The early to mid-century nineteenth century gothic revival in England, presents a unique insight into the social context of the age. However the focus is often, understandably, upon the stylistic and functional aspects of the completed buildings.
Through addressing this subject from an alternative approach, one that is often overlooked, how therefore could the methods and techniques used to construct enlighten us about the context of their application?
Woodchester Mansion, located near Stroud in Gloucestershire, presents an exceptional situation where it is possible to understand the construction methods that contributed to produce a mid-nineteenth country house. The building was completed only as far as the construction of its stone shell and timber roof; therefore the methods and techniques used to assemble the building are clearly visible. The architect was Bristol based Charles Hansom and later his apprentice Benjamin Bucknall, although A W N Pugin drew up initial designs in 1846 these were never instigated.
Furthermore, as a programme of restoration work is currently ongoing, it is possible to witness the traditional techniques that were being used at the time of the buildings original creation between 1855 and 1873.
Therefore what can the methods used to construct Woodchester tell us about the contemporary context at the time of its building? The middle of the nineteenth century was an age where many construction techniques had barely changed since the medieval period and with the gothic revival traditional crafts, such as stone masonry, initially enjoyed a renaissance. Also these processes, for example brick making, often took place locally, including the sourcing of the basic materials.
All of this however was taking place within an increasingly industrial climate, which promoted technological advances in architecture and in production generally. Many buildings gradually embraced and expressed these developments, so in this light how does Woodchester Mansion compare to its local contemporaries; for example Tortworth Court (1849-52) by S S Teulon or Tyntesfield (1863-1865) by J Norton.
The building process can offer us the ability to observe a section through society from the wealthy who commissioned the building, to the professionals who produced to designs through to the highly skilled, but often poorly paid workforce. In this sense the construction method itself offers a vehicle that allows a full appreciation not only of the architecture but also of a cross section of society that facilitated the production of a building. This period sat on the cusp of an architecture moving from a traditionally produced and often locally responsive method to a mass-produced commodity.
To conclude, this synthesis also has a great amount of relevance currently when it is considered that architects are increasingly attempting to combine a progressive architectural approach with a responsive move towards embracing social and physical context in order to fulfill aspirations for an improved social and environmental agenda. Therefore what could this period inform us about the way we build in the present?
General subject references
R. Dixon and S. Muthesius. ‘Victorian Architecture’ 1978 Thames and Hudson
G, German. ‘Gothic Revival in Europe and Britain: Sources, Influences and Ideas’ 1972 Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd
J. Summerson. ‘Victorian Architecture in England’ 1970 Columbia University Press
The archives at Woodchester Mansion, managed by Liz Davenport.
Website - http://www.woodchestermansion.org.uk/
