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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.
Dr Annette Rubery reviews the Soane Vanbrugh Exhibition, closing on 28 June - don’t miss this free exhibition in the heart of London.
This review, written for the British Society for Eighteenth Century Studies, presents Vanbrugh: The Drama of Architecture as an engaging and accessible exhibition that reintroduces John Vanbrugh as a serious and imaginative architect, challenging the long-standing perception of him as an untrained amateur overshadowed by others. Through a combination of drawings, archival material, and a contemporary film, the exhibition highlights his distinctive, dramatic approach to architecture and demonstrates how his work has continued to influence later generations. It emphasises both his creative process and the enduring visual impact of buildings such as Blenheim Palace, ultimately deepening appreciation of his originality and legacy
