Perhaps the longest-lasting examples of our 18 th Century heritage is to be found in architecture. It began with the Queen Anne styles of the earliest years. Great moves forward in building styles and techniques progressed throughout the whole of the Georgian period leaving behind among the most noticeable styles of buildings today.

The short reign of Queen Anne ( ) added new elements to the Tudor emphasis found before her reign. These included:  a sweep of steps leading to a carved stone door-case  rows of painted sash windows in boxes set flush with the brickwork  stone quoins emphasizing corners  a central triangular pediment set against a hipped roof with dormers  Typically box-like "double pile" plans, two rooms deep

The Georgian period stretched from 1714 to This was a period of great formal style and elegance. During the Georgian times, there was a heavy tax on windows, as England needed money for war. The number of windows you had was a sign of your wealth – the poor often only had one window per floor. Some people bricked up windows to avoid the tax.

Pillars in the front of the house. A Fan light above the door. Sash window (windows which slide up and down.) Square symmetrical shape. There were some common features in Georgian architecture.

Georgians had no carpet on their floors – mainly bare floorboards, often covered in part by ornamental rugs. Larger houses often had stone or marble floors. The Georgians had some of the first indoor toilets, more like ‘potties’ hidden in cupboards or chairs. Amazingly they were thought a good place for them was in the dining room! Very smelly and insanitary! Although most of these homes were for the wealthy they had some surprising features:

Here is an example of a lower class Georgian building which stands as the end of a terrace built in that period. Few poorer people were able to build new homes. Those who were able to rent newer houses were probably gaining wealth in some small way. Most would have lived in older buildings from the previous periods.

In early Georgian times, heavy carved and gilded pieces were upholstered in velvet and damask. Fabrics were luxurious: brocade, damask and tapestry, with colours and patterns kept subtle. A royal style extended into common houses with cabriole legs and claw feet on chairs and baths creating an almost throne-like feel. Mahogany slowly replaced walnut as the wood of choice. The furniture was delicate, and the fireplace was the heart of the room. It was often fully outfitted with cast iron, carved pillars and medallions, and an opulent fire screen.

Resources: houses/georgian.htm rchitecture london-from-tudors-to-the-future/the-georgian- house/