Here we are at Part 3 of the Former Royal Residences. Previous posts were Part 1 and Part 2.

Dolphin Square
1937, London, England
The Princess Royal

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Abergeldie Castle
Built c. 1550, Abergeldie, Aberdeenshire
Queen Victoria to Elizabeth II (1848-1970)
In 2016 fierce storms and floods resulted in 20 metres of land collapsing into the River Dee. Prince Charles stepped in and saved the castle.


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Last week when I posted Jacobean Architecture, which was part 2 of Renaissance Architecture, part 1 being Elizabethan Architecture, a friend commented on seeing Hatfield House. That made me think we could explore former royal residences. I thought it would be hard to find a list thereof, but turns out mine was not an original thought. The list is quite extensive, once we embard on that journey (virtual) we’ll be at it for some time. That being said the same site featured a list of current royal residences and although we’ve explored the Queen’s residences as well as royal family residences there were a few others. And so before exploring the former royal residences let’s complete the current residences.


Barnwell Manor
1586, Northamptonshire, England


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An omission was made in the January newsletter: not featuring 502-1510 Riverside Drive. Please click here for details of that listing.


Again Happy New Year! Today we explore part two of the Renaissance styles – Jacobean architecture. Last week we explored the first part of Renaissance styles – Elizabethan architecture. A topic which as I said started with a Holiday card featuring Blickling Hall by Robert Lyminge. Lyminge also designed Hatfield house.

The Jacobean style was during the reign of James I – 1603 and 1625. It was a transition between the Elizabethan and Pure Renaissance, it blended Medieval and Renaissance styles.

Where Elizabethan architecture was irregular, Jacobean is more regular. It is enhanced with classic columns and entablatures (the horizontal portion above the columns). A more stylistic unity is achieved.

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An omission was made in the January newsletter: not featuring 502-1510 Riverside Drive. Please click here for details of that listing.


It started with a friend showing me a Holiday Card he had received, it featured a photo of Blickling Hall. From there I identified Robert Lyminge as the architect, an architect of the Jacobean era. The Jacobean era being the period during the reign of King James I, between 1603 and 1625. The Jacobean architecture is the second phase of Renaissance architecture, the first one being Elizabethan architecture. The Elizabethan period was between 1558 and 1603 under the reign of Elizabeth I. And so here we are.

Characteristics of the Elizabethan style are: towers, gables, parapets, balustrades, chimney stacks, oriels and bay windows, as well as mullions and transoms. We’ll get to Jacobean architecture next time.

Happy New Year! May 2021 not look like 2020! [Read more…]

Having discovered a new to me architecture organization, Canadian Architect, and their list of annual Winners of Awards of Excellence, I had to put aside the review of starchitects in order to peruse this timely list. Considering this is the 53rd year of these awards – we may have found a new source of recognized architects.

Awards of Excellence

Zeidler Architecture

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