The New Pevsner’s Somerset
An illustrated talk by Julian Orbach
Friday 27 February 2015
Ebenezer Presents are delighted to welcome back Julian Orbach. Julian has just published his Buildings of South and West Somerset, in Sir Nikolaus Pevsner’s Buildings of Britain series, originally published in 1958. He has criss-crossed the county south of the Mendips, looking at every thing that might loosely be called architecture, gathering together all the strange and wonderful buildings this county has to offer…
Sir Nikolaus Pevsner completed his great work on Somerset in just one summer. Five and a half years after he set out, watched over by the spirit of the great Pevsner, Julian has finally returned. On his last visit to the Ebenezer, a couple of year ago, Julian attempted to explain why it was taking him so long. Now he returns to offer more excuses and to celebrate the county that has occupied him so completely for such a time.
Now, having just been posted to Wiltshire, he is able to offer an overview of the special nature of the buildings of Somerset & highlight many delights and major achievements.
His illustrated talk will range from the prehistoric to the modern, from Ham Hill to Hauser & Wirth, by way of Hinkley Point, with many little known gems as well as the more famous buildings of our great county. Ebenezer eagerly anticipates many revelations!
Julian Orbach has had a long and noteworthy career in historic buildings. He was Architectural Advisor to the Victorian Society, during which period he worked with Pevsner in the last years of Pevsner’s career. Julian has compiled lists of historic buildings in England and Wales and he wrote the Blue Guide to Victorian Architecture in Britain. He has been co-author on the three western volumes of the Buildings of Wales, covering Pembrokeshire to Anglesey. While doing this he founded an ecological commune in the Preseli Hills and learnt Welsh.
He is a member of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales. Julian has an unfinished thesis on ‘The Palazzo Revival in British Nineteenth Century Architecture’ for which he learnt Italian and went on a course with Anthony Blunt. In 2015 he moved to Bradford on Avon to start the revision of Pevsner’s Wiltshire volume. He may be there for some time.
‘The old one, by Pevsner alone, was somewhat skimpy; Julian Orbach’s revisit is huge, reflecting the architectural riches of the area, and there is wealth within – informative and scholarly text, handsome photographs.’ Penelope Lively, The Guardian
Friday 27 February 2015
Doors open at 7.00 for a 7.30 start
£12.50 (on the door) for Julian’s reflections, includes supper and a glass of wine. No baklava this week – perhaps never again…
BOOKINGS & E-MAIL LIST:
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If you have not booked, please ring 07879 206543 before you leave to join us.
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PARKING for EBENEZER PRESENTS:
Dear Friends & Guests,
To keep the gentlefolk of Aller happy we need all Ebenezees to park carefully. There will be highly qualified parking attendants to help but please note:
There is disabled access around the back of the building, so all those who find the stairs tricky should drive in to the yard and go towards the far end.
There is space for 20 or so cars in the Seed Factory car park. But if you have a very large vehicle it would be helpful if you could park outside.
If you park on the road, please do not park on the same side as the Seed Factory.
There are spaces down the lane past the pub, particularly down Church Path.
There is also parking behind the Village Hall, just opposite the Seed Factory. We are welcome to use the space as long as there are no events at the Hall at the same time. Any doubts please check with our Parking squad.
Many thanks ~ Ebenezer Presents
FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Friday 13 March: Spider Divination in Cameroon ~ Professor Z
Friday 27 March: Boko Haram ~ John Hare
Friday 10 April: Spring Planting ~ Charles Dowding
Friday 17 April: Ian Constantinides Memorial Debate
with George Ferguson CBE PPRIBA RWA Mayor of Bristol in the chair and a panel of architectural experts
Friday 24 April: Saladin ~ John Man
Friday 8 May: Syria ~ Brigid Keenan
Friday 5 June: Strawberry Hill ~ Marion Harney
Friday 26 June: Deeper than Indigo ~ Jenny Balfour-Paul
PLEASE do NOT book before you receive the specific flyer by e-mail newsletter… Thank you!