Regent-street may fairly claim the palm from all its continental rivals. “The activity and flush of life,” the splendid shops, the well-appointed equipages, the classic buildings, the evidences of wealth, of luxury, of taste, of activity, are unrivalled. The vaunted Palais Royale of the Parisian, or the over-lauded Broadway of brother Jonathan, cannot maintain a comparison with it. True it is, the profusion of its embellishments gave rise to bitter grumblings from those who claim to be the arbiters of what is purely classic; but Regent-street is a mart—a place for trade—a depôt for the productions of the world—as well as a series of architectural structures; and where—where are the solid, useful, and the classically-elegant more successfully combined?
This great metropolitan improvement claims for its originator Mr. Nash, and from his designs most part of Regent-street was erected. St. George’s Chapel, however, is not his. In the production of it the designer evidently had in his mind’s eye the architectural gem—the graceful masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren—the interior of St. Stephen’s, Walbrook. The intricacy and variety of our countryman’s genius have, however, been tempered down classic rule and model; and the result is, a building highly creditable to its architect, Mr. Cockerill, and to the splendid street in which it stands.
The portico is Ionic, and encloses the pavement; the porch recedes and contains the entrance, which is of antique form and elegant proportions. Each of the two wings supports a turret. The style of these bell-towers is Doric, and nearly resemble the Athenian monument to Thrasyllus. Between and behind the towers is a lofty cupola, in an Italian rather than a Grecian style; and partially glazed for the admission of light to the interior. Fortunately for the general classic effect of the structure, this hemispherical addition is partially concealed, and, seen in connection with the neighbouring buildings, the richly-filled and handsomely-displayed shops, looks like a portion of some Eastern mosque, giving variety to the general effect, though calculated to impair that of the structure to which it belongs.
The Illustrated London News, London, England, Week Ending November 12, 1842
