English Architecture of the 19 th Century

Competition between the Classic and Gothic schools. Neoclassical, or "new" classical, architecture describes buildings that are inspired by the classical architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. A Neoclassical building is likely to have some (but not necessarily all) of these features: Symmetrical shape Tall columns that rise the full height of the building Triangular pediment Domed roof The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement which began in the 1740s in England. In the early nineteenth century, increasingly serious and learned admirers of neo-Gothic styles sought to revive medieval forms, in contrast to the classical styles which were then prevalent.

One of the prime movers of a new interest in Gothic style was Horace Walpole. Walpole's country house at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham (1750), was a fancifully romantic Gothic cottage. . The style adopted by Walpole (termed, not surprisingly, "Strawberry Hill Gothic"), took many of the decorative elements of exterior medieval Gothic and moved them to the interior of the house. Thus, Walpole's rooms are adorned - some might say over-adorned - with touches like cusped ceilings and crocketed arches.

St Luke's, Chelsea, London (1820–24) is a small Christian place of worship on the border between Chelsea and Kensington. It was in a Gothic or near-Gothic style.

St George's Hall, Liverpool, St George's Hall stands 169ft long and 74ft wide with a tunnel vaulted ceiling - the largest of its kind in Europe. The ceiling is supported on massive red granite columns, with figures portraying qualities Victorian Liverpool aspired to - art, science, fortitude and justice. St George's Hall, Liverpool, 1815

Leeds Town Hall (1853–58),

Birmingham Town Hall (1832–50) It was created as a home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival established in 1784, Architect Charles Edge was commissioned in 1835 to repair weaknesses to the design of the building. He was also commissioned for the extension of the building in 1837 and again in 1850. Some limestone was used in its construction and  fossils of plants and animals are visible. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the front arches were glazed to create an entrance foyer.

Fonthill Abbey 

Joseph Paxton, architect of the Crystal Palace "Built out of prefabricated and wrought-iron elements and based on a four-foot module, this 1,848-foot-long ferro-vitreous construction was erected to the designs of Joseph Paxton and Charles Fox. "Built out of prefabricated and wrought-iron elements and based on a four-foot module, this 1,848-foot-long ferro-vitreous construction was erected to the designs of Joseph Paxton and Charles Fox.

The Houses of Parliament, otherwise known as The Palace of Westminster The magnificent Gothic Revival masterpiece you see today was built between 1840 and 1888 The Gothic style was chosen for the Houses of Parliament, it was intended to emphasize the historical continuity of the parliament system, and was harking back to the 'golden age of England'.

The Palace of Westminster Barry's exterior of The Houses of Parliament, was an essentially classical mass. The river frontage is a symmetrical block, with two smaller towers on each end, recalling Inigo Jones's design for new government offices along Whitehall. The form may be classical, but the detailing is Gothic, with the characteristic slim windows, spires and bell-towers. Pugin's interior is a riot of colour and detail Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852) Sir Charles Barry FRS (23 May 1795 – 12 May 1860