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How a village forge became the charming family home of architect Hugh Petter
‘I am always pleased when somebody stands in front of one of my buildings and asks what I’ve done.’ Hugh Petter tells Clive Aslet how he altered his own home.
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How architect Sandra Coppin sympathetically updated a Modern house in Wiltshire
‘Every element serves a purpose,’ says Sandra Coppin of the Modern property she updated for her own home, repurposing material along the way so that nothing went to waste.
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The barn which architect Thomas Croft converted into a Postmodernist-influenced family home
‘I learnt that the best you can do is not too much,' Tom Croft tells Clive Aslet as he discusses how he adapted his own home for his family's use.
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A rare look inside Higham Hall, home of the Prince of Wales’ favourite architect Quinlan Terry
Higham Hall in Suffolk is the home of Quinlan Terry, the favourite architect of HRH The Prince of Wales and a leading contemporary exponent of Classicism. Clive Aslet reports; photographs by Paul Highnam.
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How to add character to a new-build house, from paint and furniture to the size of your doors
Carefully chosen furniture, paint, joinery and architectural details will all help to add character to a new house, says Clive Aslet.
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How William Morris transformed his London home: 'Let us hope we shall all grow younger there, my dear'
William Morris's London home was just as remarkable as his country houses, as Clive Aslet discovered during a visit to the new exhibition at Kelmscott House.
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The Roman Baths of Bath: A tale of two architects, a heated competition and a fascinating restoration
In the late 19th century, the eponymous hot baths of this city were recast in their modern form. Clive Aslet describes this fascinating transformation. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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Hamptworth Lodge: An Arts-and-Crafts house in the New Forest that blends in a touch of the Cotswolds
Hamptworth Lodge grew as a haven for collectors of all kinds, as well as a lovingly-created family home. Clive Aslet reports. Photographs by Justin Paget.
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An economist's blueprint for the countryside that ditches 'flawed romanticism', but still offers hope
Dieter Helm's latest book, Green and Prosperous Land, offers a radical blueprint for rescuing the British countryside. Clive Aslet takes a look.
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The great architect Donald Insall on saving Windsor Castle, refurbishing Westminster and how buildings change throughout their lives
Sir Donald Insall has been at the forefront of British architecture for six decades. Now aged 93, yet still actively involved in his practice, he spoke to Clive Aslet about a lifetime spent working with and thinking about some of our most treasured buildings.
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'There are some things that never will be reproduced if the world lives a million years': What it was like to be alive at the end of the First World War
They cheered, they cried, they laughed, they danced in the streets. Almost 100 years to the day since it was signed, Clive Aslet reflects on what the Armistice meant for our nation, both then and now.
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How an Arts-and-Crafts architect fought to preserve the beauty of Chipping Campden
Clive Aslet tells the remarkable story of Frederick Landseer Griggs, his struggle, his triumphs and his legacy. Photographs by Justin Paget.
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Mawarden Court, Wiltshire: Humble, but fit for a lord
The Pitt family controlled one of the kingdom’s most notorious Parliamentary boroughs from this now compact house, reveals Clive Aslet.
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Palazzo Grimani, Venice: The entire 17th-century palace restored by a British architect
The restoration of a Venetian palazzo by the architect John Simpson has unexpectedly revealed a splendid 18th-century decoration scheme, Clive Aslet reveals. Photographer Colin Dutton.
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Six ways to fix Parliament Square – and make it the centrepiece London deserves
With have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to revive Parliament Square. Clive Aslet suggests six changes that might lay the foundations for the transformation of this centrepiece of our national life.
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The extraordinary revival of Sydenham House, Devon: ‘Like the old house, but better’
This outstanding house has recently emerged from a major restoration following a disastrous fire in 2012. Despite the damage it sustained, it has lost none of its charm or interest – as Clive Aslet reports.
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Anglo-American marriages: The special relationships
Prince Harry is not the first Englishman to lose his heart to an American girl. Clive Aslet charts the long-standing tradition of transatlantic marriages.
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Painshill Park, Surrey: A garden of the Golden Age
This year marks a decisive moment in the heroic restoration of a celebrated landscape garden. Clive Aslet reports.
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The Fens: In celebration of the magic of a landscape that’s fascinated us for centuries
The Fens are unique, man-made oddity where, paradoxically, few people live – yet they exert a strange magic that had endured for centuries.
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Bighton Grange, Hampshire: A Regency revival
A new house in Regency style creates the perfect setting for modern family living. Clive Aslet is impressed by this light, family-friendly and informal design.
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Valletta, Malta: What to see and where to go in the European City of Culture
Clive Aslet visits the delightfully serene European City of Culture 2018.
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Will 1,000 new homes make or break the town of Woodstock?
Forget peace and love: the town of Woodstock (the British version, naturally) is set to become the nucleus of more than 1,000 new homes. Clive Aslet investigates.
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Annie Tempest: 'Tottering-by-Gently doesn't depend on jokes... Anything too clever doesn't work'
Annie Tempest has been drawing Tottering-by-Gently cartoon in Country Life for 25 years. She spoke to Clive Aslet – the editor who first employed her for the magazine –on why the strip based on her family home has gone global.
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The V&A's Ocean Liners exhibition: A fascinating glimpse into an age of glamour
The fabulous design of the great ocean-going liners had a far-reaching cultural impact associated with national politics and pride, discovers Clive Aslet.
