In the annals of the world there have never been such rapid changes and
such vast improvements as have occurred in this metropolis during the
last seven years. We have no occasion now to refer to Pennant to produce
exclamations of surprise at the wonderful changes in London; our own
recollections are sufficient. Oxford-street seems half a mile nearer to
Charing Cross than in the days of our youth. Swallow-street, with all
the dirty courts in its vicinity, have been swallowed up, and replaced
by one of the most magnificent streets in Europe; a street, which may
vie with the Calle d’Alcala in Madrid, with the Quartier du Chapeau
Rouge at Bourdeaux, or the Place de Louis Quinze at Paris. We must, for
the present, overlook the defects of the architectural detail of this
street, in the contemplation of the great and general improvement which
its construction has produced in the metropolis.
Other streets are proposed by the same active genius under which
Regent-street has been accomplished; the vile houses which surrounded
and hid the finest portico in London--that of St. Martin’s church--are
already taken down; a square is to be formed round this building, with
two large openings into the Strand, and plans are already in agitation
to lay open other churches in the same manner. Even the economical
citizens have given us a peep at St. Bride’s--being ashamed again to
hide beauties which accident had given them an opportunity of displaying
to greater advantage. One street is projected from Charing Cross to the
British Museum, terminating in a square, of which the church in
Hart-street is to form the centre; another is intended to lead to the
same point from Waterloo-bridge, by which this structure, which is at
present almost useless, will become the great connecting thoroughfare
between the north and south sides of the Thames: this street is, indeed,
a desideratum to the proprietors of the bridge, as well as to the public
at large. Carlton-house is already being taken down--by which means
Regent-street will terminate at the south end, with a view of St.
James’s Park, in the same manner as it does at the north end, by an
opening into the Regent’s Park.
Such is the general outline of the late and the projected improvements
in the heart of the metropolis; but they have not stopped here. The king
has been decorating Hyde Park with lodges, designed by Mr. Decimus
Burton, which are really gems in architecture, and stand unrivalled for
proportion, chasteness, and simplicity, amidst the architectural
productions of the age.
Squares are already covering the extensive property of lord Grosvenor in
the fields of Chelsea and Pimlico; and crescents and colonnades are
planned, by the architect to the bishop of London, on the ground
belonging to the diocese at Bayswater.
But all suburban improvements sink into insignificance, when compared
with what has been projected and attained within the last seven years in
the Regent’s Park. This new city of palaces has appeared to have started
into existence like the event of a fairy tale. Every week showed traces
of an Aladdin hand in its progress, till, to our astonishment, we ride
through streets, squares, crescents, and terraces, where we the other
day saw nothing but pasture land and Lord’s-cricket-ground;--a barn is
replaced by a palace--and buildings are constructed, one or two of which
may vie with the proudest efforts of Greece and Rome.
The projector, with true taste, has called the beauties of landscape to
the aid of architectural embellishment; and we accordingly find groves,
and lawns, and streams intersecting the numerous ranges of terraces and
villas; while nature, as though pleased at the efforts of art, seems to
have exerted herself with extraordinary vigour to emulate and second the
efforts of the artist.
In so many buildings, and amidst so much variety, there must,
consequently, be many different degrees of architectural excellence, and
many defects in architectural composition; but, taken as a whole, and
the short time occupied in its accomplishment, the Regent’s Park may be
considered as one of the most extraordinary creations of architecture
that has ever been witnessed. It is the only speculation of the sort
where elegance seems to have been considered equally with profit in the
disposition of the ground. The buildings are not crowded together with
an avaricious determination to create as much frontage as possible; and
we cannot bestow too much praise on the liberality with which the
projector has given up so much space to the squares, roads, and
plantations, by which he has certainly relinquished many sources of
profit for the pleasure and convenience of the public.
It is in the contemplation of these additions and improvements to our
metropolis, that we doubly feel the blessings and effects of that peace
which has enabled the government, as well as private individuals, to
attempt to make London worthy of the character it bears in the scale of
cities; and we are happy now to feel proud of the architectural beauty,
as we always have of the commercial influence, of our metropolis.[53]
[53] Monthly Magazine.
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