As we have seen the Victorian Era was one of extraordinary expansion in Britain.
A growing vast empire, world-leading industry, and an exploding population that all led to huge changes such as; the development of the transport infrastructure owing to the steam engines, social changes which meant improvements in living standards, the mass production of materials and goods making them cheaper and easily available. These reshaped the streets of Victorian Britain, turning the country into a technological wonder. This meant more buildings than ever before, and more kinds of buildings too - they rebuilt the country from the sewers to the spires, but as their beautiful cities moved forward, the architects and designers looked back at past eras for inspiration and so the High Victorian Gothic Style came into notion.
Among the best known practitioners of the style were William Butterfield, Sir Gilbert Scott, G. E. Street and Alfred Waterhouse, they were all inspired by the writings of John Ruskin. We will look at them in more details in later posts.
They had a fascination of imagined terror and mystery that lurked within the medieval buildings. Furthermore the picturesque was gaining momentum and Classical buildings were increasingly considered stiff and tedious, therefore leading to the desire of awakening their cities. They attempted to add contrasts of light and shade, color and animation by adopting the Medieval Gothic forms. Architects and designers tried to define the styles and periods, buildings were not just an imitation of the style but serious attempts at capturing the style to suit their cities. High Victorian Gothic was the representation of medieval styles, through their eyes.
A growing vast empire, world-leading industry, and an exploding population that all led to huge changes such as; the development of the transport infrastructure owing to the steam engines, social changes which meant improvements in living standards, the mass production of materials and goods making them cheaper and easily available. These reshaped the streets of Victorian Britain, turning the country into a technological wonder. This meant more buildings than ever before, and more kinds of buildings too - they rebuilt the country from the sewers to the spires, but as their beautiful cities moved forward, the architects and designers looked back at past eras for inspiration and so the High Victorian Gothic Style came into notion.
Among the best known practitioners of the style were William Butterfield, Sir Gilbert Scott, G. E. Street and Alfred Waterhouse, they were all inspired by the writings of John Ruskin. We will look at them in more details in later posts.
They had a fascination of imagined terror and mystery that lurked within the medieval buildings. Furthermore the picturesque was gaining momentum and Classical buildings were increasingly considered stiff and tedious, therefore leading to the desire of awakening their cities. They attempted to add contrasts of light and shade, color and animation by adopting the Medieval Gothic forms. Architects and designers tried to define the styles and periods, buildings were not just an imitation of the style but serious attempts at capturing the style to suit their cities. High Victorian Gothic was the representation of medieval styles, through their eyes.
The children who built Victorian Britain () Directed by Julian Carey. United Kingdom, BBC Television [Documentary]
The Victorians (2009) Directed by John Hay. United Kingdom, BBC Television. [Documentary]
Jones, O. and Snowdin, M. (1999) The grammar of ornament: illustrated by examples from various styles of ornament. London: Collins & Brown.
Little, B. D. G. (1971) Birmingham buildings: The architectural story of a Midland City. United Kingdom: David & Charles PLC
The Victorians (2009) Directed by John Hay. United Kingdom, BBC Television. [Documentary]
Jones, O. and Snowdin, M. (1999) The grammar of ornament: illustrated by examples from various styles of ornament. London: Collins & Brown.
Little, B. D. G. (1971) Birmingham buildings: The architectural story of a Midland City. United Kingdom: David & Charles PLC