George Dance the Younger RA (1 April 1741 – 14 January 1825) was an English architect and

surveyor Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. These points are usually on the ...

as well as a

portraitist A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face is always predominant. In arts, a portrait may be represented as half body and even full body. If the subject in full body better re ...

. The fifth and youngest son of the architect

George Dance the Elder George Dance the Elder (1695 – 8 February 1768) was a British architect. He was the City of London Surveyor (surveying), surveyor and architect from 1735 until his death. Life Originally a mason, George Dance was appointed Clerk of the ci ...

, he came from a family of architects, artists and dramatists. He was described by Sir

John Summerson Sir John Newenham Summerson (25 November 1904 – 10 November 1992) was one of the leading British architectural historians of the 20th century. Early life John Summerson was born at Barnstead, Coniscliffe Road, Darlington. His grandfather wo ...

as "among the few really outstanding architects of the century", but few of his buildings remain.

Life

Background and education

The architect George Dance the elder married Elizabeth Gould in 1719. Their fifth son, George, was born 1 April 1741 at the family home in Chiswell Street,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and was educated at St Paul's School.page 16, Catalogue of the Drawings of George Dance the younger (1741–1825) and of George Dance the elder (1695–1768) from the Collection of Sir John Soane's Museum, Jill Lever, 2003, Azimuth Editions, Dance spent the six years between 1759 and 1765 studying architecture and draughtsmanship in Rome. Aged 17, he set off on his Grand Tour, sailing from

Gravesend, Kent Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, situated 21 miles (35 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross (central London) on the Bank (geography), south bank of the River Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. Located in the diocese of Roche ...

in December 1758.page 62, George Dance Architect 1741–1825 Architect, Dorothy Stroud, 1971, Faber & Faber, After a short stay in

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

, where he was joined by his brother

Nathaniel Nathaniel is an English variant of the biblical Hebrew name A name is a term used for identification by an external observer. They can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. ...

, who was already studying painting in Italy, he and his brother set off for Rome, arriving in early May 1759. By the early 1760s the brothers were living at 77 Strada Felice.page 63, George Dance Architect 1741–1825 Architect, Dorothy Stroud, 1971, Faber & Faber, At Rome, Dance was acquainted with the architect James Adam who was staying nearby at the Casa Guarini, Robert Mylne (they remained lifelong friends), Abbot Peter Grant and

Giovanni Battista Piranesi Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Piranesi (; also known as simply Piranesi; 4 October 1720 – 9 November 1778) was an Italian classical archaeologist, architect, and artist, famous for his etchings of Rome and of fictitious and atmospheric " ...

. As a student of the

Accademia di San Luca The Accademia di San Luca () is an Italian academy of artists in Rome. The establishment of the Accademia de i Pittori e Scultori di Roma was approved by papal brief in 1577, and in 1593 Federico Zuccari became its first ''principe'' or director; ...

,page 64, George Dance Architect 1741–1825 Architect, Dorothy Stroud, 1971, Faber & Faber, Dance measured and drew several buildings in Rome, including the three remaining columns of the

Temple of Castor and Pollux The Temple of Castor and Pollux () was an ancient Roman temple, temple in the Roman Forum, Rome, Central Italy. It was originally built in gratitude for victory at the Battle of Lake Regillus (495 BC). Castor and Pollux (Greek Polydeuces) were th ...

, the

Arch of Constantine The Arch of Constantine () is a triumphal arch in Rome dedicated to the emperor Constantine the Great. The arch was commissioned by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312 ...

and the dome of

St. Peter's Basilica The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican (), or simply St. Peter's Basilica (; ), is a church of the Italian High Renaissance located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy. It was initiall ...

