The Tudor is the final development of medieval architecture during the (1485–1603) and even beyond, for conservative college patrons. It followed the and, although superseded by in domestic building of any pretensions to fashion, the Tudor style still retained its hold on English taste, portions of the additions to the various colleges of and being still carried out in the Tudor style. Defining features of the style are the increased use of glass and the four-centred arch, known as the Tudor arch. During the Tudor period took place one of the most startling transformations in the history of English architecture. It was not, however, a transformation in style. Buildings were still largely Gothic in form, at least during the first half century of the Tudor period. Instead the transformation was a social one; building effort now went towards domestic, rather than ecclesiastical buildings. An emblematic architectural masterpiece which has been built in the Tudor period is the Hampton Court Palace
Towards the end of Henry VIII's reign (1547) very little building occured in England. The debts run up by the spendthrift Henry meant that the country verged on bankruptcy. The wool trade, which had carried the economic life of the country in the late medieval period, was no longer as prosperous as it had been and there was less disposable wealth for architectural projects. But under Elizabeth the county's economy began to revive. Many of the earlier medieval or were remodelled and modernised during Elizabeth's reign. The style adopted by the country house builders was a curious blend of Italian Renaissance tempered with large doses of Dutch influence. Indeed many builders relied heavily on books illustrating Dutch building plans and architectural details. This influence is most readily seen in the curved gables so often used in the elizabethan period. The first houses to display this design shift were large mansions such as the and .
Under the Stuart kings (1603-1714), British architecture took a pick-and-mix approach to Continental influences. Fashions from France, Italy and the Netherlands could be blended in a single building. Decorative gables influenced by those in Amsterdam began to appear in London. After the Civil War (1642-1649), one of the best known British architects, Sir , designed .
The of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century was a development of Palladianism and is alternatively termed in the European tradition. It was during this period that comfort and style became truly popular, and many of England's old fortified houses were rebuilt or remodelled in the new taste. This era is significant because it coincides with the rebuilding of the Buckingham Palace, which turned into a somptuous one.
The Victorian architecture led with the industrial revolution. The Crystal Palace designed by was lavish with Victorian innovations - iron-frame construction, sheet glass, and integral heating. Its use of prefabrication and standardisation was a pointer to the future. In this era of prosperity and development English architecture embraced many new methods of construction. One of the most representatives buildings of the Victorian Age is the Palace of Westminster, desinged by August Pugin.
The reconstruction that followed the had a major impact upon English architecture. The austerity that followed the WWII meant that cost dictated many design decisions, however significant architectural movements emerged.. Many Modernist-inspired town centres considered unappealing by some, are today in the process of being redeveloped, town centre being a case in point.
Classical styles were never fully abandoned in the late twentieth century. In 1984, controversially made known his preference for traditional architecture in a speech to the RIBA and put his ideas into practice at his development in . Architects like , and continued to practice in the Classical style; many of their buildings were new country houses for private clients.
III Religious monuments
III.1. Salisbury Catedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an in , , considered one of the leading examples of . This style emphasized height and light, and compared to the bulkier, heavier buildings of the 11th and 12th century, were quite revolutionary. Salisbury Cathedral is unique in England. Most grand churches evolved slowly over centuries, resulting in a finished structure that spans a multitude of architectural styles. Some cathedrals work as a finished whole, but some have the feel of a portrait painted by a variety of artists in different media and in different styles. Uniquely, Salisbury was built nearly to completion within a single generation. As a result, the final structure presents a unity of vision that is very satisfying and evocative of a single era of English architecture, and is probably the finest example of Early English in the country.
The cathedral has the tallest church in the (123m/404 ft). It was one of the last parts of the cathedral to be completed, in about 1330. It has undergone repair several times during the following centuries, the most famous occasion being when Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to undertake an architectural survey. Wren determined that the spire was leaning off plumb by 30 inches, and had iron rods inserted to strengthen the structure. Centuries later Wren's work was checked, and modern measurements revealed that the tower had not moved so much as an inch. Sir Christopher, it seems, knew his business well. The cathedral also has the largest and the largest cathedral close in Britain (80 acres). The Cathedral contains the world's oldest working (from AD 1386) and has the best surviving of the four original copies of (all four original copies are in England)
III.2. Westminster Abbey Cathedral
Westminster Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day. It has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart.
A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Westminster Abbey has always enjoyed close links with the monarchy not least in its unbroken role as the coronation church since 1066. Kings and queens have been significant benefactors of the Abbey, beginning with King Edgar (reigned 959–75) who gave the original monastic community at Westminster substantial lands covering most of what is now the West End of London. Almost a hundred years later King Edward (later Edward the Confessor) established his palace close to this monastic community and built for it a large stone church which became his own burial place. In the mid-thirteenth century Henry III rebuilt the Confessor’s church, providing the Gothic building we have today. Henry’s own burial here in 1272 established Westminster as the principal royal burial place for the next 500 years. Richard II, Henry V, Henry VII and Elizabeth I were all influential in shaping the Abbey’s history.
Westminster Abbey or - to use its formal name - the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, is a ‘Royal Peculiar’. This means it is a free chapel of the Sovereign, exempt from any ecclesiastical jurisdiction other than that of the Sovereign.Also, Price William and Kate Middleton were moved to choose the venue because of its “staggering beauty, its 1,000 years of royal history and its relative intimacy despite its size”.
III.3. St. Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is an dedicated to . It sits at the top of , the highest point in the , and is the seat of the . It is not only one of the most perfect expressions of the English Baroque, but also one of the greatest buildings anywhere in England. It was designed by Wren to replace the old cathedral which had been devastated during the Fire of London in 1666.
