Architects

George Dance the Elder (1695/8-1768)

Mansion House, by Dance the Elder.

George Dance the Elder, an important 18th Century follower of Wren, was architect and surveyor the City of London from 1733 until his death in 1768.

As Surveyor of the City of London, Dance the Elder designed the Mansion House (built 1739-53), a massive Portland Stone pile with a portico with six magnificent Corinthian pillars, and pedimental sculpture by Sir Robert Taylor. He was also responsible for three important London churches, which is the reason for his appearance on this website, with its interest in church monuments and sculpture. These churches are: St Leonard Shoreditch (1736-40) in the East End, a major work, again with a major portico (4 Doric columns this time), the City Church of St Botolph Aldgate (1741-44), and St Matthias (Matthew) Bethnal Green (1743-46), where Dance's interior was lost to bomb damage, but the tower and exterior walls survive.

St Botolph Aldgate.

Although Dance is often credited with St Luke's Old Street, this is not the case, but he was buried there, although his monument is lost.

Dance the Elder is so called because of his architect son, George Dance the Younger, one of the founding members of the Royal Academy. A second son, Nathaniel, became an important painter and also Royal Academician.

Tower of St Leonard Shoreditch.