About this talk

Running time: 23 minutes

Nash's architecture is among the greatest of London, yet few people realise that John Nash was a great entrepreneur without whose drive, sense of urgency and unfailing invention none of it would have been realised.

Only one architect before Nash's time had proposed a London re-planning on such a scale, and that was Wren. Wren's proposals failed, Nash's succeeded. The London he shaped started in 1812, in his 60th year, and ended in 1832. His plans gave London new life, a great new system of circulation, a new equilibrium, and indeed a new sense of pride and self-confidence as the capital of a great nation.

The late Sir John Summerson, formerly curator of Sir John Soane's Museum in London and author of "The Life & Work Of John Nash", tells the story in his talk of Nash's incredible achievement.

He can also be heard speaking about Sir John Soane's Museum Sir John Soane's Museum.

Please note that a transcript of this talk is available - please contact us for further details.