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Vanbrugh 300: Historian Rory Fraser

As playwright, soldier, spy and adventurer, Vanbrugh is one of the most colourful architects in English history, yet relatively little is known about him. Here Rory Fraser gives a sense of the character that lay behind his legendary facades.

  • Booking essential

Rory Fraser is an historian, presenter and co-host of the Country House Podcast. Rory studied Vanbrugh’s time in India during his MPhil at Cambridge University. He co-curated the content for the Georgian Group’s Vanbrugh300 Exhibition and is now completing a biography of the life and times of Vanbrugh to be published by William Collins in 2027.

Times

Prices

Event ticket prices

Ticket typeTicket category
All £15.00

The basics

Booking details

Call 0344 249 1895

Suitability

Recommended age 13+.

Meeting point

Please arrive via Visitor Welcome. The talk will take place in the Saloon.

What to bring and wear

The Saloon is unheated and gets very cold at night. Please wear warm clothing.

Accessibility

Please call us on 0191 237 9100 to discuss your requirements ahead of booking if you have an access support need.

Other

Talk approximately 45 minutes followed by Q&A.

Upcoming events

Festival of Blossom 

Fall in love with blossom at Seaton Delaval Hall and across the North East this spring. Pick up a blossom map, take part in creative activities, or simply pause and enjoy the uplifting impact of the season.

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on
20 May to 7 Jun 2026
at 10:00 to 17:00+ 14 other dates or times

Earth Compass 

A selection of works taken from the award-winning British Pavilion exhibition of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, GBR - Geology of Britannic Repair.

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on
20 May to 12 Jul 2026
at 10:00 to 17:00+ 39 other dates or times

Festival of Blossom: The Secret Bats of Seaton Delaval Hall 

Discover the hidden world of bats through a thoughtful installation by artist Amy Dover, inviting you to look at the connections between wildlife, seasonal change and the landscapes around us.

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on
20 May to 7 Jun 2026
at 10:00 to 17:00+ 14 other dates or times

Vanbrugh 300 

This year we're celebrating Seaton Delaval Hall’s architect, Sir John Vanbrugh. Led by The Georgian Group, we’re joining five of his most significant creations for events commemorating the man known as the ‘rockstar of the English Baroque’.

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on
20 May to 18 Oct 2026
at 10:00 to 17:00+ 109 other dates or times