,page 65, George Dance Architect 1741–1825 Architect, Dorothy Stroud, 1971, Faber & Faber, showing much promise as a draughtsman. Much of his later work was inspired by Piranesi. In late 1759 Dance received his first commission – to design two

chimneypiece The fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a smoke canopy, hood that projected over a fire grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fi ...

s for Sir Robert Mainwaring. In early 1762 Dance was measuring and drawing the

Temple of Vesta, Tivoli The so-called Temple of Vesta is a small circular Roman temple (so a tholos (architecture), ''tholos'') in Tivoli, Italy, dating to the early 1st century BC. Its ruins are dramatically sited on the acropolis of the Etruscan and Roman city, overl ...

and later that year he entered a competition organised by the

Academy of Fine Arts of Parma The Accademia di Belle Arti di Parma (Academy of Fine Arts of Parma) is an artistic institution in the city of Parma, Italy. It is presently located in a wing of the Palazzo della Pilotta The Palazzo della Pilotta is a complex of edifices loca ...

to design ''A Public Gallery for Statues, Pictures & c.''. His drawings were dispatched to Parma in April 1763, and a few weeks later it was announced that he had won the gold medal, and his designs were exhibited at the Ducal Palace. The projected building was in the latest style of

neoclassical architecture Neoclassical architecture, sometimes referred to as Classical Revival architecture, is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy, France and Germany. It became one of t ...

. During June 1764 the Dance brothers were in

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

, but later that year they were back in Rome, entertaining the actor

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1716 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, Actor-manager, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil a ...

and his wife. On 21 December 1764 George Dance and his brother were elected to the

, where he was described as ''Giorgo Danze, architetto Inglese''. On 16 February 1765 Dance dined with the painter

Angelica Kauffman Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann ( ; 30 October 1741 – 5 November 1807), usually known in English as Angelica Kauffman, was a Swiss people, Swiss Neoclassicism, Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Remembered prima ...

and

James Boswell James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck (; 29 October 1740 ( N.S.) – 19 May 1795), was a Scottish biographer, diarist, and lawyer, born in Edinburgh. He is best known for his biography of the English writer Samuel Johnson, '' Life of Samuel ...

who was visiting Rome. A few weeks later the brothers left Rome to return to London.

Career

On his return from the Grand Tour, George (the younger) joined his

father A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. A biological fat ...

's office. His earliest London project was the rebuilding of

All Hallows-on-the-Wall All Hallows-on-the-Wall is a Church of England church located in the City of London. Its name refers to its location, inside and adjacent to London Wall, the former city wall. Current use From 2014 All Hallows became the headquarters of the urba ...

Church. He was one of five architects asked to submit designs, and his design was chosen on 8 May 1765. Work on the building starting in June 1765, at a cost of £2,941, and the building was

consecrated Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

on 8 September 1767. In 1768, when he was only 27, George succeeded as Architect and Surveyor to the

Corporation of London The City of London Corporation, officially and legally the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, is the local authority of the City of London, the historic centre of London and the location of much of the United Kingdom's fi ...

on his father's death. His first major public works were the rebuilding of

Newgate Prison Newgate Prison was a prison at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey, just inside the City of London, England, originally at the site of Newgate, a gate in the Roman London Wall. Built in the 12th century and demolished in 1904, the pr ...

in 1770 and building the front of the

Guildhall, London Guildhall is a municipal building in the City of London, England. It is off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. The current building dates from the 15th century; however documentary evidence suggests that a ...

. Other London works of his include the rebuilding of the Church of

St Bartholomew the Less St Bartholomew the Less is an Anglican church in the City of London, associated with St Bartholomew's Hospital, within whose precincts it stands. Once a parish church, it has, since 1 June 2015, been a chapel of ease in the parish of St Bartholo ...

(1793), a former chapel within the precincts of

St Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 by Rahere, and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust. History Early history Barts was founded in 1123 by ...

. At

Bath, Somerset Bath (Received Pronunciation, RP: , ) is a city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman Baths (Bath), Roman-built baths. At the 2021 census, the population was 94,092. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, Bristol, River A ...

he largely designed the Theatre Royal, built by

John Palmer John Palmer may refer to: People Politicians * John Palmer (fl. 1377–1394), English politician * Sir John Palmer, 5th Baronet (1735–1817), British politician *John Palmer (1785–1840), U.S. congressman from New York * John Palmer (1842–190 ...

in 1804–5.

