Just a couple of episodes later, here we are again, talking to Jack. After exploring Tudor London with him, we are back with a short walk around buildings that are left from the Georgian era. We talked about the oldest restaurant in London, prostitution spots, and more. Join the conversation by using #curiouspavelpodcast across Instagram and Twitter, and enjoy Episode 28 of the Curious Pavel Podcast Sessions.
Fan of listening? Here is the whole Podcast episode
So, when exactly is Georgian London?
When we talk about the Georgian Era, we’re talking about the time in British History when there were plenty of Kings called George (and also, sneakily, one called William is included in the Georgian Era!).
After the last Stuart King of Great Britain, Queen Anne, died in 1714, the crown passed to a German cousin from Hanover, the first in the line of descent who was Protestant, and not Catholic, as only Protestants can inherit the throne. The first King George couldn’t speak English, only German, and spent most of his time in Hanover. During this era, there were four King Georges in a row (including George III, who is often known as “Mad King George“, and who lost the American colonies, which declared independence from Great Britain in 1776).
When George III died in 1820, the crown passed to his son, George IV, and when he died in 1830, to his younger brother, William IV. These later Hanoverian Kings are remembered for their loose morality, their love of spending money, their huge eating and drinking habits, and their large numbers of mistresses and illegitimate children.
William IV died in 1837, and the crown passed to his younger brother’s daughter, Queen Victoria. Thus, the Georgian Era, and the Hanoverian Era of British Kings had ended.
Mentions in the Podcast
- Somerset House – a palatial government building to live up to Britain’s new found wealth and position as the centre of global trade. In the Palladian style, influenced by Ancient Greece and Rome. See the statue of George III dressed as a Roman emperor.
- Rules restaurant – 1798 set up and still independently owned. Indicative of the rise of the middle class with a disposable income. This is where the future King Edward VII met his mistress Lily Langtry for clandestine meet-ups. Also features in Jack’s Hidden History of Covent Garden self-guided walk!
- Burlington House and Arcade – house one of the first examples of Palladian style, remodeled in 1717. The arcade was constructed in 1819 to stop people from throwing rubbish over his wall.
- Pickering Place – London’s smallest square! (Jack has a reel about it on his Insta) – notorious back in the day for gambling dens and as a location for duels.
- Spitalfields – specifically the French Huguenot weaver’s house’s on Fournier street.
- St Martin in the Fields – a great example of the Palladian style of building in a church!
If you prefer your radio with pictures, this podcast about Georgian London is also on YouTube
About Jack
“I’m Jack, I grew up in Essex and London has always been a fascinating and exhilarating place to me. I was delighted to move to London properly in July 2020 after living in Bristol where I studied history at university. I love history. I am a big fan of museums and books but, even more so, I am interested in the tangible, liveable, and breathable history we are surrounded by as we go about our everyday lives.
I started my blog: Living London History so that I can share my journey of discovering London’s fascinating and vibrant past by walking its streets and delving into its hidden corners and encouraging others to do the same! Living London History includes hidden gems and self-guided themed historical walks to help Londoners and visitors explore this wonderful city.”
Thanks so much for reading this far. I really appreciate it, and hope you have enjoyed learning more about the history of London that you can still find on the streets today. Maybe it’s made you think about historical buildings that you can see in your area? In which case, job done! If you have any comments or suggestions, please say hi. Your comments are my oxygen. 🙏🏻
