The Georgian Group facts for kids

Entrance to 6 Fitzroy Square

The Georgian Group is a special charity in Britain. It works to protect old buildings in England and Wales. These are buildings built between the years 1700 and 1837. This time is known as the Georgian era.

The Georgian Group is one of the "National Amenity Societies." This means they are officially asked for their opinion when old buildings are going to be changed. If someone wants to tear down part of a listed building, the Georgian Group must be told by law.

History of the Group

The Georgian Group started in 1937. It was founded by Lord Derwent, Robert Byron, and a journalist named Douglas Goldring. At first, it was part of another group called the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

Many famous people were involved early on. These included Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the writer Sir John Betjeman, and the architect Sir Albert Richardson. Since 1971, the Georgian Group has been a national group that helps protect important places.

What the Group Does

The Georgian Group gives advice on building plans in England and Wales. They look at plans to change or knock down listed buildings. These are buildings that were built between 1700 and 1837. Another group, the Victorian Society, does a similar job for buildings built later, from 1837 to 1914. The Georgian Group hears about thousands of building plans every year.

They also advise churches on changes to their old buildings. This includes churches from the Church of England, Church in Wales, and other Christian groups. They help make sure old parts of churches are kept safe.

Where They Work From

The main office of the Georgian Group is at 6 Fitzroy Square in London. This is a large old house designed by Robert Adam. The group has fixed it up. Inside, they have a huge library. They also have a collection of old drawings and pictures of buildings. You can visit these by making an appointment.

Helping People

Since the 1980s, the Georgian Group has had special workers. These workers help with building plans in different parts of the country. If you are worried about an old Georgian building being destroyed, you can ask the group for help. They have limited resources, but they try their best.

They have workers for different regions:

• London and the South East
• Central and Northern England
• South West England and the Cotswolds
• Wales

These workers report to a main caseworker and a team of experts.

Awards for Buildings

Since 2003, the Georgian Group has given out awards every year. These awards celebrate great projects that have saved or fixed up Georgian buildings. They also include landscapes in the UK, Isle of Man, or Channel Islands. These projects focus on the time from 1660 to 1840.

The awards recognize people who have worked hard to restore old buildings and gardens.

Award Categories

There are different types of awards:

• Best restoration of a Georgian country house.
• Best restoration of a Georgian room inside a building.
• Best restoration of a Georgian building in a city.
• Best new use for an old Georgian building.
• Best restoration of a Georgian garden or landscape.
• Best new building that looks like it's from the Georgian era.
• Best new building that fits in with other Georgian buildings.

Past Winners

Some famous places that have won awards include:

• The Great Pagoda, Kew Gardens
• The Saloon at Brighton Pavilion
• The Painted Hall at Greenwich
• Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing
• Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland

Many private homes have also won awards.

Grants for Repairs

The Georgian Group also has a small fund to help fix up Georgian buildings. It's called the F. E. Cleary Heritage Fund, or The Cleary Fund. This fund gives out money each year, usually in October. It helps with repairs and restoration of old buildings, monuments, and their parts.

See also

• Irish Georgian Society
• The Twentieth Century Society