Important services held at St Paul's include the funerals of , the and Sir ; Jubilee celebrations for and also peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars.
The cathedral is built of in a late that represents England's sober . Its impressive was inspired by in . It rises 365 feet (108 m) to the cross at its summit, making it a famous London landmark. Wren achieved a pleasing appearance by building three domes: the tall outer dome is non-structural but impressive to view, the lower inner dome provides an artistically balanced interior, and between the two is a structural cone that supports the apex structure and the outer dome. Wren was said to have been hauled up to the rafters in a basket during the building of its later stages to inspect progress. The baroque interior is just as imposing as the exterior of the church. The mosaics on the ceiling were added in 1890 by William Richmond after Queen Victoria complained that there was not enough color in the cathedral. The baldachin above the altar was built in 1958 after a sketch by Wren after the original was damaged by bombardments during World War II. The only monument in the church that survived the fire of 1666 is the tomb of John Donne, from 1631.
The dome of the cathedral reaches a height of 111 meter (366 ft) and weights about 66,000 ton. Eight arches support the dome. On top of the dome is a large lantern with a weight of 850 tones.
IV Royal Residences
IV.1. Hampton Court Palace
This royal palace situated in the , has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century.
, , Chief Minister and favourite of King Henry VIII Tudor, took over the site of Hampton Court Palace in 1514. It had previously been a property of the . Over the following seven years, Wolsey spent lavishly to build the finest palace in England at Hampton Court, a figure of 200,000 . In building his palace, Wolsey was attempting to create a cardinal's palace featuring rectilinear symmetrical planning with grand apartments on a raised , all rendered with classical detailing. Its architecture is an excellent and rare example of a thirty-year era when English architecture was in a harmonious transition from domestic Tudor, strongly influenced by , to the Italian Renaissance classical style.
In 1525, in a desperate attempt to stay in king’s favour, Wolesley gave the great house to Henry VIII. Hampton Court Palace, with its 500 years of history, has seen many dramatic royal events from the death of Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymour, to the condemnation and house arrest of his fifth, Catherine Howard, for adultery. Over the centuries, staff, visitors, workmen and residents have experienced strange phenomena for which there is often no practical explanation. This is why some people say that Hampton Court is the most haunted place in Britain.
Moreover, the most famous hedge maze in the world is situated in its’ gardens. It covers an area of a third of an acre (about 1350 sq meters), and its paths are half a mile (0.8 km) long. The Maze was planted in 1702. It still attracts people from all over the World, and every year thousands of them are happy "to be lost" in it.
IV.2. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the London home and primary residence of the . Located in the , the is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality.
Originally known as Buckingham House, the building which forms the core of today's palace was a large built for the in 1705 on a site which had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was subsequently acquired by in 1761 as a private residence for , and known as "The Queen's House". During the 19th century it was enlarged, principally by architects and , forming three wings around a central courtyard that doubled the size of the building. However the 'front' of the Palace, has remained virtually unchanged from the original design over 300 years ago.
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to take up residence in Buckingham Palace in 1837. "I delight in Buckingham Palace", said her majesty, when she moved in three weeks after ascending to the throne.
The Palace is more than a home for the Royals. It is the official administrative headquarters of the monarchy and contains the offices of their staff. It is the place where all Royal ceremonies and official banquets are held. Government ministers, top civil servants and heads of state visit to carry out their duties. More than 50,000 people visit Buckingham Palace each year, either officially or as guests.
More than 600 rooms, including 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms comprise the castle's assets. But the "room" best known around the world is the balcony where the Royal family gathers on celebratory and solemn occasions to be seen by their subjects. The forecourt below is witness to the ceremony of the changing of the guard. In their full dress uniform of red tunic, black pants and bearskin hats, the ceremony is a magnet for tourists.
IV.3. Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the —the and the . It lies on the north bank of the .
The first royal palace was built on the site in the eleventh century, and Westminster was the primary London residence of the Kings of England until a fire destroyed much of the complex in 1512. After that, it served as the home of Parliament, which had been meeting there since the thirteenth century, and the seat of the Royal Courts of Justice, based in and around . In 1834, an even greater fire ravaged the heavily rebuilt Houses of Parliament, and the only structures of significance to survive were Westminster Hall, the Cloisters of St Stephen's, the and the .
The subsequent competition for the reconstruction of the Palace was won by architect and his design for a building in the style. The remains of the Old Palace (with the exception of the detached Jewel Tower) were incorporated in its much larger replacement, which contains over 1,100 rooms organised symmetrically around two series of courtyards. Barry was assisted by , a leading authority on Gothic architecture and style, who provided designs for the decoration and furnishings of the Palace.
The Palace is one of the centres of political life in the United Kingdom; "Westminster" has become a for the UK Parliament, and the of government has taken its name after it. Its Clock Tower, in particular, which has become known as "" after its main bell, is an iconic landmark of London and the United Kingdom in general, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and an emblem of parliamentary democracy. The Palace of Westminster has been a since 1970 and part of a since 1987.
V. Conclusions
At the end of the project, some clarifications are highly required in order to access the essence of this work. It has attempted an original approach, its purpose being to arouse the curiosity of the readers regarding the magnificent buildings of England and the clarification of some theoretical facts. Also, it has tried to include some elementary notions from this domain and to present them in an attractive way.
The division into chapters was made so that the main points of interest of the project would be adequately highlighted. Each architectural masterpiece mentioned disposes of its own chapter, each one of them including one or two illustrations, according to the requirements of the text.
The illustrations have been carefully selected from a large variety in order to express the exposed ideas as exactly as possible.
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Girouard, Mark, Robert Smythson and the Elizabethan Country House (1983)
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