This symposium – organised jointly by The Courtauld, the University of Kent, and the SAHGB – celebrates the extraordinary work and legacy of Mark Girouard (1931-2022), one of Britain’s greatest architectural historians, whose work continues to revolutionise the scope and perceptions of the discipline both within academia and beyond. Mark’s knowledge and expertise were as eclectic as they were ground-breaking, whilst his infectious passion and willingness to share them with, and foster them in others, was truly remarkable. It will provide an opportunity for some of the leading architectural historians of Britain and Ireland to both reflect on how the vast corpus of Mark’s work has influenced their own thinking in the past, and, most importantly, to present new research and novel insights within the various fields impacted by Mark’s writing. The symposium has been planned to take place as part of the foundational year of the SAHGB’s Girouard Fund, established in Mark’s name to support publications, research and programmes in architectural history.
This event is in collaboration with SAHGB.
Organised by Dr Manolo Guerci, Reader in Architecture at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Kent; Dr Kyle Leyden, Lecturer in Early Modern Architecture and Prof. Elizabeth McKellar, President of the SAHGB.
Programme
10.00 – 10.30: Registration opens
Coffee and tea provided
10.30 – 10.50: Opening remarks, and introduction to the day
Manolo Guerci, University of Kent; Mark Hallett, The Courtauld; Dorothy Girouard.
10.50 – 11.30: Keynote ’Life in the English Country House: old contexts, new directions’.
Maurice Howard, University of Sussex. Introduced by Manolo Guerci.
11.30 – 13.15: Session I – Interpreting the Early Modern Period
Chaired by Manolo Guerci, University of Kent
Gordon Higgott, formerly English Heritage,
‘Inigo Jones and the Vitruvian panelled Door’.
Emily Cole, Historic England,
‘The Country House State Apartment’.
Margot Finn, University College London,
‘Country Houses as Company Houses‘.
Frances Sands, Sir John Soane’s Museum,
‘Space Explorers: thoughts on Mark Girouard’s interdisciplinary approach to architectural history‘.
13.15 – 14.00: Lunch
Provided for all attendees with ticket purchase
14.00 – 15.25: Session II – The Irish Country House
Chaired by Kyle Lyden, The Courtauld
Patricia McCarthy, Trinity College Dublin,
‘Dinning and wining in the Irish Country House’.
John Martin Robinson, College of Arms,
‘James Wyatt at Curraghmore’.
Edward McParland, Trinity College Dublin,
‘Mark Girouard’s idea of Ireland‘.
15.25 – 15.45: Tea Break
Coffee and Tea provided
15.45 – 17.05: Session III – Reflections on the Victorian and Modern Periods
Chaired by Elizabeth McKellar, President of the SAHGB.
Andrew Saint, former General Editor, The Survey of London,
‘The Pubs Book‘.
Michael Hall, The Victorian Society,
‘Sweetness and Light and The Return to Camelot‘.
Alan Powers, University of Kent, London School of Architecture,
‘Writing about Modern Architecture’
17.05 – 17.35: Round Table – Where Next?
Jeremy Musson, Historic Houses Foundation,
Manolo Guerci, University of Kent
Kyle Lyden, The Courtauld
17.35 – 17.40: Concluding remarks
Elizabeth McKellar, President of the SAHGB
17.40: Drinks reception