Why is Christopher Wren so important?

Whilst Wren will be remembered most for the design of St Paul's Cathedral and The Monument, his many other significant works include the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, Trinity College Library in Cambridge and the façade of Hampton Court Palace.

What did Christopher Wren do in the Great Fire of London?

In 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the medieval city, providing a huge opportunity for Wren. He produced ambitious plans for rebuilding the whole area but they were rejected, partly because property owners insisted on keeping the sites of their destroyed buildings.

Did Christopher Wren build St Pauls?

St. Paul's Cathedral, London, from the southeast. Designed and built (1675–1710) under the supervision of Sir Christopher Wren, it combines Neoclassical, Gothic, and Baroque elements.

Was Christopher Wren the architect of Westminster Abbey?

Wren did not pursue his work on architectural design as actively as he had before the 1690s, although he still played important roles in a number of royal commissions. In 1696 he was appointed Surveyor of Greenwich Naval Hospital, and in 1698 he was appointed Surveyor of Westminster Abbey.

What was the motivation for Christopher Wren's plan for London?

In September 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 churches, St. Paul's Cathedral, and most of London's official buildings. Christopher Wren proposed an ambitious plan that would rebuild London with wide streets radiating from a central hub.

St Paul's Cathedral: Sir Christopher Wren's Engineering Masterpiece

What did Christopher Wren have to do with Stonehenge?

Graffiti old and new is present on many of the stones at Stonehenge. Stone 52 bears the name Wren and is thought to have been carved by St Pauls Cathedral architect Sir Christopher Wren, whose family had a home nearby.

What was Wren's plan for London?

Wren - best known for his reincarnation of St Paul's Cathedral after the fire - also had a wider vision for London. Similar to John Evelyn, his plan would have seen narrow medieval streets replaced with wide avenues spreading out from piazzas. It was a formal street system that referenced his studies of Paris and Rome.

How many churches did Christopher Wren build?

Inspired by Wren300, the tercentenary celebration of Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), here is our guide to the 51 Wren churches that Wren built, many of which you can still visit today.

Was Christopher Wren in the Royal Society?

Sir Christopher Wren (1632 to 1723) was a brilliant polymath: an astronomer, mathematician, anatomist, inventor, founder member and President of the Royal Society, and King Charles II's Surveyor-General of the King's Works.

Who ordered Westminster Abbey to be built?

St. Edward the Confessor built a new church on the site, which was consecrated on December 28, 1065. It was of considerable size and cruciform in plan. In 1245 Henry III pulled down the whole of Edward's church (except the nave) and replaced it with the present abbey church in the pointed Gothic style of the period.

What is the difference between St Paul's and Westminster Abbey?

What is the difference between St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey? St Paul's Cathedral is the principal church of the diocese of London, with a bishop and a dean leading the church. Westminster Abbey, on the other hand, started as a monastery and has always been linked with Royalty.

What are some interesting facts about Sir Christopher Wren?

Wren was a man of great accomplishment. He was a founding member and president of the Royal Society (established in 1660), and he also served twice as a member of Parliament. In 1673 he was knighted, giving him the title of “Sir.” Christopher Wren died in London on February 25, 1723.

How many churches did Christopher Wren build in London?

Wren designed 53 London churches, including St. Paul's Cathedral, as well as many secular buildings of note.

Did Christopher Wren go to Italy?

His success resulted, in part, from his appointment as Surveyor of the King's works after the great fire in 1666. He never traveled to Italy but is known to have studied Italian sources and publications.

Where is Christopher Wren buried?

‪Sir Christopher Wren died today in 1723. He was buried in his masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral.

Did Christopher Wren live in Windsor?

Wren's father was Dean of Windsor from 1635 to 1658, so the young Christopher grew up in the town. In Windsor, Sir Christopher Wren is said to have completed the building of the Guildhall after the death of the original architect, Sir Thomas Fitz, in 1689.

Were the Wren churches destroyed in the Blitz?

December 1940 was the worst night of bombing, when 136 bombers dropped 10,000 incendiary and high explosive bombs on the City of London. 18 City churches were destroyed in the Blitz, including 15 Wren Churches, and while some of the destroyed churches were rebuilt, some were not.

How many buildings did Sir Christopher Wren design?

You've seen his big cathedral and probably know some of the churches, but did you know that Sir Christopher Wren was this prolific? Wren (1632-1723) designed or oversaw almost 100 buildings in his long life — from small gatehouses like Temple Bar to the magnificent St Paul's itself.

What is the name of the Wren building?

Known in the eighteenth century simply as "the College," and later as the "Main Building," William & Mary's oldest and most cherished building was renamed in 1931 for the famous British architect, Sir Christopher Wren, to whom an eighteenth-century author attributed the design.

What buildings did Christopher Wren design in London?

Was Wren helping a?

Unbeknownst to everyone around him, Wren was supplying Charlotte (aka A) with a way in and out of Radley. He also helped people acquire fake ID's so they could get in and out of the Sanitarium undetected. During his time in London he and Melissa broke up for the final time.

What buildings were destroyed in the Great Fire of London?

In 1666, a devastating fire swept through London, destroying 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, The Royal Exchange, Guildhall and St. Paul's Cathedral. So how did it happen?