Coleorton Hall Coleorton Hall is a 19th-century country mansion, formerly the seat of the Beaumont baronets of Stoughton Grange. Situated at Coleorton, Leicestershire, it is a Grade II* listed building now converted into residential apartments. The manor of Co ...

was one of his few buildings in the Gothic style. Many of Dance's buildings have been demolished, including the

Royal College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations ...

(apart from the portico),

St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics was founded in London in 1751 for the treatment of incurable pauper lunatics by a group of philanthropic apothecaries and others. It was the second public institution in London created to look after mentally ill p ...

, the Shakespeare Gallery in Pall Mall, the library at

Lansdowne House Lansdowne House, now 9 Fitzmaurice Place, is the remaining part of an aristocratic English town house building to the south of Berkeley Square in central London, England. The initial name was for two decades Shelburne House, then its title ...

, the Common Council Chamber and Chamberlain's Court at the Guildhall,

Ashburnham Place Ashburnham Place is an English country house, now used as a Christian conference and prayer centre, five miles west of Battle, East Sussex, Battle, East Sussex. It was one of the finest houses in the southeast of England in its heyday, but much o ...

, and Stratton Park (demolished save for its Doric

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cu ...

). Dance retired from practice in 1815. Dance's long career spanned several of the conventional phases of the Neo-Classical movement, from mid-18th century French Classicism to the full blown

Greek Revival Greek Revival architecture is a architectural style, style that began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe, the United States, and Canada, ...

of the early 19th century. As such, he also played an important role in the careers of several major architects within this continuum, such as Sir

John Soane Sir John Soane (; né Soan; 10 September 1753 – 20 January 1837) was an English architect who specialised in the Neoclassical architecture, Neo-Classical style. The son of a bricklayer, he rose to the top of his profession, becoming professor ...

and Sir Robert Smirke. His innovative interiors for the church of

, the Guildhall Common Council Chamber, and the sculpture gallery of Lansdowne House were key to the development of Soane's first work at the

Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the Kingdom of England, English Government's banker and debt manager, and still one ...

, the Bank Stock Office in 1792. On Dance's recommendation, Robert Smirke joined Soane's office as a pupil in 1796, but when the two fell out after less than a year, Dance continued to champion Robert Smirke who went on to become the country's leading Greek Revival architects. Significantly, some of Dance's later work embraced the increasingly austere Greek Revival style, such as the unfluted Doric portico on Stratton Park of 1803, derived from the temples at

Paestum Paestum ( , , ) was a major Ancient Greece, ancient Greek city on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, in Magna Graecia. The ruins of Paestum are famous for their three ancient Greek temples in the Doric order dating from about 550 to 450 BCE that ...

, and the unfluted Ionic portico on the Royal College of Surgeons (built 1806 onwards, so representing one of the first Greek Revival porticos in London).

The Royal Academy

With his brother Nathaniel, George Dance was a founder member of the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

, founded on 10 December 1768. In 1795, with William Tyler, Dance was appointed to examine the accounts of the Royal Academy following the resignation of Sir William Chambers, and in 1796 they became the Academy's first auditors, helping put the institution on a sounder financial footing. In 1798 Dance succeeded

Thomas Sandby Thomas Sandby (1721 – 25 June 1798) was an English draughtsman, watercolour artist, architect and teacher. In 1743 he was appointed private secretary to the Duke of Cumberland, who later appointed him Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park, wh ...

as professor of architecture at the Royal Academy, but as he failed to deliver a single lecture he was dismissed in 1805 and replaced by his former pupil, Sir

. For a number of years he was the last survivor of the 40 original

Royal Academician The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

A Collection of portraits

Dance's years after 1798 were devoted to art rather than architecture. His Academy contributions consisted of highly finished pencil profile portraits of his friends in

Regency In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

London's artistic establishment. 72 etchings were engraved after them by

William Daniell William Daniell (1769–1837) was an English landscape and marine painter, and printmaker, notable for his work in aquatint. He travelled extensively in India in the company of his uncle Thomas Daniell, with whom he collaborated on one of the ...

and ''A Collection of Portraits'' were published over ten years from 1804.Roger Bowdler, ' Dance, George, the younger (1741–1825)',

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from History of the British Isles, British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') ...

