George Dance the Elder facts for kids

George Dance the Elder (born in 1695, died on February 8, 1768) was a very important British architect. He worked as the official architect and surveyor for the City of London from 1735 until he passed away. This meant he was in charge of designing and overseeing many big building projects in the city.

Building the City of London

George Dance started his career as a mason, which is someone who works with stone. Later, he became the "Clerk of the City Works" for the City of London. This was a big job!

Designing Famous Buildings

In 1734, just before he started his new role, George Dance won a major competition. He was chosen to design the Mansion House. This building was going to be the new home for the Lord Mayor, who is the head of the City of London government.

He was one of three architects asked to submit designs. His design for the Mansion House was chosen. It has a grand entrance with tall columns, called a portico. It also features a special room called the "Egyptian Hall." This name comes from an ancient Roman architect named Vitruvius, who described a style of columns as Egyptian. The Mansion House was finished in 1752.

George Dance also designed several other important buildings. These include the Great Synagogue of London and several churches:

• St Leonard's, Shoreditch (built between 1736 and 1740)
• St Botolph's Aldgate (built between 1741 and 1744)
• St Matthew's, Bethnal Green (built between 1743 and 1746)

He even designed the Town Hall of Coleraine in Northern Ireland in 1743, though that building was later taken down in 1859.

His Family and Legacy

George Dance had five sons. Three of them became famous in their own right:

• His eldest son, James Dance (1722–1744), became an actor and a writer for plays. He was connected with the Drury Lane theatre.
• His third son, Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland (1735–1811), became a well-known painter.
• His fifth son, George Dance the Younger (1741–1825), followed in his father's footsteps. He took over his father's job as the city architect after George Dance the Elder passed away.

George Dance the Elder is buried in the churchyard of St Luke's Old Street, which is just north of the City of London.

Images for kids

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  Mansion House, City of London.

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  St. Leonard's Shoreditch, London

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  St. Botolph, Aldgate, London

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  St. Botolph, Aldgate, London, interior