Civic thought in Britain, c.1820- c.1860
This thesis is a study in the ideological foundations of Victorian civic pride. It argues that the Victorian civic renaissance had an extensive intellectual genealogy. The thesis hopes to foster a reevaluation of the Victorian city in its intellectual context, and broaden the perimeters of enquiry within urban history. In doing so, it contributes to the debate over middle class identity in Victorian England. The four chapters indicate the dominant strands of thinking that determined the development of the Victorian city. The first chapter addresses the pre-Reformation ideal of civil society. It throws new light upon the work of Southey, Cobbett, Pugin, and Ruskin. By contrasting the edifices of the virtuous, medieval past against the civic symbols of the faithless and individualist present, they fostered a corporatist civic tradition which powerfully influenced the Victorian city. The second chapter describes the defence of the industrial city by liberal civic elites. Their rhetoric was as concerned with defending Nonconformity and the historical role of the middle class as the manufacturing city. Influenced by the French Doctrinaires, advocates of liberal civic thought championed the city, and its inhabitants,
Hunt, Tristram
Civic thought ; Britain ; c.1820- c.1860.
Civic thought in Britain, c.1820- c.1860. This thesis is a study in the ideological foundations of Victorian civic pride. It argues that the Victorian civic renaissance had an extensive intellectual genealogy. The thesis hopes to foster a reevaluation of the Victorian city in its intellectual context, and broaden the perimeters of enquiry within urban history. In doing so, it contributes to the debate over middle class identity in Victorian England. The four chapters indicate the dominant strands of thinking that determined the development of the Victorian city. The first chapter addresses the pre-Reformation ideal of civil society. It throws new light upon the work of Southey, Cobbett, Pugin, and Ruskin. By contrasting the edifices of the virtuous, medieval past against the civic symbols of the faithless and individualist present, they fostered a corporatist civic tradition which powerfully influenced the Victorian city. The second chapter describes the defence of the industrial city by liberal civic elites. Their rhetoric was as concerned with defending Nonconformity and the historical role of the middle class as the manufacturing city. Influenced by the French Doctrinaires, advocates of liberal civic thought championed the city, and its inhabitants,
civic think britain study ideological foundation victorian civic pride argues victorian civic renaissance extensive intellectual genealogy hope foster victorian city intellectual_context broaden enquiry within urban history contribute_debate middle_class identity victorian_england indicate dominant strand think determine development victorian city first address pre_reformation ideal civil_society throw_new light upon work contrast edifice virtuous medieval_past civic symbols individualist present foster civic tradition influenced victorian city second_describes defence industrial city liberal civic elite rhetoric concern defend nonconformity historical role middle_class manufacturing city influenced french advocate liberal civic think champion city inhabitant