Queen Square (Bath)
Encyclopedia
Queen Square is a square of Georgian
houses in the city of Bath, England
.
Queen Square was the first speculative development by the architect John Wood, the Elder
. Wood lived in a house on the square. Numbers 21-27 make up the north side. Which was described by Nikolaus Pevsner
as "one of the finest Palladian compositions in England before 1730".
The west side (numbers 14 - 18 and 18A, 19 & 20) was designed by John Pinch
in 1830 and differs from Wood's original design as the central block is in Neo-Grecian style. 16-18 is now occupied by the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI). The south side (numbers 5-13) which was originally left open is now occupied by a hotel. All of the buildings have been designated by English Heritage
as grade I listed buildings. The obelisk in the centre of the square was erected by Beau Nash
in 1738.
During World War II
, between the evening of 25 April and the early morning of 27 April 1942, Bath suffered three air raids in reprisal for RAF
raids on the German
cities of Lübeck
and Rostock
, part of the Luftwaffe
campaign popularly known as the Baedeker Blitz
. Over 400 people were killed, and more than 19,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Houses on the south side of Queen Square were damaged but have subsequently been restored.
The square hosts a lot of attractions all year, such as a French
market, Italian
market, and Boules
weekend.
On 30th October, 2011, the square was occupied as part of the global Occupy movement
, with protesters pitching tents and creating other temporary structures.
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
houses in the city of Bath, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Queen Square was the first speculative development by the architect John Wood, the Elder
John Wood, the Elder
John Wood, the Elder, , was an English architect. Born in Twerton England, a village near Bath, now a suburb, he went to school in Bath. He came back to Bath after working in Yorkshire, and it is believed, in London, in his early 20s...
. Wood lived in a house on the square. Numbers 21-27 make up the north side. Which was described by Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
as "one of the finest Palladian compositions in England before 1730".
The west side (numbers 14 - 18 and 18A, 19 & 20) was designed by John Pinch
John Pinch the younger
John Pinch the younger was an architect, working mainly in the city of Bath, England, and surveyor to the Pulteney and Darlington estate...
in 1830 and differs from Wood's original design as the central block is in Neo-Grecian style. 16-18 is now occupied by the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI). The south side (numbers 5-13) which was originally left open is now occupied by a hotel. All of the buildings have been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as grade I listed buildings. The obelisk in the centre of the square was erected by Beau Nash
Beau Nash
Beau Nash , born Richard Nash, was a celebrated dandy and leader of fashion in 18th-century Britain. He is best remembered as the Master of Ceremonies at the spa town of Bath.- Biography :...
in 1738.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, between the evening of 25 April and the early morning of 27 April 1942, Bath suffered three air raids in reprisal for RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
raids on the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
cities of Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
and Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, part of the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
campaign popularly known as the Baedeker Blitz
Baedeker Blitz
The Baedeker Blitz or Baedeker raids were a series of Vergeltungsangriffe by the German air force on English cities in response to the bombing of the erstwhile Hanseatic League city of Lübeck during the night from 28 to 29 March 1942 during World War II.-Background:Lübeck was bombed on the night...
. Over 400 people were killed, and more than 19,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Houses on the south side of Queen Square were damaged but have subsequently been restored.
The square hosts a lot of attractions all year, such as a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
market, Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
market, and Boules
Boules
Boules is a collective name for games played with metal balls.Two of the most played boule games are pétanque and boule lyonnaise. The aim of the game is to get large, heavy balls as close to the 'jack' as you can. It is very popular especially in France, but also Italy, where it may often be seen...
weekend.
On 30th October, 2011, the square was occupied as part of the global Occupy movement
Occupy movement
The Occupy movement is an international protest movement which is primarily directed against economic and social inequality. The first Occupy protest to be widely covered was Occupy Wall Street in New York City, taking place on September 17, 2011...
, with protesters pitching tents and creating other temporary structures.