A presentation given at The Guildford Institute in association with the exhibition 'In the Gothic Spirit' held in September 2015

1. In the Gothic Spirit
A look at the Neo-Gothic
From ‘Gothick’ to
High Victorian Gothic
and to the 20th Century

2. The Guildford Institute
15th September 2015
With Designer & Photographer
Michael C Sleigh

3. Gothic Survival
The towers of Westminster Abbey (1735)
Architect: Nicholas Hawksmoor.
‘Gothick’
Batty Langley – Publication of
Gothic Architecture Improved (1742).
Painshill Gothic Temple (1745).
Horace Walpole and Strawberry Hill (1750).

8. William Beckford and Fonthill Abbey
(1800) Architect: James Wyatt –
first of the Gothic romantics.
Eaton Hall (1812) Architect: William Porden.
Horror, Romanticism - Gothic Novels.
Gothic nostalgia.
Commissioners Gothic – Church building Act (1818)
Superficial Gothic motifs.

9. The influence of
Augustus Welby
Northmore Pugin
1812 - 1852

10. Catholic Emancipation Act 1829
A W N Pugin converted to Catholicism 1834
Pugin published Contrasts 1836
The True Principles of Pointed or Christian Architecture
1841
An Apology for the Revival of Christian Architecture in
England 1843
The present state of Ecclesiastical Architecture in
England 1843

15. 18th Century ‘Gothick’ into
19th Century Neo-Gothic
and the Gothic Revival.
Gothic
‘The only true style’

17. The Oxford Movement started 1833.
Cambridge Camden Society founded 1839.
George Gilbert Scott joined 1842.
1840’s Gothic Revival – True Medievalism.
John Ruskin Seven Lamps of Architecture 1849
The stones of Venice 1851.

18. Anglican, Roman Catholic and
Non-conformists now all building churches
in the Neo-Gothic
Gothic the only ‘True Christian style’.
Wealthy benefactors and sponsors.
Major increase in church construction using the Gothic
guidelines of A W N Pugin.

19. The study of medieval architecture leading
to the publication of text books on
Gothic architecture and design.
An Introduction to the study of Gothic Architecture and
the ABC of Gothic Architecture by J H Parker
&
The Principles of Gothic Ecclesiastical Architecture by
M H Bloxam.

24. Hundreds of new churches being built in the correct
Gothic style as set out by Pugin.
Production of encaustic tiles and decorative mosaics in
the Gothic Style.
Large range of metalwork produced for use in churches.
Church interiors become decorated with elaborate
stencilled designs.

26. Restoration of many old churches in the Victorian Neo-
Gothic Style.
Gothic becomes the popular style for churches and for
use when designing Town Halls, Law Courts and
government buildings.
The Gothic style now used for commercial buildings,
clock towers and monuments.

29. Charles Barry and A W N Pugin
design the Palace of Westminster 1836 – 68.
Pugin responsible for all the Gothic decoration on
Barry’s building.
William Butterfield designs All Saints,
Margaret Street 1859, using varicoloured brickwork in
High Victorian Gothic style.

31. The Natural History Museum in Oxford
designed by Deane & Woodward 1860, with the
use of Gothic structural ironwork.
An important building in the history of
The Victorian Gothic style.
The Royal Courts of Justice designed by
G E Street 1868 – 82, considered one of the best
Gothic Revival buildings.

35. The second half of the Victorian period saw a massive
expansion in buildings of all types and the Gothic style
played an important part.
Hundreds of new churches were built, many in urban
situations using brick and stone.
After the excesses of High Victorian Gothic a more basic
form of Gothic design was often used for economic
reasons but not forgetting Pugin’s principles of the ‘True
Style’ for ecclesiastical use.

39. A selection of local churches
worth visiting.
All built, or substantially rebuilt, in the Victorian
or Edwardian period using the Gothic style of
Architecture.

40. St Nicolas, Guildford by S S Teulon (1875) –
good stained glass by Clayton & Bell.
St Mary, Shalford by Benjamin Ferry (1847).
St Marks, Wyke by Woodyer (1847).
Holy Trinity, Westcott by G G Scott (1852).
St Laurence, Seale by J Croft (1873).
St Mary, Shackleford by G G Scott (1865).
St John, Hale by B Ferry (1844).
Aldershot Garrison churches.
St John, Milford – stained glass by Burne-Jones.

43. Major expansion in Stained Glass window
production with many new and restored
churches requiring Stained Glass. Architects
working closely with glass designers and
manufacturers.
Pugin designed stained glass both for his own
buildings and for other architects.

45. Many Victorian churches are now listed and valued as prime
examples of the period and of Neo-Gothic
ecclesiastical design & style.
Victorian church stained glass is often overlooked and not
seen in the same light as the building.
The great period of design and manufacture for stained glass
was the 1880’s with Clayton & Bell being one of the best
and most productive studios.

49. In the Gothic Spirit
A look at the Neo-Gothic
Michael C Sleigh
Polypodphoto
The Neo-Gothic Guild