, Oxford University Press, 2004 Many are now held by the

National Portrait Gallery, London The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is an art gallery in London that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. When it opened in 1856, it was arguably the first national public gallery in the world th ...

Personal life

Dance married Mary Gurnell (born 7 February 1752 in

Pitzhanger Manor Pitzhanger Manor is an English country house famous as the home of neoclassical architect, Sir John Soane. Built between 1800 and 1804 in what is now Walpole Park Ealing, to the west of London, the Regency Manor is a rare and spectacular exa ...

) on 24 March 1772 at St. George's, Bloomsbury Their first child, Thomas, was born in Autumn 1773 and died in 1813. Two more sons followed: George (1778–1813) and Charles Webb (1785–1844). Mary Dance died at the age of 38 in 1791. Dance suffered from ill health for the last three or four years of his life. He died on 14 January 1825, at No. 91 Gower Street, which is now marked with a

blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom, and certain other countries and territories, to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving a ...

. He was buried in the crypt at

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle, is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London in the Church of Engl ...

List of works

Works in London

* All Hallows on the Wall Church (1765) * Duroure Monument, in

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...

Cloisters (1766) *

Minories Minories ( ) is the name of a small former administrative unit, and also of a street in the Aldgate area of the City of London. Both the street and the former administrative area take their name from the Abbey of the Minoresses of St. Clare w ...

, development of Crescent, Circus, ''etc'' (1767 onwards), bombed during

The Blitz The Blitz (English: "flash") was a Nazi Germany, German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom, for eight months, from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941, during the Second World War. Towards the end of the Battle of Britain in 1940, a co ...

and demolished *

& Sessions House (1769–1777) damaged in the

Gordon riots The Gordon Riots of 1780 were several days' rioting in London motivated by anti-Catholic sentiment. They began with a large and orderly protest against the Papists Act 1778, which was intended to reduce official discrimination against British ...

(1780) and restored (1780–1783), demolished (1902–04) *

Whitecross Street Whitecross Street is a short street in London Borough of Islington, Islington, in Inner London. It features an eponymous street market and a large housing estate. Since 2010, there has been an annual Whitecross Street Party one weekend in the ...

Lord Mayor Lord mayor is a title of a mayor of what is usually a major city in a Commonwealth realm, with special recognition bestowed by the sovereign. However, the title or an equivalent is present in other countries, including forms such as "high mayor". A ...

coach house A ''carriage house'', also called a ''remise'' or ''coach house'', is a term used in North America to describe an outbuilding that was originally built to house horse-drawn carriages and their related tack. Carriage houses were often two st ...

(1768–71) & almshouses (1770–71), both demolished *

Fleet Market The Fleet Market was a London market erected in 1736 on the newly culverted River Fleet. The market was located approximately where the modern Farringdon Street stands today, to the west of the Smithfield livestock market. The enclosure of the ...

, repairs and new office for Collector (1770–74), demolished * Stratford Place,

Oxford Street Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, running between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road via Oxford Circus. It marks the notional boundary between the areas of Fitzrovia and Marylebone to t ...

