In the Gothic Spirit

A look at the Neo-Gothic

From ‘Gothick’ to High Victorian Gothic

and to the 20th Century

The Guildford Institute15th September 2015

With Designer & PhotographerMichael C Sleigh

Gothic SurvivalThe towers of Westminster Abbey (1735)

Architect: Nicholas Hawksmoor. ‘Gothick’

Batty Langley – Publication ofGothic Architecture Improved (1742).

Painshill Gothic Temple (1745).Horace Walpole and Strawberry Hill (1750).

William Beckford and Fonthill Abbey(1800) Architect: James Wyatt –

first of the Gothic romantics.Eaton Hall (1812) Architect: William Porden.

Horror, Romanticism - Gothic Novels.Gothic nostalgia.

Commissioners Gothic – Church building Act (1818)

Superficial Gothic motifs.

The influence of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin

1812 - 1852

Catholic Emancipation Act 1829 A W N Pugin converted to Catholicism 1834

Pugin published Contrasts 1836The True Principles of Pointed or Christian

Architecture 1841An Apology for the Revival of Christian

Architecture in England 1843The present state of Ecclesiastical Architecture

in England 1843

18th Century ‘Gothick’ into 19th Century Neo-Gothic and the Gothic Revival.

Gothic‘The only true style’

The Oxford Movement started 1833.Cambridge Camden Society founded 1839.

George Gilbert Scott joined 1842.

1840’s Gothic Revival – True Medievalism.

John Ruskin Seven Lamps of Architecture 1849

The stones of Venice 1851.

Anglican, Roman Catholic and Non-conformists now all building churches

in the Neo-Gothic Gothic the only ‘True Christian style’.

Wealthy benefactors and sponsors.

Major increase in church construction using the Gothic guidelines of A W N Pugin.

The study of medieval architecture leading to the publication of text books on

Gothic architecture and design.An Introduction to the study of Gothic

Architecture and the ABC of Gothic Architecture by J H Parker

& The Principles of Gothic Ecclesiastical

Architecture by M H Bloxam.

Hundreds of new churches being built in the correct Gothic style as set out by Pugin.

Production of encaustic tiles and decorative mosaics in the Gothic Style.

Large range of metalwork produced for use in churches.

Church interiors become decorated with elaborate stencilled designs.

Restoration of many old churches in the Victorian Neo-Gothic Style.

Gothic becomes the popular style for churches and for use when designing Town

Halls, Law Courts and government buildings.

The Gothic style now used for commercial buildings, clock towers and monuments.

Charles Barry and A W N Pugindesign the Palace of Westminster 1836 – 68.

Pugin responsible for all the Gothic decoration on Barry’s building.

William Butterfield designs All Saints, Margaret Street 1859, using varicoloured brickwork in High Victorian Gothic style.

The Natural History Museum in Oxford designed by Deane & Woodward 1860,

with the use of Gothic structural ironwork.An important building in the history of

The Victorian Gothic style.

The Royal Courts of Justice designed byG E Street 1868 – 82, considered one of the

best Gothic Revival buildings.

The second half of the Victorian period saw a massive expansion in buildings of all types and

the Gothic style played an important part.

Hundreds of new churches were built, many in urban situations using brick and stone.

After the excesses of High Victorian Gothic a more basic form of Gothic design was often

used for economic reasons but not forgetting Pugin’s principles of the ‘True Style’ for

ecclesiastical use.

A selection of local churches worth visiting.

All built, or substantially rebuilt, in the Victorian or Edwardian period using

the Gothic style of Architecture.

St Nicolas, Guildford by S S Teulon (1875) – good stained glass by Clayton & Bell.

St Mary, Shalford by Benjamin Ferry (1847). St Marks, Wyke by Woodyer (1847).

Holy Trinity, Westcott by G G Scott (1852). St Laurence, Seale by J Croft (1873).

St Mary, Shackleford by G G Scott (1865). St John, Hale by B Ferry (1844).Aldershot Garrison churches.

St John, Milford – stained glass by Burne-Jones.

Major expansion in Stained Glass window production with many new

and restored churches requiring Stained Glass. Architects working closely with glass designers and

manufacturers.

Pugin designed stained glass both for his own buildings and for other

architects.

Many Victorian churches are now listed and valued as prime examples of the period and of

Neo-Gothic ecclesiastical design & style.

Victorian church stained glass is often overlooked and not seen in the same light as the building.

The great period of design and manufacture for stained glass was the 1880’s with Clayton & Bell

being one of the best and most productive studios.

In the Gothic Spirit A look at the Neo-Gothic

Michael C SleighPolypodphoto

The Neo-Gothic Guild