The city of London was a bustling place during the reign of King James I. London was the centre for all major activities like industries, entertainment, etc. Owing to the industrial growth, many people from all over England would come to London in the hope of finding themselves a decent job. This led to London city being the most populous of the cities in Britain.
However, there were not sufficient places for accommodating the continuous inflow of people. Thus, those who could not afford to rent a separate room were forced to live in shabby places on a sharing basis. London was also a place where there were smoking houses. Such places often provide a platform for socialization.
Jacobean Plays
Theatre had reached its zenith in the Jacobean time. Plays were performed in the theatres built in London. Thus, the audience which watched the plays was restricted in number. The playwrights through their plays portrayed the life of people in London. Theatres were either public playhouses or private playhouses.
Apart from regular theatre, masques were also performed in London. Masques were a form of entertainment wherein a group of artists performed before the members of royal families. The court of King James I was situated in London and many of the masque performances have been held here. St. Katherine Cree is a church built in London during the Jacobean period and it has survived till date. The bubonic plague which erupted in London in 1625 resulted in severe loss of lives.
Jacobean Houses in London
People living in London in the Jacobean era were mostly wealthy and their houses reflected their wealth and status. By the end of the 16th century, when James I became the king, London had started developing new ideas of architecture.
However, the Jacobean style was seen as an intense version of the Elizabethan style. Ideas from other European countries also poured in during the Renaissance and the architectural style of Holland and Italy mad a significant impact on the buildings of London.
The Prodigy houses, that were the most common kind of building, were used by the most wealthy class living in the city. They were luxurious houses for the members of court and royalty. These people could afford better materials for their houses than simple wood. Bricks and stones were used as materials for constructions.
The interiors were made of fine woodwork or noble stones like granite and marble. Symmetry was very important in Jacobean building and each building had symmetrical wings on the sides of the central area.
Jacobean London Facts
It was during the Jacobean era that England and Scotland joined hands and became one country – the United Kingdom. But it was also the time when the Gunpowder Plot was executed to assassinate King James I in November 1605. Fortunately, it did not succeed.
During the Jacobean era, the first British colonialists appeared in the United States and colonies like Virginia, Jamestown and Massachusetts were founded.
Fine arts in the Jacobean period were mainly dominated by foreign talents. Painters like Daniel Mytens and Anthony Van Dyke were the most famous ones among many others. Furniture and other decorative arts became elaborate in colour, design and pattern.
More Info On- Jacobean Masques, Plays, Literature