, development and alterations to conduits (1771–72) *

, repairs (1772), rooms over Matted Gallery (1773), Old Council Chamber (1774), New Council Chamber (1777), alterations to Chapel (1774 & 1782), Town Clerk's House (1781), new façade (1785–88), Chamberlain's House (1785–86), New Houses, west side of the Yard (1795), exterior

stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and ...

ed (1805), windows of the Great Hall redesigned (1806) & Court of the King's Bench, altered (1804–06), all now demolished save the Guildhall's Façade *

Smithfield Market Smithfield, properly known as West Smithfield, is a district located in Central London, part of Farringdon Without, the most westerly Wards of the City of London, ward of the City of London, England. Smithfield is home to a number of City in ...

, new bell & frame (1775), & alterations (1804), rebuilt *

All Hallows Staining All Hallows Staining was a Church of England church located at the junction of Mark Lane and Dunster Court in the north-eastern corner of Langbourn ward in the City of London, England, close to Fenchurch Street railway station. All that remain ...

, foot passage under porch (1775–76), demolished *

Billingsgate Fish Market Billingsgate Fish Market is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market. It takes its name from Billingsgate, a ward in the south-east corner of the City of London, where the riverside market was originally established. In its original locati ...

, alterations (1776), iron column inserted to support upper floor (1777–78) & New Market house and embankment (1798), rebuilt * Banner Street and

Finsbury Square Finsbury Square is a square in Finsbury in central London which includes a six-rink grass bowling green. It was developed in 1777 on the site of a previous area of green space to the north of the City of London known as Finsbury Fields, in the p ...

(1777), none of Dance's buildings are still standing * New wall and Gates for the

Honourable Artillery Company The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is a reserve regiment in the British Army. Incorporated by royal charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII, it is the oldest regiment in the British Army and is considered the second-oldest military unit in the w ...

's,

Artillery Ground The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is an open space originally set aside for archery and later known also as a cricket venue. Today it is used for military exercises, cricket, rugby and football matches. It belongs to the Honourable Artillery Comp ...

Bunhill Fields Bunhill Fields is a former burial ground in central London, in the London Borough of Islington, just north of the City of London. What remains is about in extent and the bulk of the site is a public garden maintained by the City of London Cor ...

, ( 1777) * New houses,

Chiswell Street Chiswell Street is in the London Borough of Islington. It includes several buildings listed by Historic England. Location The street, in St Luke's, Islington, runs east-west and forms part of the B100 road. At the west end it becomes Beech St ...

(1777) * Mr Lowry's House, Lombard Street (1777), demolished * New House for Keeper of

(1777), demolished * Newgate Market, alterations (1777) & (1784–85), demolished * Obelisk erected on

Putney Heath Wimbledon Common is a large open space in Wimbledon, southwest London. There are three named areas: Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath, and Putney Lower Common, which together are managed under the name Wimbledon and Putney Commons totalling 46 ...

to commemorate invention of

Fire insurance marks Fire insurance marks are metal plaques marked with the emblem of the insurance company which were affixed to the front of insured buildings as a guide to the insurance company's fire brigade. These identification marks were used in the eighteenth ...

(1777) * Lady Dacre's Almshouses, repairs (1778) *

Wesley's Chapel Wesley's Chapel (originally the City Road Chapel) is a Methodist Church of Great Britain, Methodist church situated in the St Luke's, London, St Luke's area in the south of the London Borough of Islington. Opened in 1778, it was built under the ...

Finsbury Finsbury is a district of Central London, forming the southeastern part of the London Borough of Islington. It borders the City of London. The Manorialism, Manor of Finsbury is first recorded as ''Vinisbir'' (1231) and means "manor of a man c ...

(1778) * Jewin Street, widened (1779) * Blackfriars, London, creation of new streets and platform adjoining bridge (1779–92), none of Dance's buildings survive * Mansion House, London, new entrance, covering of internal courtyard with a roof, new ceiling and lowered the roof of the Egyptian Hall (1782) *

, Old Street (1780), demolished * Market in Honey Lane rebuilt (1780–88), demolished * Whitefriars Wharf abutment (1781–82), demolished *

Monument to the Great Fire of London The Monument to the Great Fire of London, more commonly known simply as the Monument, is a fluted Doric column in London, England, situated near the northern end of London Bridge. Commemorating the Great Fire of London, it stands at the junct ...

