The Georgians |
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Surviving buildings in the City from the Eighteenth Century and early Nineteenth Century are all well proportioned and of a similar architectural style normally referred to as ‘Georgian’ which relates to the four Kings of the name who ruled from the death of Queen Anne in 1714 until 1830. These buildings were built of brick with regularly arranged sash windows and had decoration which was mainly limited to the entrance door, with fanlight, and the interior. These examples at 6 79 Shipquay Street, with their interesting door surrounds, are typical of the style. Dating from 1833, the Deanery is a late example of the Georgian Style but it illustrates the emphasis on proportion and refined detail of this approach very well. All these buildings provided grace, poise and civilisation to the city within the Walls and reflect a refinement of style derived from the Classical architecture of the Romans. This style, deployed across the ‘King’s Realm’ of the time, was a rational form of architecture where everything had its place in a society where everyone knew their place. The oldest surviving gate in the City Walls was constructed in 1789 as a ‘triumphal arch’ i.e. it is modelled on the arches that the Roman Emperor’s constructed to immortalise their triumphs in war. True to tradition, this arch celebrates a victory – that of King William. On one side, is a keystone with a carved head representing the River Foyle and on the other, a head representing the River Boyne. It is a fine piece of architecture which encloses an important vista and emphasises classical civilisation. This is very much in tune with the ‘Enlightenment’ values of the period and those of its patron the Earl Bishop. By the end of the century however, the American and French Revolutions had inspired the 1798 Rebellion of the United Irishmen and Wolfe Tone had been arrested in Lough Swilly. A direct result of this was the Act of Union of 1801 with the Irish Parliament dissolved and the island formally integrated into the United Kingdom. |
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