Decimus Burton was a unique architect of the 19th century whose career spanned the Georgian, Regency and Victorian periods. Having spent his early childhood at Mabledon near Tunbridge Wells, he trained as an architect, initially under his father, James Burton and then John Soane, and John Nash. Over 70 of his buildings still stand in and around the town, although his more famous works include The Palm House and Temperate House at Kew, The Wellington Arch, The Athenaeum Club in Pall Mall, and parts of Regents Park including the Zoo. His pioneering approach to town planning led to the development of Calverley New Town, Fleetwood and parts of St Leonards, amongst others, long before town planning became a profession in its own right. His ground-breaking projects, such as the now lost Colosseum in regents Park, also included what was arguably the world’s first passenger list.
The Decimus Burton Society aims to create a central resource point, containing a collection of material relating to Decimus Burton. Through lectures, talks and visits to Burton designed buildings, places of interest and landscapes, as well as the publication of research into the architect and his times, we seek to encourage the study and appreciation of his work.