, repairs (1783) *

Fleet Bridge Fleet may refer to: Vehicles *Fishing fleet *Naval fleet *Fleet vehicles, a pool of motor vehicles *Fleet Aircraft, the aircraft manufacturing company Places Canada *Fleet, Alberta, Canada, a hamlet England *The Fleet Lagoon, at Chesil Beach, ...

repairs (1783), demolished * Roger's Almshouses,

Hart Street Hart Street is a small street in the City of London. Etymology The name is believed to have been a variation on hearth, which were constructed and sold here during the Middle Ages. History and buildings The Lord Mayor of London, Richard Whitti ...

, repairs & alterations (1783) *

Borough Compter The Borough Compter was a small compter or prison initially located in Southwark High Street but moved to nearby Tooley Street in 1717, where it stood until demolished until 1855. It took its name from 'The Borough', a historic name for the Southw ...

, rebuilding (1785), demolished * Castle Street,

Spitalfields Spitalfields () is an area in London, England and is located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is in East London and situated in the East End of London, East End. Spitalfields is formed around Commercial Street, London, Commercial Stre ...

widened (1786) * Beech Street, constructed (1786–88) * Jewin Crescent, (1786–88), demolished *

Gallery and other Alterations (1786) *

Giltspur Street Compter The Giltspur Street Compter was a compter or small prison, designed by English architect and surveyor George Dance the Younger, mainly used to hold debtors. It was in Giltspur Street, Smithfield, close to Newgate, in the City of London, betw ...

(1787–91), demolished *

Boydell Shakespeare Gallery The Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London, England, was the first stage of a three-part project initiated in November 1786 by engraver and publisher John Boydell in an effort to foster a School (discipline), school of British history painting. ...

(1788), demolished *

Moorfields Moorfields was an open space, partly in the City of London, lying adjacent to – and outside – its London Wall, northern wall, near the eponymous Moorgate. It was known for its marshy conditions, the result of the defensive wall acting a ...

, Watch and Engine House (1790), demolished *

Leadenhall Market Leadenhall Market is a covered market in London, England, located on Gracechurch Street but with vehicular access also available via Whittington Avenue to the north and Lime Street to the south and east, and additional pedestrian access via ...

re-roofed (1790–92) & new warehouses (1813), rebuilt * Development and improvements of

Holborn Holborn ( or ), an area in central London, covers the south-eastern part of the London Borough of Camden and a part (St Andrew Holborn (parish), St Andrew Holborn Below the Bars) of the Wards of the City of London, Ward of Farringdon Without i ...

, (1790 onwards) *

, Surgeon's Theatre and other buildings (1791–96), demolished * Martin's Bank, Lombard Street, rebuilt (1793), demolished *

Church, rebuilt (1793) * Formation of Pickett Street, The Strand improvements (1793 onwards) *

Legal Quays The Legal Quays of England were created by the ''Act of Frauds'' or ( 1 Eliz. 1. c. 11), an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted in 1559 during the reign of Elizabeth I of England. It established new rules for customs in England i ...

, rebuilt (1793–96) * St Margaret at Hill Court House

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

, new façade (1796), demolished *

Tottenham Court Road Tottenham Court Road (occasionally abbreviated as TCR) is a major road in Central London, almost entirely within the London Borough of Camden. The road runs from Euston Road in the north to St Giles Circus in the south; Tottenham Court Road tu ...

, estate to the east, North & South Crescents and Alfred Place, (1796 onwards), none of Dance's buildings survive *

Limehouse Limehouse is a district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London. It is east of Charing Cross, on the northern bank of the River Thames. Its proximity to the river has given it a strong maritime character, which it retains throu ...

Canal & warehouses

West India Docks The West India Docks are a series of three docks, quaysides, and warehouses built to import goods from, and export goods and occasionally passengers to, the British West Indies. Located on the Isle of Dogs in London, the first dock opened in 18 ...

