CONTEXT 189 : SEPTEMBER 2026 7 furniture (knobs, finger plates and escutcheons). Brookings illustrates 20 diverse examples and describes their value as dating evidence. While he notes that much research remains to be undertaken, he emphasises that attention should always be paid to what survives on internal doors before specifying wholesale replacements, as these details form an enchanting and important part of a building’s special architectural interest. This is the 12th part of an invaluable series. It would certainly be worth all the parts being brought together in one place at some stage as an invaluable visual and descriptive reference source. Georgian Group Journal As this reviewer notes annually, membership of the Georgian Group brings with it the group’s excellent, well-illustrated and substantial annual Georgian Group Journal, this year (Vol XXXIIV, 2026) of 243 pages.Where 2025 was devoted entirely to Sir Christopher Wren, the current volume has 14 scholarly but entertaining papers spanning geographically from the Brighton Pavilion in the south via Clandon Park and Woodmansterne in the home counties to Doncaster, the Isle of Man and Edinburgh’s first tenement. The content will be of interest to anyone professionally involved with understanding and managing heritage assets of the late 17th and 18th centuries, or with an interest in the architecture and culture of that period. Although it is difficult to summarise so many excellent papers in this short review, it is worth highlighting the article ‘The Formal House and its Curtilage, c1625–c1700’ by Peter Leach; and an important article by Jonathan Hales on St Luke’s Church, Old Street, London (built in 1727–33) with the question of attribution involving Nicholas Hawksmoor and John James. Hales references laserassisted survey measurements taken to establish the dimensions and proportions of the original church interior that remains. Comparisons were made with other James churches, principally St George, Hanover Square, and St Mary Rotherhithe. The visual evidence suggests that James was responsible for developing the elevation of St Luke’s, but the dimensions and proportional relationship of the church plan are remarkably similar to those of Hawksmoor’s St Anne, Limehouse. The journal also explores carpentry of the Rickard family of Doncaster, a town noted for its Georgian elegance. The article’s author Frank Carpenter writes that their excellent work is still in evidence there. C20 The latest issue of C20 (No 1, 2026), the magazine of the Twentieth Century Society, justifiably celebrates dogged persistence in pursuit of both the recognition and protection for major heritage assets that do not necessarily find favour with secretaries of state. It seems extraordinary that the society’s battle to protect the Southbank Centre has lasted 35 years, and was launched at a time when total demolition seemed a realistic possibility. Numerous schemes for massive and damaging changes followed, but its international significance has now deservedly been recognised. The society’s recent Coming of Age campaign – looking at buildings approaching 30 years of age and deserving protection – does not disguise the fact that works of even more modern architectural movements, including postmodernism, now deserve some heritage recognition. This issue of C20 therefore draws attention again to this somewhat unloved and maligned architectural style, the society having originally aired the subject in a conference in 2016. Many of these recent buildings remain under threat. How many will make it to 30 years old intact and possibly eligible for statutory protection? The issue also celebrates the work of two giants of British architecture, Terry Farrell and Nicolas Grimshaw, who both died last year, examining their legacy and suggesting that their outstanding work should be properly protected. The article illustrates four buildings that have already been listed; six that are not yet protected; and one (Alban Gate in the City of London, from the financial Big Bang era) that has been submitted for listing but rejected. The issue also has an instructive conservation study of the Grade II listed former IBM building, 76 Southbank, London (1980–84). Conceived by Denys Lasdun as a partner building to the National Theatre, it has recently been refurbished. The well-illustrated examination of the work assesses whether this has been successful. The original commissioning CEO of IBM,Thomas J Watson Jr, was adamant at its conception that ‘good design is good business’. The THE MAGAZINE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY SOCIETY ISSUE 2026 1 £9 26 HOW TO SAVE THE SOUTHBANK THE GLOSSY WORLD OF HI TECH KUWAIT: MODERN CITY
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