In Great Britain and former British colonies, a Victorian house generally means any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria. During the Industrial Revolution, successive housing booms resulted in the building of many millions of Victorian houses which are now a defining feature of most British towns and cities.[1]
Typical Victorian terraced houses in England, built in brick with slate roofs, stone details and modest decoration.
Early in the Victorian era, up to the 1840s houses were still influenced by the classicism of Regency styles. However the simplicity of Regency classicism fell out of favour as affluence increased and by the 1850s the Italianate style influenced domestic architecture which now incorporated varying quantities of stucco. From the 1850s domestic buildings also became increasingly influenced by the Gothic Revival, incorporating features such as pointed, projecting porches, bay windows, and grey slate.[3]
Typical featuresEdit
In addition to general architectural influences, this progressive change in style resulted from several other factors. In the 1850s, the abolition of tax on glass and bricks made these items cheaper yet a suitable material and the coming of the railway allowed them to be manufactured elsewhere, at low cost and to standard sizes and methods, and brought to site. There was also progressive introduction from the 1850s of various building regulations.[1] There are a number of common themes in Victorian housing:[1]
Sanitation: regulations were introduced progressively from the 1850s to raise the importance of sanitation features, including correct drainage, waste facilities (the "ash pit" or "dust bin"), and toilet facilities either in the form of an outside privy or inside water closet.
Hot and cold water: at the start of the Victorian era, some houses had running tap water and a boiler for hot water. By the turn of the century, hot and cold running water were a common feature.
Lighting powered by gas was available in many towns from the start of the Victorian era. By the end of the Victorian era, many houses had gas.
A basement with a cellar for the storage of coal, required for open fires and to heat water.
The brick chimney was a prominent feature in Victorian homes, consisting of a fireplace, chimney breast and chimney stack that protruded above the roof line to exhaust smoke.[4][1]
Victorian houses were generally built in terraces or as detached houses.
Building materials were brick or local stone. Bricks were made in factories some distance away, to standard sizes, rather than the earlier practice of digging clay locally and making bricks on site.[1]
The majority of houses were roofed with slate, quarried mainly in Wales and carried by rail. The clay tiles used in some houses would be available locally.
Vegetation and small garden were often incorporated into Victorian homes, as forms of nature were prized by the suburban domestic ideal.[5]
Houses for all classesEdit
In Victorian times, population growth, and the Industrial Revolution which saw a migration of workers from the countryside to the cities, resulted in successive housing booms in the 1850s and 1870s that saw the creation of millions of houses. These catered not only for the rich and the new "middling-classes" but also for the poor.
In deprived areas, Victorian houses were often very small, for example, back-to-back houses built in extremely cramped conditions. Some of these areas became slums or 'rookeries', and were later cleared. Some smaller, two-up two-down houses still survive, for example in Salford, Greater Manchester.
Victorian houses for the middle classes and upwards tended to have accommodation for servants, often employed to carry out the considerable labour required to keep the house, including its fireplaces, clean and well stocked.[1]
Victorian houses of the middle and upper classes aspired to follow the purest forms of contemporary architecture, for example, the Gothic Revival or Queen Anne styles.
Victorian-era homes in eastern American cities tend to be three stories and those in western American cities tend to be two-story houses or one-story cottages. This is not representative of a typical Victorian-era home in all regions.[citation needed]
Although the general public often incorrectly refers to a Victorian-era house as a Victorian-style house, Victorian era refers to a time period and not to a style. Although architectural historians generally agree that about eight primary architectural styles were prominent in the United States and Canada during the Victorian era, Victorian-era residential architecture in the United States and Canada was a procession of styles borrowed from countries and historical styles.[citation needed]
One feature that became popular in the Victorian era was the use of wooden gingerbread trims to create ornate embellishments to decorate their homes. This was a reinterpretation of European Gothic Revival architecture using timber that was abundantly available in North America. With the invention of steam-powered scroll saw, the gingerbread trims could be produced en masse.[7] The popularity started in the east in 1870 and spread to the west five to ten years later.[8]
This is an 1880s photo of 653 W Wrightwood (now 655 W Wrightwood) in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. Note the wooden sidewalk, dirt road and lack of buildings surrounding the edifice.
AustraliaEdit
In Australia, eight styles predominated for homes in the Victorian period:[9]
Victorian Georgian
Victorian Regency
Filigree
Italianate
Tudor
Free Gothic
Rustic Gothic
Free Classical
(The Arts and Crafts style and Queen Anne style are placed in the Federation period, from 1890 to 1915.)[10]
^ZFN (2021-02-19). "Full Structural Survey - Victorian House in London". ZFN. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
^Marcus, Sharon. Apartment Stories:City and Home in 19th Century Paris and London. UC Press. p. 97.
^Pragnall, Hubert (1984). Styles of English Architecture. Frome: Batsford. ISBN0-7134-3768-5.