(1796 onwards), largely demolished * London Custom House, repairs (1799), demolished *

St George in the East St George-in-the-East is an Anglican Church dedicated to Saint George; located on Cannon Street Road, between The Highway and Cable Street, in the East End of London. Behind the church lies St George's Gardens, the original graveyard. Histor ...

, alterations to the

Rectory A clergy house is the residence, or former residence, of one or more priests or ministers of a given religion, serving as both a home and a base for the occupant's ministry. Residences of this type can have a variety of names, such as manse, p ...

(1802) *

Commercial Road Commercial Road is a street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London. It is long, running from Gardiner's Corner (previously the site of Gardiners department store, and now Aldgate East Underground station), throug ...

, laid out (1803) * 33 Hill Street,

Mayfair Mayfair is an area of Westminster, London, England, in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. It is between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane and one of the most expensive districts ...

(1803), demolished *

Royal College of Surgeons of England The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) is an independent professional body and registered charity that promotes and advances standards of surgery, surgical care for patients, and regulates surgery and dentistry in England and Wa ...

Lincoln's Inn Fields Lincoln's Inn Fields is located in Holborn and is the List of city squares by size, largest public square in London. It was laid out in the 1630s under the initiative of the speculative builder and contractor William Newton, "the first in a ...

, rebuilt (1806 onwards) later altered by Sir

Charles Barry Sir Charles Barry (23 May 1795 – 12 May 1860) was an English architect best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster (also known as the Houses of Parliament) in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsi ...

, Dance's portico survives * 143

Piccadilly Piccadilly () is a road in the City of Westminster, London, England, to the south of Mayfair, between Hyde Park Corner in the west and Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is part of the A4 road (England), A4 road that connects central London to ...

for his brother

Nathaniel Dance-Holland Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, 1st Baronet (8 May 1735 – 15 October 1811) was an English painter and politician. Early life The third son of architect George Dance the Elder, Dance (he added the 'Holland' suffix later in life) studied art ...

(his brother changed his name) (1807) * Whitecross Street Penitentiary (1808–14), demolished * Lombard Street, widened (1811) * New Court, St Swithin's Lane, alterations to

Nathan Mayer Rothschild Nathan Mayer Rothschild (16 September 1777 – 28 July 1836), also known as Baron Nathan Mayer Rothschild, was a British-German banker, businessman and finance, financier. Born in Free City of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, he was the third of ...

's house (1811), demolished *

Finsbury Circus Finsbury Circus is a park in the Coleman Street Ward of the City of London, England. The 2 acre park is the largest public open space within the City's boundaries. It is not to be confused with Finsbury Square, just north of the City, or Fins ...

(1815–16), none of Dance's buildings survive.

Works outside London

Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...

, Dance's own house (1768) later owned by Sir John Soane, who demolished all Dance's work bar the south wing *

Cranbury Park Cranbury Park is a stately home and country estate situated in the parish of Hursley, Winchester, England. It was formerly the home to Sir Isaac Newton and later to the Chamberlayne family, whose descendants continue to own and occupy the hous ...

, Hampshire, extensive remodelling, including the new-classical Ballroom (1776–81) * Monument to

Jeremiah Meyer Jeremiah Meyer (born Jeremias Majer; 18 January 1735 – 19 January 1789) was an 18th-century English miniature painter. He was Painter in Miniatures to Queen Charlotte, Painter in Enamels to King George III and was one of the founder membe ...

, St. Anne's Church, Kew (1790) *

, Leicestershire (1802) * Laxton Hall, Northamptonshire, alterations to interiors, including Entrance Hall (1806-11) * Stratton Park, Hampshire, (1803) demolished apart from the Greek Doric portico and replaced by a modern house (1963–65) *

Theatre Royal, Bath The Theatre Royal in Bath, England, was built in 1805. A Grade II* listed building, it has been described by the Theatres Trust as "One of the most important surviving examples of Georgian theatre architecture". It has a capacity for an audien ...

