RIBA Wessex |comprises Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, plus Bath and Bristol, and it is here that some of the country's best-known Palladian buildings can be found.
It is an area that enjoyed great prosperity in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, at the very time when Palladian architecture was in vogue. Agriculturally rich, and near to the capital, many of the country's leading architects were employed by fashion-conscious patrons.
Primary example: Stourhead
Perhaps the finest single example is Stourhead (1724), designed by Colen Campbell|. Here Palladio's influence is remarkably clear: this is a Venetian villa re-planted in Wiltshire. Combined with its world-famous gardens, Stourhead is an anthem to the Classical Revival.
Interested? Find out more about Stourhead| with resources from the RIBA British Architectural Library.
Other well-known Palladian buildings in the region
After Stourhead, plenty more Palladian houses can be found in Wessex. Early Palladian |experiments can be discovered, such as Lodge Park, (1634) long thought to be the work of Inigo Jones|, and the celebrated Wilton House |(c. 1650).
Neo-Palladian| mansions dot the landscape, such as Barrington Park (1737-1738), Prior Park (1735 - 1743), and Wardour Castle (1770 - 1776)
The region's cities, towns and villages are distinguished by Neo-Palladian houses, terraces and public buildings. Bristol, Cirencester and Blandford are graced by particularly fine examples. Above all, Bath, with its Circus, Royal Crescent and terraces, reigns supreme: the finest Neo-Palladian ensemble in the world.
Resources
Why not use the resources of the RIBA British Architectural Library| to better understand the legacy of Palladio and the Palladians in the region?
Explore using our gazetteer,| which lists Palladian buildings by county, and a wealth of information, including books, journals and images related to these in the RIBA Library.
In addition to this, you can use our bibliography| dedicated to the life, works and influence of Palladio.