The story
In reference to the renovation of the St Albans Cathedral in the 19th century by Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe, which was fiercely criticized at the time.
First known use, by meaning
- from late 19th c. To renovate an old building or structure in a lavish and expensive, yet tasteless fashion which spoils its original beauty.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.