_Abridged from the "Introduction" to Britton's Picture of London, 26th
edition, just published._
_The year_ 1825 will ever be memorable in the annals of the
metropolis; for more novel improvements, changes, and events occurred in
that one year than during any other corresponding period. _Schemes_
for the formation of new _Companies_--the vast speculations arising
out of them, tending to the aggrandizement of a few persons, and to the
ruin of others, with the utilities of some, and the futilities and
impositions of many,--may also be said to belong to this year.
Let us, however, take a brief review of the real improvements and useful
novelties that have been progressing, or have commenced in London since
that singular and eventful era. Commencing at the court, or west end, we
will take an imaginary tour to the east, adverting to such new buildings
as are calculated to arrest the attention of the stranger in our
progress. Without remarking on the general improvements of the age, we
shall find enough to engross our attention in the particular objects
before us. The most noted, or conspicuous of these are:--1. The New
Palace, with the adjoining Park and Gardens. 2. A Terrace, Street, and
Public Buildings on the site of Carlton House. 3. Belgrave Square, and
the adjoining Squares and Streets. 4. The Entrance Lodges and Bridge
in Hyde Park, with the improvements in the Roads and Walks of the same.
5. The Regent's Park, with its Terraces, Villas, Public Buildings,
Zoological Gardens, and Colosseum. 6. The London University. 7. The
British Museum. 8. The Post Office. 9. London Bridge, and its Vicinity.
10. St. Katherine's Docks. 11. The New Buildings and Alterations
connected with the Houses of Parliament, the Ministerial Offices, and
others, at Charing Cross. All these rank among the novelties and
embellished features of London; and whilst the design and execution of
so many public works manifest the increasing taste, or luxury of the
age, they employ and give encouragement to numerous artists, artisans,
and tradesmen.
Of _the Royal Palace_, suffice it to remark, in this place, that it
is a large pile of building,--has been carried on with great rapidity of
execution,--its whole exterior is stone, many parts of which are adorned
with sculptured statues, basso-relievo, and other ornaments,--that a
highly-decorated triumphal arch, composed of fine white, marble, is
to be raised, at a short distance from the centre of the principal
front--and that the interior is to be splendidly adorned with marble,
scagliola, and other rich materials; whilst the galleries, armoury,
chapel, state-rooms, &c. are to display the most gorgeous ornaments of
the cabinet-maker, upholsterer, decorative painter, and other artisans.
_The Park_, in front of this palace, which had continued for nearly
a century in one state of formal, tasteless insipidity, has been laid
out as a large pleasure-garden, interspersed with lawn, clusters of
shrubs and flowers, winding walks, varied surface, and a lake, whose
margin is made to wind with every inequality of surface, spreading
occasionally into a broad expanse, and then contracting to a narrow arm.
In the midst of the larger spaces are islands, covered with aquatic
trees and shrubs.
_The Gardens_, or _Pleasure Grounds_, belonging to the Palace,
partake of the same character; but are adorned with shrubs, plants, and
flowers of a more choice description. A large piece of water is likewise
formed in the midst of these Gardens.
_Belgrave Square, and Vicinity_. Immediately to the west of the
boundary-wall of the royal gardens is a tract of ground, which, in 1824,
was open fields, intersected by mud-banks, and partly occupied by a few
sheds, and inhabited by the lowest characters of society. In 1829, the
same land, consisting of about 140 acres, is nearly covered with houses
of the largest size, surrounding spacious squares, or skirting wide and
handsome streets. Of all the extraordinary works carried into effect by
London gentlemen and tradesmen, we may fairly adduce this as a
pre-eminent example. In the space of about four years, the houses
surrounding one large square, called Belgrave, have been erected, some
of them finished and occupied, and several others, of nearly equal
dimensions and value, completed.
The most prominent feature of this district is _Belgrave Square_,
which includes within the front walls of the houses an area of about ten
acres, the centre of which, enclosed by lofty and handsome railing, is
laid out as a pleasure garden. The whole of the houses are large, lofty,
and spacious, with stuccoed fronts, porches, balustraded balconies;
and those in the centre of each side are decorated with columns, or
three-quarter columns, vases on the parapet, &c.
Of _Eaton Square_, one portion only is built at present: as laid
out, planted, and railed in, it is intended to occupy an area of about
fourteen acres, and will be bounded by four rows of houses on the north
side, and the like number on the south side, having the king's private
road extending east and west through the centre. It measures 600 yards
long by 120 yards wide, between the houses. At the eastern extremity is
a new church, built from the designs of Henry Hakewill, Esq.
