Local architectural historian and Newport House Bed & Breakfast owner John Millar is writing a book called “First Woman Architect,” in which he chronicles the life of Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham, according to the New York Times. After nearly 50 years of research, Millar is making the case that Wilbraham developed a passion for architecture during her travels of Europe in the 1650s and then had males execute her architectural designs. He also argues in his book that Sir Christopher Wren may have been one of her pupils, citing timing and architectural evidence. Wren scholars have been critical of Millar thus far, stating his book is largely based on purely speculative claims.
