecting national heritage with their own school environment.
This extended article explores Vanbrugh’s creation of Blenheim, where his genius came with challenges of fierce rivalries, political intrigue and personal conflicts.
Exclusive insight from Blenheim Palace’s Carmen Alvarez, Collections and Conservation Manager, and Isabelle Thom, Deputy Collections Manager on their new exhibition Blueprints of Power about Vanbrugh.
Caroline Quentin nominates Sir John Vanbrugh on Radio 4's Great Lives. Listen on BBC Sounds.
An article in The Times recently covered Vanbrugh's Buildings as Theatre and an upcoming exhibition at the Sir John Soane Museum
This extended article explores Vanbrugh’s early life, tracing his experiences as a maverick, soldier, spy, and prisoner, to reveal how these formative years helped shape one of Britain’s most distinctive architectural voices.
This Vanbrugh300 newsletter explores Sir John Vanbrugh’s early life and formative experiences through a feature article, introduces a new interactive timeline, highlights recent festival events and lectures on his plays, and shares updates and upcoming activities within the nationwide 2026 celebration programme.
The Cambridge Edition recently covered Vanbrugh 300 in their February edition, highlighting Kimbolton Castle’s inclusion in its culture section.
A Countryfile episode on the 'Blenheim Estate' highlights Vanbrugh’s vision for the palace and examines how the building is being conserved 300 years after its creation.
To mark the tercentenary of Sir John Vanbrugh’s death, Charles Saumarez Smith considers the changing reactions to one of his greatest creation, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
The first Vanbrugh300 newsletter introduces the nationwide festival marking 300 years since Sir John Vanbrugh’s legacy, outlining his remarkable life as architect, playwright, and political figure, and previewing a year-long programme of exhibitions, events, and educational initiatives across six major houses.
Cambridge Network reports on Vanbrugh300.
Charles Saumarez Smith speaks to 'Your Places or Mine' and John Goodall on the architect John Vanburgh.
To coincide with the publication of his book, John Vanbrugh: The Drama of Architecture, Charles Saumarez Smith gave a lunchtime talk on Vanbrugh’s extraordinary life: his upbringing; why he spent so much time in a French gaol; the writing of The Relapse and The Provoked Wife; and how he came to design Castle Howard with no previous experience of architecture.
Charles Saumarez Smith speaks to Machine Books about his latest fascination, the life and works of the great British baroque architect John Vanburgh.
thedirt.news reports on Vanbrugh300.
In this talk, Christine Stevenson investigates the ways in which Vanbrugh persuaded clients that boldness and unorthodoxy were the most economical routes to displays appropriate to their status.
In this talk, Charles Saumarez Smith looks at changes to Vanbrugh's reputation ahead of his forthcoming book, John Vanbrugh: The Drama of Architecture.
ianVisits reports on Vanbrugh300.