To the north of this district, at Hyde Park Corner, is a large new
edifice appropriated to _St. George's Hospital_. It is a commodious
and handsome building, from the designs of R. Smirke, Esq. Near it, and
forming an entrance lodge to the Palace Gardens, is a bold, large, and
highly-decorated archway, built from the designs of Decimus Burton, Esq.
Opposite is a screen of columns, with three entrance archways, a lodge,
&c. constituting an architectural entrance to Hyde Park. Three other
lodges, with gates, by Mr. Burton, form so many other entrances to the
Park from the east and north--_Apsley House_, the town mansion of
the Duke of Wellington, at the south-east angle of Hyde Park, is
rebuilding from the designs of Messrs. B. and C. Wyatt, and will form a
handsome object at this entrance to the metropolis.
The Earl of Grosvenor has set a most laudable example to our opulent
nobility, in the new wing to his mansion in Grosvenor Street, as a
gallery for his valuable pictures. It is a handsome and imposing design,
and does honour to the architect, Mr Cundy.
The new _Club Houses_ in St. James's Street, especially that near
the southern end, present imposing fronts; and it may be added, that
most of the other Club Houses have contributed very much to adorn their
respective situations, and to impart a strictly architectural character
to our street buildings.
The site of Carlton House, and its gardens, is occupied by a wide
street, by a lofty terrace overlooking the Park, by club houses, &c. Two
of the latter terminate Waterloo Place, and are appropriated to "_the
United Service_," and "_the Athenaeum_;" the first built from
the designs of Mr. Nash, and the latter from those of Mr. D. Burton.
From Charing Cross to Exeter 'Change an amazing improvement has
commenced. All the houses on the north side of the Strand are taking
down, and others raising, farther back, by which the street will be much
widened, and the new buildings will assume better faces, if not better
accommodation, for the tradesmen who occupy them. That museum of sheds,
stalls, and filth, _Covent Garden_, is also to be cleared and
cleansed, and respectable ranges of shops and warerooms are to be
erected.
It is now confidently said, that "_the King's College of London_"
is to be attached to the eastern side of Somerset House; and that Mr.
Smirke is commissioned to make a design for the building.
In the _Regent's Park_ a new Terrace and other buildings, are in
progress; the great Colosseum is nearly finished, and the _Zoological
Gardens_ have excited unusual popularity. No less than 130,000
visiters have been admitted to view the gardens and the vivarium within
the year 1828.
On the east side of the Park is a mass of buildings appropriated to
_St. Katherine's Hospital_, consisting of a chapel in the centre,
with a group of dwellings on each side, and a detached mansion for the
master. South of this is a series of buildings, called _Cumberland
Terrace_, raised from the designs of Mr. Nash, which is abundantly
adorned with columns, arches, statues, and basso-relievo.
The _Colosseum_, in the same Park, is a building of great
dimensions, and novel appropriation, and therefore calculated to excite
very popular attention. Near this is the _Diorama_, an edifice of
singular construction, destined for the public display of two pictures.
A new line of communication from this Park to Pall Mall has been
completed within the last few years, by a wide and handsome road called
_Regent Street_.
_London University_--The situation of the first University founded
in this immense city is most peculiarly favourable, being equally
removed from the busy and confined part of the metropolis, and from the
fashionable and idle; whilst it is not inconveniently remote from either
extremity. The building was commenced on the 30th of April, 1827, when
the Duke of Sussex laid the first stone, in the presence of a large
concourse of noblemen and gentlemen. The design is by William Wilkins,
Esq., R.A., who has evinced in the principal elevation and general
character of the edifice considerable taste and science. When completed,
it is intended to consist of a central part, and two wings projecting at
right angles from the extremities of the former. The first portion only
of this is at present finished. It extends from north to south 430 feet,
with a depth, from east to west, including the two semicircular
theatres, of about 200 feet. The elevation is at once classical and
chaste, having a bold and rich portico in the centre, elevated on a
plinth, to the height of the first story (19 feet,) and is approached
by numerous steps, which are arranged to produce a fine effect. Twelve
Corinthian columns support a flattened pediment, in the tympanum of
which is to be a composition in basso-relievo, analogous to science and
literature. Behind this pediment is a cupola, finished by a lantern
light, in imitation of a peripteral temple, crowning and ornamenting a
grand octagonal vestibule, or saloon. North of this is the museum of
natural history, 118 feet by 50, and 23 feet in height, opening to
the museum of anatomy, which latter communicates with two rooms for
professors, and to one of the large theatres, or lecture-rooms. East of
the vestibule is a large hall, and to the south is the great library,
corresponding in size, &c. with the museum of natural history; the
small library; rooms for the librarian, for apparatus, and also another
large theatre. The ground-floor consists of rooms for lectures, the
Professor's offices, laboratory, museum, a spacious cloister 213 feet
by 24; rooms for the anatomical school, &c. In the basement are other
apartments for the anatomical schools, for the chemical laboratory,
the students' common room, kitchen, stewards' room, refreshment rooms,
housekeeper's room, vaults, &c.
