Often referred to as the 'age of improvement', the Victorian era was one of unprecedented growth and development. The Victorians not only benefited from the technological advantages afforded by the full flowering of the Industrial Revolution but also enjoyed the profits that came with Britain's economic and political rise to world dominance. With this rise came profound social change as politicians, academics, social reformers, manufacturers, and religious leaders vied to institute new sensibilities regarding morality, spirituality, science, charity, education, and political representation. This transformation naturally affected the type and style of buildings that were erected during this period, dramatically altering the character of Britain's rural and urban landscapes. This course considers the architectural consequences of these transformations by exploring the development of theories and practices in architecture in the context of the social and cultural changes (and challenges) that gave rise to them. Although the Victorian era may be seen to have come to a close with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the course will conclude by examining how these transformations were carried through and further developed in the first decade of the twentieth century leading up to the First World War.

 

Course Organiser: Alex Bremner