During the reign of George I Britain was one of the most wealthy and powerful countries in the world with London being central to its large trading industry.
Georgian London saw many significant changes in English society, for the first time we were looking at a city that was becoming more educated and education was no longer exclusively for the privileged.
This improvement was seen across a large spectrum including all classes. The rise in literacy amongst the poorer working classes was marked by the arrival of the first newspapers in the early 18th century. The more popular of these newspapers was ‘The Spectator’ a paper published by a Richard Addison who unwittingly paved the way to the massive media industry we see today and its influence now obviously prevalent in our present society and culture of modern times.
This period saw a revival in Palladian Art and architecture.
The original concepts derive from the Italian architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) this beautiful and classic style became the main and most influential architecture of the century.
In 1734 William Kent and Lord Burlington created together one of England’s perfect specimens of Palladian revival with the fine construction of Holkham Hall in Norfolk. Medieval London was now on the decline and Georgian architecture could be seen everywhere with its fine symmetrical statements and the appearance of residential squares. The population increased and the British empire was experiencing the growth of a new found wealth and importance in the world’s industry.
Stay at the Regency House Hotel in London, a classic example of a Georgian Terraced Hotel.
