Elizabeth England (Hardwick Hall only) Flashcards
(4 cards)
What were the main reasons for the great building boom during Elizabeth’s reign (with reference to Hardwick Hall)?
To reflect Bess of Hardwick’s wealth and status
Political stability during Elizabeth’s reign
Bess of Hardwick wanted to leave a legacy.
The new wealth and power of the gentry class led to new manor houses being built.
The Renaissance led to new architectural styles and became a symbol of wealth.
How did Elizabethan manor houses demonstrate continuity from previous manor houses?
Existing architectural trends were used such as symmetry and the use of a Great Hall.
Manor houses before the great rebuilding had been used to reflect wealth and status.
The function of the manor houses remained the same (to welcome guests).
Political order - Elizabethan manor houses continued the trend of showing loyalty to the monarch by displaying royal coat of arms and symbols relating to monarchs.
What changes did Elizabethan manor houses demonstrate during Elizabeth I’s reign?
The rise of the gentry showed that social mobility was possible due to new levels of wealth through trade and positions of power being awarded through the patronage system.
There was a greater emphasis on comfort and luxury as manor houses such as Hardwick Hall featured heavy oak furnishings and paneling, Turkish carpets and mullioned windows.
New materials were used to show wealth and status. ‘Hardwick Hall more glass than wall’ was a common saying to show the extensive use of glass. Bess of Hardwick sourced, glass, iron, stone from her own estate.
The Renaissance demonstrated that architectural styles were changing as shown at Hardwick Hall through the use of loggias, long galleries, and intricate plaster work moving away from gothic styles that had previously dominated fashion.
Elizabeth had provided stability in England and this led to manor houses no longer being designed with defensive features in mind. Hardwick Hall was built without any military defences reflecting not only stability but a change in style.
What were the main consequences of the great building boom (with reference to Hardwick Hall)?
Manor houses secured legacies for their owners. Bess of Hardwick’s influence is still shown today through the ES initials prominently featured on the roof of the house. Hardwick Hall became a blueprint for later manor houses.
New materials became widely accessible changing the way manor houses were designed. Glass became more widely used, local resources were relied upon and lead roofing innovations allowed for more complex designs to follow.
Hardwick Hall also led to the development of skilled craftsmen. Massive projects allowed plasters, stonemasons and ironworkers to hone their skills and boost local economies.
Hardwick Hall led to the reinforcement of Elizabethan ideas. Social hierarchy was represented in the design of the house (servants on the bottom floor, Bess on the middle and the top reserved for royalty).
Architectural trends were greatly impacted by the great building boom. Medieval courtyards and defensive features were eliminated and there was a huge emphasis on comfort. Manor houses built after showed this through the move towards more classical designs.
