Georgian
 The
Georgian era spanned the years 1714 to 1820, although the latter
period is more correctly called Regency. It was during this
time that many of today’s stately homes were being built
or remodelled as the landed aristocracy flourished. Inigo Jones,
an architect during the previous century, was the inspiration
for the early Georgian period up to 1760. His pattern books
were available to landed gentry throughout the country and,
filled with designs incorporating elements from Greek mythology,
they inspired designer’s like William Kent to provide
fireplaces which formed a voluptuous centrepiece to grace grand
rooms.
The history of the fireplace now falls conveniently into two
halves. Immense, ornate designs characterised the earlier part,
while the latter half saw mantelpieces with a more subtle, classical
influence.
In middle class households designs were altogether simpler –
faux imitations of marble or expensive hardwoods replaced the
real thing. More reserved, and cheaper, fireplaces would also
be seen in the less important rooms of stately homes indicating
that the pockets of even the richest landowners were not limitless!
These designs did not percolate down at all to the farmers and
yeomen who made up the majority of house owners. Their fireplaces
were often the inglenook designs with large wooden lintel that
we see in thatched cottages today.
|