^"Gingerbread Trim". This Old House. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
^Baird, Joseph Armstrong (1962). Time's Wondrous Changes: San Francisco Architecture, 1776-1915. California Historical Society. p. 29.
^A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture, Apperly (Angus & Robertson) 1994, pp.40–97
^A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture, pp.132–143
Further readingEdit
Larsen, Michael; Elizabeth Pomada; Photographs by Douglas Keister (1987). Daughters of Painted Ladies: America's Resplendent Victorians. New York: E. P. Dutton. ISBN0-525-48337-3.
Osband, Linda (2003). Victorian Gothic House Style: An Architectural and Interior Design Source Book for Home Owners. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN978-0-7153-1438-8 (originally published: 1991).
Yorke, Trevor (2005) The Victorian House Explained. Newbury: Countryside Books ISBN1-85306-943-4.
External linksEdit
Media related to Victorian houses at Wikimedia Commons
Victorian Houses
The Haas-Lilienthal House, Victorian-era house and museum in San Francisco, California
Buffalo, New York Victorian era architecture and history
Williamsport, Pennsylvania Victorian Homes
Victorian Architecture and Hardware, History and Style
Manchester, a Victorian City
Hamilton, Ontario Canada Victorian Home Photographs
Willimantic, CT Victorian Homes
October 15, 2023
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In Great Britain and former British colonies a Victorian house generally means any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria During the Industrial Revolution successive housing booms resulted in the building of many millions of Victorian houses which are now a defining feature of most British towns and cities 1 Typical Victorian terraced houses in England built in brick with slate roofs stone details and modest decoration In the United Kingdom Victorian houses follow a wide range of architectural styles Starting from the early classicism inherited from Regency architecture the Italianate style gained influence in the 1840s and 1850s and the Gothic Revival style became prevalent by the 1880s Later in the Victorian era the Queen Anne style and the Arts and Crafts movement increased in influence resulting in the transition to styles typically seen in Edwardian houses Victorian houses are also found in many former British colonies where the style might be adapted to local building materials or customs for example in Sydney Australia and Melaka Malaysia The Victorian Society is a membership charity which campaigns for Victorian architecture In the United States Victorian house styles include Second Empire Queen Anne Stick and Eastlake Stick Shingle Richardsonian Romanesque and others 2 Contents 1 Great Britain 1 1 Typical features 1 2 Houses for all classes 1 3 Great houses 2 North America 2 1 Examples 3 Australia 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksGreat Britain EditEarly in the Victorian era up to the 1840s houses were still influenced by the classicism of Regency styles However the simplicity of Regency classicism fell out of favour as affluence increased and by the 1850s the Italianate style influenced domestic architecture which now incorporated varying quantities of stucco From the 1850s domestic buildings also became increasingly influenced by the Gothic Revival incorporating features such as pointed projecting porches bay windows and grey slate 3 Typical features Edit In addition to general architectural influences this progressive change in style resulted from several other factors In the 1850s the abolition of tax on glass and bricks made these items cheaper yet a suitable material and the coming of the railway allowed them to be manufactured elsewhere at low cost and to standard sizes and methods and brought to site There was also progressive introduction from the 1850s of various building regulations 1 There are a number of common themes in Victorian housing 1 Sanitation regulations were introduced progressively from the 1850s to raise the importance of sanitation features including correct drainage waste facilities the ash pit or dust bin and toilet facilities either in the form of an outside privy or inside water closet Hot and cold water at the start of the Victorian era some houses had running tap water and a boiler for hot water By the turn of the century hot and cold running water were a common feature Lighting powered by gas was available in many towns from the start of the Victorian era By the end of the Victorian era many houses had gas A basement with a cellar for the storage of coal required for open fires and to heat water Sash windows but with larger panes of glass from the 1850s than the characteristic 6 plus 6 smaller panes seen in Georgian and Regency architecture The brick chimney was a prominent feature in Victorian homes consisting of a fireplace chimney breast and chimney stack that protruded above the roof line to exhaust smoke 4 1 Victorian houses were generally built in terraces or as detached houses Building materials were brick or local stone Bricks were made in factories some distance away to standard sizes rather than the earlier practice of digging clay locally and making bricks on site 1 The majority of houses were roofed with slate quarried mainly in Wales and carried by rail The clay tiles used in some houses would be available locally Vegetation and small garden were often incorporated into Victorian homes as forms of nature were prized by the suburban domestic ideal 5 Houses for all classes Edit In Victorian times population growth and the Industrial Revolution which saw a migration of workers from the countryside to the cities resulted in successive housing booms in the 1850s and 1870s that saw the creation of millions of houses These catered