Dumfries House in Ayrshire was acquired for the Nation following a last-minute rescue in 2007, largely through the involvement of HRH the Prince of Wales. Never before opened to the public, Dumfries House is a forgotten Georgian gem, designed by Adam and furnished by Chippendale and others. Once a home of the Marquesses of Bute, Matthew Williams has known and admired Dumfries House for twenty years. The story of its controversial rescue is both fascinating and entertaining. 

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This lecture looks at the enormous changes in our homes over a hundred year period, encompassing aspects of household taste from Victorian clutter to the psychedelic 'throw away' furnishings of the 1970s. Although in many ways light-hearted, the lecture examines how social upheaval, War and technological advances transformed our houses. From the 1880s, when each interior was governed by strict convention and the home was regarded as a shrine to family life, we look at how change gradually came about. The coming of electricity and central heating altered appearance and comfort and other major developments in design all changed our interiors.

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The enormous success of the Television series 'Downton Abbey' has made its location, Highclere Castle in Berkshire, one of the most recognisable buildings in the country. This lecture reveals that truth is more interesting than fiction and tells the story of the castle and its family, the Earls of Carnarvon. A Victorian architectural masterpiece, Highclere has fascinating associations with the Houses of Parliament, ancient Egypt and the world of Royal horse racing. The 'Downton Abbey effect' has not only brought the past alive for millions of admirers but has brought benefits to Highclere.

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There is something incomparably romantic about a long-lost country house, and although Britain still possesses some of the finest of these architectural treasures to be found anywhere, many have been destroyed.  A single ruined lodge or pavilion, an over-grown drive or group of mature trees are sometimes all that now exists to remind us of a lost house and pleasure-ground. This lecture tells the story of just some of these losses to our National Heritage – destroyed for a variety of reasons; from neglect, arson, enemy action, incompetence, family rivalry, financial disaster or even insanity!   In the mid-twentieth century particularly, profound social change, wars, high taxation and bad management often contributed to the demise of many grand houses. Hundreds were demolished after 1945 – some beautiful, some ugly, but each lost house, as the lecture shows, is fascinating in its own way.

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Far from being a ruin, Cardiff Castle is one of the most remarkable houses in Britain. Dating from the time of the Romans, centuries of change culminated in the complete transformation undertaken in the 1870s by the Marquess and Bute and his eccentric genius architect William Burges. They created a 'Feudal extravaganza' in fifteen highly imaginative interiors, including an Arab room, a Pompeian roof garden and rooms with an astrological theme. The lecture by the castle's curator, examines this wonderful building and the personalities of those involved.

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The Marquesses of Bute are an ancient Scots family who rose to prominence during the eighteenth century. Judicious marriages brought wealth and by 1860 industrial enterprise had made them one of the richest families in the Empire. The scholarly third Marquess was a great architectural patron. His extraordinary and intensely personal buildings include two romantic Welsh castles and Mount Stuart, his own home in Scotland, once memorably described as being; 'like a head on collision between the Taj Mahal and a Victorian railway hotel' This lecture looks at both personalities and buildings, and examines the Bute's of crafts and creativity.

Portmeirion is an extraordinary surprise; a colourful and delightful Italian fantasy village on the coast of north Wales.  The creation of one man, the remarkable architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis from the 1920s, Portmeirion is his personal statement of defiance against modernism and what he saw as the increasing ugliness and despoilment of Britain.  Sir Clough opened the hotel there in 1926, and by the 1950s it had become the playground of artists, aristocrats, intellectuals, the fashionable and the merely rich.  Regular visitors included H G Wells, Bertrand Russell and Noel Coward, (who wrote Blithe Spirt at Portmeirion).  Sir Clough's daughter Susan created Portmeirion Pottery, which during the 1960s and 70s was synonymous with cutting-edge ceramic style.  This lecture looks at the place, its architecture and associations as well as Portmeirion Pottery. 

Matthew draws upon some very personal memories (his uncle was Resident Director of Portmeirion for nearly 30 years) to make this a fascinating subject.   

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Tyntesfield, the one of the last great Victorian Country houses still intact with its original contents, was to be broken-up until being saved for the Nation at the eleventh hour a few years ago. Now owned by The National Trust, the story of the house, the family who created it and its dramatic rescue make this an entertaining, informative and very popular lecture.

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William 'Billy' Burges was short, fat and bad-tempered. He was also a genius who created some of the most extraordinary buildings of the Nineteenth Century. Completely immersed in the world of the Middle Ages, he designed Churches, castles, bridges, interiors, furniture, textiles, metalwork and jewellery for his few, equally individual clients. Loved by Pop stars and Poets alike, Burges's eccentric world and many of his creations are illustrated in this fascinating and fun lecture.

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William De Morgan was an intimate friend of William Morris and 'Ned' Burne-Jones. He began his career as a painter; he became a stained-glass maker, best-selling author and one of the most imaginative and amusing potters and tile-makers of the nineteenth century. His work now commands extremely high prices in the saleroom, as does that by his wife Evelyn, herself an accomplished artist. The lecture examines their fascinating and delightful artistic partnership.