Register here for HB&P's 2026 Annual Lecture
Register here for HB&P's online 2026 Annual Lecture, on Tuesday 29th September 2026.
Book here
Discover how the Picturesque transformed architecture in late 18th-century Britain and influenced the development of country houses, villas and the emerging suburb.
During the evening we will also announce the winner of the 2026 Stephen Croad Prize.
About the lecture
We are delighted to welcome Dr Rosemary Yallop as the guest speaker for our 2026 Annual Lecture.
In her lecture, Sublime and Ridiculous: The Picturesque and the Architecture of Gentility, Dr Yallop will explore the emergence of the Picturesque as a new aesthetic movement in late 18th-century Britain. Moving beyond the formal rules of classicism, the Picturesque embraced expressive freedom, irregularity and visual drama. First seen in elegant country houses, its influence soon extended to villas and the expanding suburbs of the 19th century.
The lecture will examine how this imaginative architectural approach shaped ideas of gentility and domestic design, before later attracting criticism from Victorian commentators who dismissed it as theatrical and a ‘canon of the fantastic’.
As part of the evening, we will also announce the winner of the 2026 Stephen Croad Prize. The winning entrant will give a short presentation introducing their prize-winning essay and research.
Tickets:
Members: Free
Non-members: £10
Recording
If you are unable to attend the live event, a recording will be made available to all registered attendees after the session.
Cancellation policy
Refunds can be provided for cancellations 7 or more business days prior to the event.
