I was originally expecting to use crowd-funding as a way of financing the publication of my Vanbrugh book, but, in the event, this turned out to be unnecessary owing to the generosity of two trusts; but the film that was generously made by Lone Star Productions to accompany the planned online request for funding survives and has been made available by Lone Star.

I have been trying to post it even though it is now a bit out-of-date and the book has been published (and despite the fact that I gave the wrong county for Kimbolton !).  But have been experiencing difficulties in doing this which I’ll try and resolve tomorrow.

I am still hoping that it might be possible for someone to make a documentary about Vanbrugh as part of the celebrations of his tercentenary which are gathering pace, with exhibitions planned at most of the houses, including an exhibition, Blueprints of Power, opening at Blenheim Palace on February 14th.

The BBC say Vanbrugh is of zero public interest, but he designed two of the greatest country houses, two plays which are still performed, his drawings are going to be the subject of a forthcoming exhibition at Sir John Soane’s Museum (opening March 4th.), and the building of Blenheim starred in The Favourite.