Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2010 | Page 60

antiques Island Life - October/November 2010 Antiques and Collectables Philip Hoare - F.T.V.I Victorian Heritage As a long term member of the Victorian aspired to emulate those they Society I have always had a great considered to be of higher station. love and interest in Queen Victoria , The great social and technological our longest reigning monarch 1837 - changes had a great effect on the 1901, who witnessed during her reign architecture - building materials the rise of her nation into that of the were mass produced and the newly most powerful and wealthy nation in created middle class extolled the the world by the end of the century. virtues of family life and wanted Great Britain reigned supreme and was their homes to reflect this. the envy of other nations. Our empire The population during the 19th provided us with the raw materials Century practically doubled and to become the greatest trading this was instrumental in creating powerhouse in the world. a huge building boom. Up until This sense of well being was of the middle of the 19th Century course reflected in the architecture the classical styles of Georgian and furnishings. A vast new property and Regency continued to be owning middle class was created who fashionable. There was also inspiration from Italy with the 'Italianate Style' which Victoria and Albert chose for their home on the Isle of Wight, Osborne House, constructed between 1845 -1851 (Albert broke with convention and used a bolder outline). Also an important influence at this time was the Great Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851 (the brainchild of Prince Albert) and its purpose rather passe. Fortunately, during the was to promote the best of British last four decades Victorian houses have design and manufacture. It was visited become appreciated and many owners by millions and became the flagship of are restoring them to their former good taste seducing the middle classes glory by re-instating lost features. On in their displays of mass produced the Island we are blessed with a rich excessively over decorated furnishings heritage of Victorian buildings. It is and ornamentation. The facades of rather disappointing however that this houses became hugely ostentatious heritage is not treated as the great with the use of floral decorative motifs, asset it is and that so many beautiful leaded glass and glazed porch and floor houses have been demolished when tiles. they could have been sympathetically For many years during the 20th Century Victorian architecture was converted as they are in London. To be continued... highly frowned upon and considered Philip Hoare is a Fellow of the Trade Valuers Institute - Mob: [phone] Email: [email protected] - Tel: [phone] Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com