It was a wonderful experience to go to Castle Howard after a day of talking about Vanbrugh’s role in its design.  I find it easy to believe that Vanbrugh was responsible for its conception and initial design, without necessarily needing Hawksmoor’s help; but then the Great Hall is so spatially complex.  So where did the ideas for it come from ?  It doesn’t feel like Wren.  Paris ?  From prints ? Or Vanbrugh’s recollection of buildings he had visited before returning to London in 1693:-