Gothic Revival and the Town Halls of Northern England
27th September 2010
If you want to enjoy some wonderful examples of Victorian Gothic architecture then forget all about London. Yes, we all know London has the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and all that. But anyone in search of some of the most exciting and evocative products of the Gothic revival in design, should really consider going up North. And especially to towns such as Manchester or Rochdale. The under-visited and underrated north of England should be on the map of every tourist interested in Victorian arts and crafts or in the architecture of these marvelous fantasy-filled buildings.
Manchester Town Hall.
Revival origins
For exploring the original Gothic vision, you cannot better the magnificent, tall-steepled cathedrals of England and France. The architects of the 12th and 13th Centuries gave us ancient masterpieces such as Chartres, Canterbury and York. That was a long time ago. But more recently in the 19th Century something quite remarkable took place in England. Artists and designers turned away from the prevailing classicism in all its forms and sought to re-embrace their medieval past instead. They re-discovered the Gothic, in other words, after a long absence in which classical, Greek proportions were considered superior. It happened right across the board, moreover, in all the arts. And this is The Gothic Revival, as it is called.
The romantic allure of the Pre-Raphaelites in painting had their resonance in literature, too. Think of the spooky tales of mystery and suspense from those times. From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, they were Gothic in sentiment. Meanwhile, the genius of William Morris gave us the highly influential Arts and Crafts movement that affected everything from the production of furniture to wallpaper. These were invariably of the most elaborate and beautifully proportioned designs, and which harked back to the medieval/gothic past.
In England, the layout and design of secular, public and private buildings followed suit. Exteriors became perpendicular again, tall, towering, with pointed arches and mullioned windows. Interiors became lush and rich with dark paneled wood, sumptuous fabrics and stained glass. And nowhere is all of this better illustrated that in some of the magnificent Victorian Town Halls of northern England. These became representations of civic pride and self-confidence on a monumental scale.
Architect's drawing for Manchester Town Hall.
Interior of Manchester Town Hall.
One of the great murals by Ford Madox Brown in Manchester Town Hall.
More Gothic than Gothic!
The Gothic revival, also known as Neo-Gothic, of the Nineteenth century became, in a sense, more Gothic than Gothic. Modern materials such as wrought iron and concrete gave enormous versatility and scope for the architects and designers. And the strict cross-like ground plan of the cathedral or church no longer had to be adhered to, of course in secular and domestic buildings. Anything was possible. The result was, and still is, some of the most gorgeous and exciting buildings and interior spaces every created. I love them.
Manchester Town Hall neo-Gothic splendour.
So if you are touring England, consider at least a little excursion away from the noise and grime and all the over-hype of London as a tourist destination. Go North! (the food is better, too)
