History Event: Charles Barry and His Grand Designs for Trentham
- Sep 7
- 2 min read
Friday 12 September, 7.30pm - 9pm (doors open 7pm)
Trentham Parish Church, Park Drive, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 8AB
As a feature of the Heritage Open Days programme, researcher John Heal will discuss Charles Barry's plans and sketches for the renovation of Trentham Hall in the 1830s. Charles Barry is famous for designing the Palace of Westminster, and he also created an Italianate palace at Trentham for the 2nd Duke and Duchess of Sutherland.
This is the first opportunity to see some of the 600 plans and drawings produced by Barry and his office during the remodelling of Trentham Hall. They embarked on a plan to turn Trentham into a residence befitting the status of one of the richest families in the country. Barry’s own drawings have not been seen since they were saved from export to America in the 1990s. They are believed to be the most comprehensive collection of plans produced for any English country house of the 19th century.
The 1st Duke of Sutherland died in July 1833, shortly after being made a Duke (his wife was already a Countess). His son inherited the title, the estates (not only Trentham), and a lot of wealth. Soon he and his wife had engaged the rising star of British architecture, and by March 1834, Charles Barry was already producing the definitive drawings for the builders to get started on transforming the hall into the fantastic mansion that Trentham became in the late 19th century.
The drawings in Stafford are just part of the wider collection of Barry drawings held in Staffordshire (a large number are held at the Stoke-on-Trent City Archives).
History Event: Charles Barry and His Grand Designs for Trentham - created 9.9.25
