Kings and Things

England's Lost Country Houses

The Return of Classical Architecture

Having become nearly extinct in the mid 20th century, Classical Architecture and related styles like Gothic and Art Deco have been making a comeback in recent decades. Here I showcase some of the notable buildings that h

When Skyscrapers Looked Like Cathedrals

For centuries the tallest buildings in the world were Gothic cathedrals. At the dawn of the age of skyscrapers some architects looked back to these buildings for inspiration. Using the Gothic style they could express the

When Europe tried to build Chinese Architecture

In the 18th century, Chinese houses, pavilions and palaces were erected across Europe as part of a fascination with all things oriental. However, Europeans still had a very limited understanding of what China was like, a

The Unbuilt Monuments of New York City

From a colossal Gothic monument to George Washington to a Native American Memorial rivalling the Statue of Liberty, New York City's skyline could have looked very different. This video reveals the stories behind bold and

Some of the oldest photos you will ever see

In the spring of 1842, a wealthy scholar and artist called Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey embarked on a grand tour of the Eastern Mediterranean. With the use of his camera, a technology that had been released to the

These Gothic Cathedrals Took 500+ Years to Build

Gothic Cathedrals that were never finished in the Middle Ages. For various reasons these massive building projects dragged out, and were only completed in the 19th and even 20th centuries!

How the Year 2440 was Imagined in 1771

In 1771, French author Louis-Sébastien Mercier published the novel "The Year 2440: A Dream If Ever There Was One" Written from the perspective of an 18th century man who falls asleep and wakes up in Paris nearly 700 year

The Royal Palaces of the Baltic Republics

Europe is home to numerous splendid palaces that either are or have been inhabited by royalty. But not all are as well known as Versailles in France or Buckingham Palace in Britain. In this video we’ll explore the royal

Japan is Rebuilding its Ancient Capital

For the majority of the 8th century, Nara was home to Japan’s first permanent capital. Known as Heijō-kyō it was a massive planned city with somewhere between 100,000-200,000 inhabitants. But it was suddenly abandoned wh

This is what Victorian people sounded like