London's Great Estates

This film examines London's unique character as a 'city of villages', which has emerged from the piecemeal development of self-contained estates under single ownership. In addition to their historic legacy - dating from the 17th century and beyond - many 'Great Estates' are still active, providing sustainable methods of management and long-term investment, which are in large part being replicated across a series of new ‘estates’ - significant areas of London under single ownership including King’s Cross, Canary Wharf and Covent Garden.
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[@EASYTIGER10]

At least developers 200 years ago built fine and elegant architecture. Too much development over the last 60 years is driven purely by money and greed

[@CertifiedRealism]

EASYTIGER10 True that

[@darkobelisk4076]

Same everywhere but not necessarily greed just economics. Builders these days just build they aren't artisans, happy to work for free for some fuedel lord for the glory of God.

[@maxisussex]

You have to consider that these architecturally beautiful buildings were neither cost nor space efficient. Buildings in this style are still being built in Britain, but they are being built in places like Surrey and Hertfordshire.

[@Shrika116]

Your grandeur building built from the stolen money from India. It's a shame

[@charlestalks5638]

@@Shrika116 What exactly do you mean? I am aware of the saying that every brick in Bristol, Birmingham, etc. is stained with the blood of slaves referencing the indirect revenue from the slave trade but these buildings are from private investment. In fact much of the aristocracy originated from factory owners in the early 19th century. You could argue that infrastructure in former British colonies was an investment in their future, from investment from British nationals. A similar situation is happening right now in many African countries where much if their infrastructure is funded by Chinese investors.

[@hamsamuse7714]

sad to see that London distinctive architecture is being destroyed for money and greed

[@paullewis2413]

The great Estates have saved London from being destroyed by greed driven developers. Much damage was done in the 1960`s to 1980`s but far less to the areas owned by these estates. The only reason why areas such as Chelsea, Kensington, Marylebone, Mayfair, St. James`, Knightsbridge, Pimlico etc are so desirable and admired is because the owners have resisted too much redevelopment.

[@nobilesnovushomo58]

"Greed" Almost every building built by the UK government since the 60s: *Am I a JOKE to you?*

[@MrBoliao98]

I disagree, I simply think that communities that do not reinvest constantly into their economies suck. I mean look at the Barbican Estate, the brutalist garbage of the 60s actually looks fine when well maintained and executed in a coherent fashion. West London looks fine because it was executed and reinvested in that same coherent manner.

[@yoya4766]

The new builds at 2:44 onwards are just like the ugly 1960s council buildings. They have the design sense of communist countries but in the 21st century. London's rampant over development, disjointed in every sense and divorced from the infrastructure limitations; is ugly, impractical and over priced. The city is a large open air bank account for global money launderers. It is not a place for real living.

[@joseadamski7701]

Beautiful city. thanks for sharing the information as well

[@StevenTorrey]

I'm told that there is a certain Duke's family that owns most the land in he City of London Corporation; he is fairly young, less than age 40 I believe. it is an interesting reminder of land use in England, and how it differs still from land use in the rest of the world.

[@StevenTorrey]

In answer to my question, it is Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster, age 25, who is landowner of something like 300 acres of London, though how much of this is within the City of London Corporation is unknown by me.

[@MrBoliao98]

Really takes a lot of us even in the Commonwealth to comprehend your Title Deed system in the UK. We have to dig through case studies to comprehend how people can lease out the land 300 years ago and own the land.

[@disposabull]

@@MrBoliao98 It gets worse than that. In 1066 the Normans conquered England and divided up the land between about 28,000 families. 1000 years later the majority of that land is still in the hands of the same families, it doesn't show up on any official government records and gets passed down generation after generation.

[@DavidAlxnder]

these are great videos. thanks for making them .

[@klarissaclairiton9010]

Thank you. Interesting.

[@L.M1792]

I was reading of how many of the buildings themselves are owned by American companies which are run mainly by Jewish leaders in commerce. Kind regards LM

[@L.M1792]

Stephen Murphy I try not to worry to much about material wealth, it’s the abducting of body, mind, spiritual paths that’s upsetting. Such targeting and process is fuelled by establishment of self via a commerce deluding even the smartest of minds. Importance is gauged from within an environment afforded mutual respect, this, the power seekers tend to forget, its what gave them the footing for their possibility, without which they would be at war each minute of every day and unlikely to survive let alone prosper. Phew, glad I....

[@alexaez2946]

Just like the Chinese trying to buy properties around the world

[@rahulrathod-vx6yv]

Years

[@markus4623]

Something went wrong with his jacket on 1:41. Missed a button? ;-)

[@johnobrien8398]

This just proves that the class system still thrives and the poor working class are working like dogs just to survive

[@bernadettegaudin3188]

In my experience dogs do not really work hard.

[@nobilesnovushomo58]

London's Great Estates (essentially old nobility) - *Let's build Beautiful resplendent buildings in almost every corner of our dominions.* Modern UK government who's decisions are made by commoners: *The commoner's deserve dirt cheap living quarters, just a roof over their heads, and we don't have the liberty to use taxpayers funds, so that's all we'll give 'em.* I prefer private developers, private contractors, for a variety of reasons, taste included.

[@nobilesnovushomo58]

In other words, contrary to popular opinion, *nobility good for civic architecture, people bad.* Almost all the buildings I saw that were allowed to be built by the government were horrid.

[@bruceburns1672]

Good to see Britain renewing itself and throwing off its stogy old Empire image and a nation looking for an identity after their golden years as a world power and can now settle down after Brexit and just become a normal European nation like Sweden or others and not involved in the arms race and wars draining their wealth to the detriment of its citizens .

[@KristisTm]

interesting view

[@martin-3726]

As an English man I completely agree with you..here's hoping.

[@bilko1971]

yes i agree although it was the arrogance of the Empire in a way that made such resplendent and opulent buildings. The Swedish people have some nice architecture but humility and climate make for chalets; nice as they are.