Effect of Greek Revival Architecture in Great Britain

Even though ancient Greek civilization was widely valued in Europe, little actual knowledge of the empire existed prior to the mid-18th century. Before this time, few braved the dangerous land to study the ancient ruins. Most information was primarily gleaned from Pausanias and other literary sources.

In 1751, James Stuart and Nicholas Revett took one of the first influential expeditions to study Greek history and architecture. Their discoveries, published as “The Antiquities of Athens,” along with Julien-David Le Roy’s “Ruines des plus beaux monuments de la Grèce,” were the first accurate surveys of ancient Greek architecture.

Eager to implement what was learned, Stuart was commissioned by George Lyttelton in 1758 to produce the first Greek structure in England - the garden temple at Hagley Hall. While many British architects attempted the expressive challenge of the Doric monuments, including Joseph Bonomi and John Soane, it remained the primary style of choice for private-party projects.

By the turn of the 19th century, the outcry for political change spurred the implementation of Greek Revival in Britain. The design style was applied to public structures, which strongly reflected society’s desire for sobriety and restraint.

It was to be William Wilkins’s winning design at the Downing College public competition that showcased the prominence of Greek style in future architectural design. Wilkins and Robert Smirke built some of most influential buildings of the era, including the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, General Post Office, British Museum, Wilkins University College and National Gallery. In Scotland, the style was passionately implemented by William Henry Playfair, Thomas Hamilton and Charles Robert Cockerell, who jointly contributed to the massive expansion of Edinburgh’s New Town. The style was so popular in Edinburgh that the city is often referred to as the “Athens of the North.”

Over time, the changing political and social landscape in Great Britain affected the demand for Greek architecture. In 1836, this movement was evident by the selection of Sir Charles Barry’s gothic design for the Palace of Westminster. In Scotland though, the revival style continued to remain at the peak of popularity well into the 1870s.

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