DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN

VICTORIAN ENGLAND
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

LECTURE 3
SEMESTER 5
 THE VICTORIAN ERA (1837 - 1901)
"PRUDISHNESS" AND "REPRESSIVENESS"

The Victorian era is generally agreed to stretch through the reign of

Queen Victoria (1837-1901). It was a tremendously exciting period
when many artistic styles, literary schools, as well as, social, political
and religious movements flourished. It was a time of prosperity, broad
imperial expansion, and great political reform. It was also a time,
which today we associate with "prudishness" and "repression".
Without a doubt, it was an extraordinarily complex age, that has
sometimes been called the Second English Renaissance. It is,
however, also the beginning of Modern Times.
 THE EARLY VICTORIAN PERIOD (1830-50)
Economic, political, social difficulties became
increasingly evident during these two decades, and it was
clear that "the spirit of the age" differed from anything that
had gone before. Industrial development and urbanization,
as discussed before, were key factors, along with
increasing class consciousness and strife.

THE MID-VICTORIAN PERIOD (1851-70)

 THE LATE VICTORIAN PERIOD (1871-1901)
3rd period of Victorian rule is called domestic revival,
England.

Context for the emergence of the domestic revival

•Longing to go back to the simple life of the pre- industrial
area.
•Waving of the Gothic as the style was perceived as too
showy.
•Neo- classical was too formal to reflect the simplicity that
was desired.
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to

VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE
several architectural styles employed predominantly
during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it
indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June
1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This
represents the British and French custom of naming
architectural styles for a reigning monarch. Within this
naming and classification scheme, it follows Georgian
architecture and Regency architecture, and was succeeded
by Edwardian architecture.
Inspiration for design coming from modest and humble

VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE
sources such as Paris churches and farmer’s dwellings in
the English country side.
People wanted to be simple, as they wanted to go back i.e.,
life before Industrial Revolution.

WHAT STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE SHOULD

NOW BE THE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION????
People knew that they wanted something simple and should relate to
the past.

VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE
MATERIAL USED: Thatch, tile, stone, timber, plaster, white
washed stone, slate, red brick- types of English

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURAL STYLES

It was felt that the style to be chosen must be ENGLISH IN ORIGIN
rather than relying on European infuences. By elimination, a range of
architectural style that had been prevailed in England during 17th and
19th century are:
•ENGLISH TUDOR STYLE
•QUEEN ANNE STYLE (1702- 1714)
The typical features of the style:

ENGLISH TUDOR STYLE (1702- 1714)

•Decorative half-timbering
•Steeply pitched roof
•Prominent cross gables
•Tall, narrow doors and windows
•Small window panes
•Large chimneys, often topped with decorative chimney pots
The typical features of the style:

QUEEN ANNE STYLE (1702- 1714)

•a sweep of steps leading to a carved stone door-case
•rows of painted sash windows in boxes set flush with the brickwork
•stone quoins emphasizing corners
•a central triangular pediment set against a hipped roof with dormers
•typically box-like "double pile" plans, two rooms deep
Architects not drawn to the city and as they shunned publicity they
worked in war obscurity.

VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE
EXCLUSIVELY OF CLIENT
Emphasis on SIMPLICITY
Simplicity became a important by word even in building interior with
Japanese art and furniture becoming a major source of inspiration.
(Japanese belived in minimism)
REGIONALISM- Inspiration sources regionalized in that regional
building types and tradition became popular. Emphasis on local
building traditions and local materials.

‘ Truthfulness’ of building material valued.

Visually, the following design features were found in a building built

VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE
in the domestic Revival style:
Thatched Roof, Rough walls, Chimney stacks, Dormer and Gable
Windows , Bay windows

Gable Window

Dormer Window
Three variations in the style:

VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE
1.VERNACULAR STYLE:- Simplest form of the style
2.OLD ENGLISH STYLE:- Elaboration of vernacular with use of
Half- timbering, saddled, roof and weather boards.
3.QUEEN ANNE STYLE:- A more elegant version of the vernacular,
emphasis o creating a contrast between building materials such as red
brick walls verses widow frames and cornices painted in white; use of
Flemish gabbles- it came from Holland.
VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE
William Morris

CHIEF ADVOCATOR OF DOMESTIC

•He had influenced out of Europe.
•Man of contradicting
•He belived that machines will design properly and will not be
fabricated properly.

REVIVAL
•He was trained in George E. Street’s office where he came in contact
with other named Philip Webb, who favored him and hated Industrial
Revolution.
He urged a return to pre- industrial scenario where the medieval
principle of craftsman being designers and vice versa held true. In
1861 he formed a consortium with like minded person that designed
and executed upon commissioning a range of products such as stained
glass , furniture, embroidery, metal work and carved wood.
Advocated ‘Art FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE’ but

CHIEF ADVOCATOR OF DOMESTIC

ironically in practical terms fell far short of achieving his ideal.
Morris also promoted the idea of ‘ GARDEN SUBURBS’ that
allowed city dwellers convenient access to the countryside from the
city. This concept was later expanded and theorized by Ebenezer

REVIVAL
Howard.
He did not design any building. In 1877, Moris founded SPAB
(community based on ancient buildings) also called ‘Anti- Scrape
Society’ that protested against the prevalent conservation practices of
restoring churches being undertaken by architects like G.G. Scott.

Restoration : rebuilt the broken part

cleaning the dirt by scrubbing.
 DOMESTIC REVIVAL ARCHITECTS
Phillip Webb
•Morris's friend.
•Designed house for him out of city called Red House.
•Designed in Vernacular Style.

Richard Norman Shaw

•Associated with another architect William Eden Newfield.
•Designed a range of built form types from residences including town
and country houses of churches (just like William Morris wanted).
Bedford Park

DOMESTIC REVIVAL ARCHITECTS

Speculative housing scheme in the London suburb away from the
rapidly industrializing city centre, small semi- detached house.

CFA Voysey
•Architect cum designer.
•Buildings represented by a traditional rural look with low- slung big
roofs; half- timbering; chimneys and dormer’s; walls finished; wall
paper.
•The PASTURES built by him.

No railway stations was made in domestic revival style, only

houses were made.