Gillian Darley OBE

Egad

I sent you a reply via the Soane admin email. But essentially he died in Portland Place: it seems he was merely visiting his daughters in the north.

Fool alert. Within recent days I told someone, oh so authoritatively, that John Carr of York built most of Valletta. Turns out I meant Porto. If it was you, I grovel.

Remember Fleet Street? Spot the heritage building and public space [sic] and weep.

Shout out for bookishness and encouragement for scribblers?!

In Apollo Magazine, November 2018 I wrote about self loathing on the South Bank, the baleful
failure to consider listing the Brutalist complex. Finally, I can breathe a sigh of relief.

In Apollo Magazine, November 2018 I wrote about self loathing on the South Bank, the baleful
failure to consider listing the Brutalist complex. Finally, I can breathe a sigh of relief.

That took its time…. Huge congratulations to C20 Society for persistence!

These boots aren’t going anywhere. Nice tale of Trumpian non delivery as reported by AFP.

These boots aren’t going anywhere. Nice tale of Trumpian non delivery as reported by AFP.

Honest repair?

today’s Times v today’s FT

Waddle this way! The sign-making genius who kept Britain’s drivers (and ducks) safe Airports, road signs, animal warnings … Margaret Calvert revolutionised how Britain looked and her brilliantly clear designs are still used today. We meet the font legend and Porsche lover

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

35 years on and the Eagle Farringdon is packing them in on a clungy (old Suffolk dialect, fwiw) Monday lunchtime in February. Genius. Raising a glass to Mike.

YouTube video by GeorgeHarrisonVEVO Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Taken from Concert For George)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrTM...

So important. What they say is not the story. That is never the story. What happened is the story. Write what happened.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators filling the streets with signs and banners

Demonstrators as far as the eye can see. Current status of the march in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota for Ice Out of Minnesota. They are turning onto 3rd Street from 5th Avenue.

Jesse Armstrong, such a good DiD. Catch it.

Seems on the cards but only £10m mentioned and I guess it will take far far more. (I do mention the BL in the piece.)

Make sure you read about Temple Works, Leeds in my roundup of heritage at risk. It is a super important maverick building and is in urgent need of a sustained plan of action. It is my own favourite C19 building - call me eccentric why don’t you.

bsky.app/profile/apol...

14th century painting of St. Margaret of Antioch attacking a devil woman in a virid dress hitting a demon with a hammer

Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over

London Review of Books on Instagram: "‘Walter Lippmann was called the greatest journalist of his age, but his claims as an original thinker rest on his book 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘖𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯, published in 1922. In a way... 154 likes, 1 comments - londonreviewofbooks on December 23, 2025: "‘Walter Lippmann was called the greatest journalist of his age, but his claims as an original thinker rest on his book 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘖𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯...

www.instagram.com/p/DSnRK9IDUa...

Here’s a New Year. The stove wins a special commendation.

Sign the Petition Save our Countryside

c.org/qHmh5ZGWqG

Yes, those … he didn’t need six footers to impress

Tiny panel painting, done on the spot. Young Constable did many of these - an instantaneous and vivacious record of where his eye led him. For me the Tate Britain Turner-Constable exhibition stand-outs. See what you think?

Blast from the past. Always remember tangling with my friend Martin Pawley on this.

Erasmus programme returns to UK. Hugely welcome.

The glory that is Rousham garden. Be aware, its peerless landscape setting is facing a serious threat.