Recorded Talks about Regional Architecture
London: A City at its Zenith Series
This collection of talks on Andrew Saint’s book ‘London: A City at its Zenith’ chronologically cover the development of the British capital from 1870-1914. Andrew Saint is a long-time member of the The Victorian Society, and has been a member of the Southern Buildings Committee for many years. The talks can be bought as a set.
Andrew Saint: London 1870-1914 – A City at its Zenith: Part 1
In the first lecture of the series, Andrew Saint will discuss London in the 1870s, a decade of social stability in London which witnessed the stirrings of a fresh individualism and secularism, and the emergence of Art for Art’s Sake, and the Queen Anne style in architecture.
Andrew Saint: London 1870-1914- A City at its Zenith: Part 2
The ‘Queen Anne’ style in architecture was memorably taken up by the School Board for London, the most radical of several boards that sought to tackle the inadequacies of parish government. The growth of the suburbs will also come into this talk, which will end with a revised reading of Bedford Park.
Andrew Saint: London 1870-1914- A City at its Zenith: Part 3
This talk will start by reviewing the massive growth of London, the increasing importance of its outer ring, and the transformations in its character brought by revolutions in transport. It will go on to review the replanning schemes for the centre.
Ten Birmingham Women: A Talk by Henrietta Lockhart
Winterbourne House and Garden were designed in 1903 as a family home for John and Margaret Nettlefold. This talk revolves around Margaret Nettlefold, a well-educated and confident Victorian woman, born into a prominent Birmingham industrial dynasty and destined to marry into another.
Henrietta Lockhart is Collections Officer at Winterbourne House and Garden.
Glasgow’s Commercial Architecture- Evolution of a Mercantile City: A Talk by Niall Murphy
During the Victorian era Glasgow went through explosive city growth becoming the eighth largest city in Europe. This talk explores the contribution of the City’s architects to the development of Glasgow’s commercial architecture as it grew into a great mercantile city.
Niall Murphy is Deputy Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, is heavily involved in heritage, conservation, and community issues in Glasgow.
Liverpool: Mercantile City: A Talk by Joseph Sharples
Little more than a fishing village until the 17th century, Liverpool grew rapidly on the back of transatlantic trade (not least the Slave Trade) to become one of the chief commercial centres of Victorian Britain. In this talk, Joseph Sharples will discuss the development of the great port on the River Mersey through its buildings.
Joseph Sharples is an architectural historian and author of the Pevsner Architectural Guide to Liverpool.
The C19th Ironbridge Gorge: A Talk by Lauren Stephenson
This talk will give an insight into the captivating stories told by Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust today, the rich lives which were led in the Ironbridge Gorge through the 19th century, and the important impacts that this area has had on the world today.
Lauren Stephenson is the Curatorial Officer at Blists Hill Victorian Town, which is part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust.
The New Vauxhall, Southwark and Lambeth Bridges: A Talk by Benedict O’Looney
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries eight of central London’s bridges were rebuilt to accommodate the expansion of traffic, movement, and commerce in Europe’s largest city. Historian Benedict O’Looney discusses landmark collaborations between architects, engineers & town planners in Beaux Arts London.
Not all Lutyens: another look at Victorian and Edwardian Surrey
The Surrey volume of the Buildings of England was the first of the guides for which Nikolaus Pevsner shared his duties for fieldwork and writing. Pevsner reserved the northern areas of the county for himself and handed over the rest to Ian Nairn. This gave the Surrey a unique style and character among the first volumes. Charles O’Brien – editor of the Pevsner Architectural Guides, reflects on Nairn’s interests and enthusiasms.
Decoding Decoration in Saltaire and Ackroydon: A Talk by Sheila Binns
The model villages of Saltaire and Akroydon in West Yorkshire are both full of architectural decoration, it carries messages that were of great importance to their respective patrons.
Sheila Binns is the author of The Aesthetics of Utopia: Saltaire, Akroydon and Bedford Park.
A Virtual Tour of Saltaire, Victorian model town: A Talk by Neil Jackson
Saltaire was a model town, designed by Messrs. Lockwood and Mawson to accommodate the workers at Sir Titus Salt’s two vast alpaca wool mills. This virtual tour will explore the development of the town over 23 years as well as some of the public buildings which served the community.
The tour will be led by Neil Jackson, author of the book Saltaire: The Making of a Model Town.
Origin, Development and Decline of Back-To-Back Housing.
Joanne Harrison, architect and heritage consultant, will trace the development of back-to-back house building in Leeds.
Real Estate Development and the Small, Terraced House
Gareth Carr, architect and lecturer at Wrexham Glyndwr University, will look at development through the Welsh Streets in Liverpool.
Victorian Powerhouse: The Architectural Legacy of Industrial Wales
This illustrated presentation will introduce the key industries of Wales in the Victorian era and their widely differing architectural expressions. This talk is given by Dr Peter Wakelin who is an independent writer, curator and consultant. He was formerly Secretary of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and Director of Collections at the National Museum of Wales.
Welsh Nonconformist Chapels: A National Architecture at Threat?: By Susan Fielding
The nineteenth century saw nonconformity grow to become the established religion of Wales. Thousands of chapels were built and rebuilt by the Calvinistic Methodists, Independents, Baptists and other denominations. The later twentieth century saw a decline in chapel attendance resulting in closures which has led to demolition, dereliction, or conversion. This talk will outline the importance of nonconformity and its buildings in the heritage of Wales. Susan Fielding is Senior Investigator for Historic Buildings at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
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