Gothic Revival – Masonry (1840s – 1880s)
Medieval cathedrals inspired impressive homes made of stone.
History:
Gothic Revival was a Victorian style that borrowed details from Gothic cathedrals and other medieval architecture. Gothic Revival homes in England were most frequently constructed of masonry. In the United States, some large, lavish estates were also made with stone or brick. These homes often resembled medieval churches or castles.
Few people could afford to build a masonry home in the Gothic Revival or High Gothic revival style. In the United States, the masonry versions of Gothic Revival and High Gothic Revival architecture were used mainly for churches, public buildings, and grand estates. However, the ready availability of lumber lead to a distinctly American version of the Gothic Revival style, constructed with wood.
Features:
Pointed windows with decorative tracery
Grouped chimneys
Pinnacles
Flat roofs with Battlements, or gable roofs with parapets
Leaded glass
Quatrefoil and clover shaped windows
Oriel windows
In the 1870s, a related style, High Victorian Gothic or Neo-Gothic, grew out of the Gothic Revival movement.
Features of the High Victorian Gothic style:
Strong vertical lines and a sense of great height
Heavy, bold details
Leaves, vines, gargoyles, and other stone carvings
Multi-colored masonry, often forming patterns or bands
Slightly pointed Romanesque arches
Faithful re-creation of medieval styles
Next: Gothic Revival – Wood
