The Last Quincy’s Family Steakhouse in the US
An unexpected journey
George Mason’s Gunston Hall – A Colonial Virginia Gem
A visit to George Mason’s c.1759 Gunston Hall – A Colonial Virginia Gem.
The Leaning Piazzas of Charleston
The Leaning Piazzas of Charleston – Why do so many porches look like they are about to fall over?
It was Never Supposed to be Perfect – Some Thoughts on Woodwork at the c.1810 Chancognie House.
I recently had a conversation about early 19th century woodwork with my friend Chris Swan, Senior Furniture Conservator at Colonial Williamsburg. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, architectural woodwork and furniture were all made by hand and although there would have been differences in the levels of refinement, they had one thing in common – the…
The Mystery Man in the Wall of the Chancognie House
A small scrap of paper in the walls of the c.1810 Chancognie House in Charleston, SC led to an interesting discovery about early 20th century patent medicines.
Why I’m Wielding a Heat Gun on Sultry Summer Days
It’s all in the details as the saying goes – and with historic houses, once details are gone, they are often gone for good. And details are why I am stripping paint here at the Chancognie House in the midst of a heat wave. The wooden siding on the Chancognie House was made with a…
Charleston in the Time of Coronavirus – Part 2 – East Battery
I have seen East Battery deserted in advance of a hurricane, but I have never seen it this quiet on such a beautiful day. Before a hurricane, most of the houses here would be boarded up with shutters closed, bracing for the weather ahead, so this was an unusual opportunity to take pictures of the…
Charleston in the Time of Coronavirus – Part 1
Charleston enacted a stay at home order at midnight March 25 and a statewide order took effect April 7 at 5pm until further notice. For the past two weeks, I have been walking around downtown, taking pictures during my travels while carefully avoiding other pedestrians. At first, it felt similar to how the city feels…
Auckland Castle – Restoration in Progress
As someone who is always in the midst of projects here at the Chancongnie House, I have learned to embrace, enjoy and learn from the process itself. I relish the opportunity to observe work in progress, so it was a special treat to visit Auckland Castle in County Durham with the Attingham Summer School last…
Calke Abbey – A Unique Approach to Preserving an English Country House
During my visit to Calke Abbey with the Attingham Summer School last year, opinions were mixed about the site. Some appreciated the unusual insight into the history of the family that had lived there for centuries while others viewed it as a cautionary tale about the consequences of rarely throwing anything away. Built by Sir…
The Accidental Preservationist 