Our annual Paul Mellon Lecture “The House of Byron: Newstead’s Dysfunctional Dynasty” explored Newstead Abbey, once one of the most admired aristocratic houses in England at the beginning of the 18th century. The ancestral seat of the Byron family – following the dissolution of the monasteries – would eventually be inherited by Lord Byron, romantic poet, and no stranger to a scandal.
The event focused on Byron’s relationship with Newstead, the chain of events that resulted in its decline, and its 21st century revival following inclusion on the World Monuments Watch in 2012.
World Monuments Fund Britain was joined by rising star author and historian Emily Brand, as she discussed her book The Fall of the House of Byron and reveals the fascinating history behind Newstead Abbey.
The evening’s host and WMFB Executive Director, John Darlington, was also joined by Zoe Skelding, Partner Architect at Purcell, who recently oversaw the conservation of the West Front of the abbey.