At the _British Museum_ a new room, to contain the late king's
library, has been built and fitted up from the designs of Mr. R. Smirke.
It is the largest apartment in this country, its measurement being 300
feet in length, by 30 feet in width, and 30 feet high,
The _St. Katherine's Docks_, recently formed near the Tower, will
increase this species of accommodation, and be a great improvement to a
district where reform and alteration are much required. By a statement
published by the Committee in October, 1828, it appears that "the first
stone was laid 3rd of May, 1827," and that a grand ceremony was exhibited
on the 25th of October, 1828, of opening the Docks. On that occasion,
nine vessels, of from 516 to 343 tons burden, entered the docks to load
and discharge their freights. Above 1,200 houses, warehouses, &c. were
purchased and taken down, to make room for the new works. Accommodation
is provided for the stowage of 210,000 tons of merchandize; and, from
the improved construction of the warehouses, these goods will be always
housed under cover. The fixed capital for completing this great
commercial undertaking is 1,352,752_l_.
_A Collier Dock_, on a large scale, has been projected to be
excavated and formed in the Isle of Dogs, near Blackwall for which
Mr. George Rennie has made plans and estimates.
The _New London Bridge_, now nearly completed, is a work of great
magnitude, science, and novelty. Its erection, in our times, and
following the recent finishing of the bridges of Waterloo and Southwark,
is a memorable event in the annals of London.
The projected _Tunnel under the Thames_ is not only a novel object
in this part of London, but, should it ever be accomplished, it will be
a wonderful triumph of human talents over seeming impossibilities.
Although so many useful and even important improvements have been
recently effected in the metropolis, there are yet many things left
undone that ought to be done, and others proceeding in a manner that
will neither be creditable nor beneficial. The widening and opening of
_New Streets_ from Pall Mall to the British Museum; from that
national repository to Waterloo Bridge, skirting the two theatres;--from
the Strand to Lincoln's Inn Fields, and thence to Holborn; and again
to Covent Garden;--from Charing Cross to Somerset House;--from Oxford
Road to Bloomsbury Square and Holborn;--from Blackfriars' Bridge to
Clerkenwell, removing and clearing away that nuisance in a public
thoroughfare, Fleet Market;--from Moorfields to the Bank, and thence
obliquely to Southwark Bridge;--widening and opening the area around
St. Paul's Cathedral,--are all calculated to be very beneficial to
the public. Other essential alterations are still required; and the
legislature, as well as all public-spirited individuals, should
co-operate to promote them. The formation of open, respectable quays,
terraces, and streets, on the banks of our fine river, is an event
greatly to be desired.
The vastly-increasing population of London, has occasioned a great
augmentation of _Churches_ and _Chapels_, both for congregations
of the establishment, and for dissenters. In consequence of urgent, and
argumentative appeals by some truly pious and benevolent Christians, the
legislature has granted a large sum for the purpose of aiding parochial
committees, to build new churches or enlarge their old ones.
The _New Post Office_, in St. Martin's-le-Grand, is fast
approaching conclusion, and will constitute one of the most imposing
public buildings of the city. Preparatory to the re-erection of the
whole of the _Blue Coat School_, or _Christ's Hospital_, in
Newgate Street, a spacious and handsome Hall has been erected, from the
designs of Mr. Shaw.
A _new Chapel_, of novel design, being of an amphitheatrical form,
has been recently completed, from the designs of _W. Brooks_,
architect. It is seated near the Catholic Chapel, in Finsbury Circus.
* * * * *