, (1804) burnt down (1863) main façade to Beafort Square survives *

St Mary's Church, Micheldever St Mary's Church is an Anglicanism, Anglican church in Micheldever, Hampshire, England. It is in the Diocese of Winchester. The building, which is listed building, Grade II* listed, is unusual for its octagonal nave. Description The oldest parts ...

, Hampshire (1806) *

East Stratton East Stratton is an estate village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Micheldever, in the Winchester district, in the county of Hampshire, England. It is at the entrance to the landscaped grounds of Stratton Park, some 8 miles northe ...

, Hampshire, cottage in the village (1806) *

, Sussex, alterations (1812) * Kidbrooke House, Sussex, alterations (1814), demolished *

Camden Place Chislehurst () is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bromley. It lies east of Bromley, south-west of Sidcup and north-west of Orpington, south-east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater ...

Chislehurst Chislehurst () is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bromley. It lies east of Bromley, south-west of Sidcup and north-west of Orpington, south-east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater ...

, remodelling including "the Mixed lounge, the Oval Room, the Office and the beautiful oak panelled Entrance hall with its two secret doors".

Gallery of architectural works

File:All Hallows on the Wall - geograph.org.uk - 1170310.jpg, West front of All Hallows Church, London File:All Hallowes-on-the-Wall, London Wall, London EC2 - geograph.org.uk - 1706663.jpg, All Hallows-on-the-Wall, London File:Guildhall. Engraved by E.Shirt after a drawing by Prattent. c. 1805.jpg, London Guildhall, c. 1805 File:Guildhall. Home of the City of London Corporation - geograph.org.uk - 60195.jpg, City of London Guildhall, Dance's façade on right File:The Guildhall - geograph.org.uk - 45551.jpg, City of London Guildhall, Dance's façade File:Cranbury House.jpg, Cranbury House, Hampshire File:Pitzhanger manor drawing room.jpg, Drawing room at Pitzhanger, Ealing File:St Bartholomew the Less, St Bartholomews Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1 - geograph.org.uk - 1140931.jpg, St Bartholomew the Less Church in Barts Hospital, London File:St Bartholomew the Less, St Bartholomews Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1 - East end - geograph.org.uk - 1140933.jpg, St Bartholomew the Less, West Smithfield, London File:Newgate Prison Publ 1800.jpg, Newgate Gaol, London, demolished File:Newgate West View of Newgate by George Shepherd 1784-1862 edited.jpg, Newgate Gaol, London, demolished File:Egyptian Hall Mansion House edited.jpg, Dance's Egyptian Hall ceiling in the Mansion House, London File:Royal College of Surgeons of England 1.jpg, Portico of Royal College of Surgeons at Lincoln's Inn Fields, London File:Wesley's Chapel 1.jpg, Wesley's Chapel, London File:Finsbury Circus.jpg, Finsbury Circus layout, all Dance's houses now being replaced by offices File:Iglesia de San Lawrence Jewry, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-11, DD 138.JPG, St Lawrence Jewry Church, near Guildhallwww.e-architect.co.uk
/ref>

References

* * H.M. Colvin, ''A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600–1840'' (1997) *
A catalogue of the drawings of George Dance the Younger is a highlight of recent books on architecture and design
, ''Apollo'', April 2004 * "George Dance, the Younger, as Town Planner (1768–1814)", Michael Hugo-Brunt, ''Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians'', Vol. 14, No. 4, Town Planning Issue (Dec. 1955), pp. 13–22 * "Dance, George, the younger (1741–1825)", Roger Bowdler, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 200
accessed 21 Sept 2007

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dance The Younger, George 1741 births 1825 deaths People from the City of London People from Bloomsbury People educated at St Paul's School, London Royal Academicians 18th-century English architects 19th-century English architects British neoclassical architects Regency London Burials at St Paul's Cathedral Sibling artists Architects from London