not only for the rich and the new middling classes but also for the poor In deprived areas Victorian houses were often very small for example back to back houses built in extremely cramped conditions Some of these areas became slums or rookeries and were later cleared Some smaller two up two down houses still survive for example in Salford Greater Manchester Victorian houses for the middle classes and upwards tended to have accommodation for servants often employed to carry out the considerable labour required to keep the house including its fireplaces clean and well stocked 1 Victorian houses of the middle and upper classes aspired to follow the purest forms of contemporary architecture for example the Gothic Revival or Queen Anne styles Great houses Edit See also Mansion English country house Great house Manor house Stately home and Townhouse Great Britain The Victorian era together with the Edwardian era was the last sustained period in which great houses were built in large numbers 6 Many of these harked back to earlier periods of English architecture for example Waddesdon Manor in Renaissance Revival style Highclere Castle in Tudorbethan style link says it s actually Jacobethan Harlaxton Manor in Jacobethan style Canford manor following the medieval style and incorporating a great hall Penrhyn Castle in Norman style Mentmore Towers in Jacobethan style Tyntesfield in Gothic Revival styleNorth America EditVictorian era homes in eastern American cities tend to be three stories and those in western American cities tend to be two story houses or one story cottages This is not representative of a typical Victorian era home in all regions citation needed Although the general public often incorrectly refers to a Victorian era house as a Victorian style house Victorian era refers to a time period and not to a style Although architectural historians generally agree that about eight primary architectural styles were prominent in the United States and Canada during the Victorian era Victorian era residential architecture in the United States and Canada was a procession of styles borrowed from countries and historical styles citation needed One feature that became popular in the Victorian era was the use of wooden gingerbread trims to create ornate embellishments to decorate their homes This was a reinterpretation of European Gothic Revival architecture using timber that was abundantly available in North America With the invention of steam powered scroll saw the gingerbread trims could be produced en masse 7 The popularity started in the east in 1870 and spread to the west five to ten years later 8 Examples Edit nbsp High execution of U S Queen Anne style The Carson Mansion located in Eureka California nbsp John B Kane Residence South Los Angeles Eastlake nbsp Alamo Square San Francisco Painted ladies nbsp The Farnam Mansion Oneida New York Italianate nbsp A house in the Cape May Historic District with elaborate gingerbread trims nbsp This is an 1880s photo of 653 W Wrightwood now 655 W Wrightwood in Lincoln Park Chicago Illinois Note the wooden sidewalk dirt road and lack of buildings surrounding the edifice Australia EditIn Australia eight styles predominated for homes in the Victorian period 9 Victorian Georgian Victorian Regency Filigree Italianate Tudor Free Gothic Rustic Gothic Free Classical The Arts and Crafts style and Queen Anne style are placed in the Federation period from 1890 to 1915 10 nbsp Regency terraces in Millers Point Sydney nbsp Italianate home in St Kilda Melbourne nbsp Filigree terraces in Carlton Melbourne nbsp Free Gothic residence in Double Bay Sydney nbsp Semi detached Rustic Gothic homes in Sydney nbsp Drummond Terrace Melbourne in Free Classical styleSee also Edit nbsp Architecture portalVictorian architecture List of house styles Second Empire architecture Wesleyan GroveReferences Edit a b c d e Marshall John Willox Ian 1986 The Victorian House London Sidgwick and Jackson Limited ISBN 0 283 99363 4 OldHouses com Quiney Anthony 1989 Period Houses a guide to authentic architectural features London George Philip ISBN 0 540 01173 8 ZFN 2021 02 19 Full Structural Survey Victorian House in London ZFN Retrieved 2021 02 25 Marcus Sharon Apartment Stories City and Home in 19th Century Paris and London UC Press p 97 Pragnall Hubert 1984 Styles of English Architecture Frome Batsford ISBN 0 7134 3768 5 Gingerbread Trim This Old House 2 February 2007 Retrieved 23 February 2021 Baird Joseph Armstrong 1962 Time s Wondrous Changes San Francisco Architecture 1776 1915 California Historical Society p 29 A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture Apperly Angus amp Robertson 1994 pp 40 97 A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture pp 132 143Further reading EditLarsen Michael Elizabeth Pomada Photographs by Douglas Keister 1987 Daughters of Painted Ladies America s Resplendent Victorians New York E P Dutton ISBN 0 525 48337 3 Osband Linda 2003 Victorian Gothic House Style An Architectural and Interior Design Source Book for Home Owners Newton Abbot David amp Charles ISBN 978 0 7153 1438 8 originally published 1991 Yorke Trevor 2005 The Victorian House Explained Newbury Countryside Books ISBN 1 85306 943 4 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Victorian houses at Wikimedia Commons Victorian Houses The Haas Lilienthal House Victorian era house and museum in San Francisco California Buffalo New York Victorian era architecture and history Williamsport Pennsylvania Victorian Homes Victorian Architecture and Hardware History and Style Manchester a Victorian City Hamilton Ontario Canada Victorian Home Photographs Willimantic CT Victorian Homes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Victorian house amp oldid 1150931930, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
