Victorian architecture

Victorian architecture in the United Kingdom

Gothic Revival

Main article: Gothic Revival architecture

During the early 19th century, the romantic medieval Gothic Revival style was developed as a reaction to the symmetry of Palladianism, and such buildings as Fonthill Abbey were built.

By the middle of the 19th century, as a result of new technology, construction was able to incorporate metal materials as building components. Structures were erected with cast iron and wrought iron frames. However, due to being weak in tension, these materials were effectively phased out in place for more structurally sound steel. One of the greatest exponents of iron frame construction was Joseph Paxton, architect of the Crystal Palace. Paxton also continued to build such houses as Mentmore Towers, in the still popular English Renaissance styles. New methods of construction were developed in this era of prosperity, but ironically the architectural styles, as developed by such architects as Augustus Pugin, were typically retrospective.

In Scotland, the architect Alexander Thomson who practised in Glasgow was a pioneer of the use of cast iron and steel for commercial buildings, blending neo-classical conventionality with Egyptian and Oriental themes to produce many truly original structures. Other notable Scottish architects of this period are Archibald Simpson and Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, whose stylistically varied work can be seen in the architecture of Aberdeen.

While Scottish architects pioneered this style it soon spread right across the United Kingdom and remained popular for another forty years. Its architectural value in preserving and reinventing the past is significant. Its influences were diverse but the Scottish architects who practiced it were inspired by unique ways to blend architecture, purpose, and everyday life in a meaningful way.

Other Revival styles

• Jacobethan (1830–1870; the precursor to the British Queen Anne Revival style)
• Renaissance Revival (1840–1890)
• Neo-Grec (1845–1865)
• Romanesque Revival
• Second Empire (1855–1880; originated in France)
• British Queen Anne Revival (1870–1910)
• Scots Baronial (predominantly Scotland)
• British Arts and Crafts movement (1880–1910)

Some styles, while not uniquely Victorian, are strongly associated with the 19th century owing to the large number of examples that were erected during that period:

• Italianate
• Neoclassical

File:Houses of Parliament.jpg|Palace of Westminster, Neo-Gothic completed in 1870. Designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin File:Royal Albert Hall, London - Nov 2012.jpg|Royal Albert Hall, London File:Victoria Clock Tower, Liverpool University - geograph.org.uk - 374422.jpg|The "Red Brick" Victoria Building at the University of Liverpool, completed in 1893 in Gothic Revival style. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse File:The Oval Pavilion.jpg|The Victorian Pavilion at The Oval cricket ground in London File:Art&Science.jpg|Victorian School of Art and Science at Stroud, Gloucestershire File:HardwickHouseEstate.jpg|House on the Hardwick House estate near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk File:Manchester town hall.jpg|Manchester Town Hall File:The John Rylands Library, Deansgate, Manchester.jpg|The John Rylands Library in Manchester File:BirminghamUniversityChancellorsCourt.jpg|The Aston Webb building at the University of Birmingham, UK File:Birmingham - Lawcourt 2.JPG|Victoria Law Courts, Birmingham, UK File:University of Glasgow Gilbert Scott Building - Feb 2008-2.jpg|The Gilbert Scott Building of the University of Glasgow, as viewed from Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow. An example of the Gothic Revival style File:North of Scotland Bank, 5 Castle Street, Aberdeen, Archibald Simpson, 1839-42.jpg|North of Scotland Bank in Aberdeen by Archibald Simpson 1839–42 File:Balmoral Castle.jpg|Balmoral Castle, completely rebuilt for Queen Victoria, an example of the Scots Baronial style File:Walsall Victorian Arcade.JPG|Walsall Victorian Arcade, UK File:Barclay's Bank building, Sutton (Surrey), Greater London 03.jpg|Barclays Bank building, Sutton, Greater London File:Bridge III.jpg|Forth Rail Bridge, Firth of Forth, near Edinburgh, Scotland, UK File:Somerville College.jpg|Somerville College, Oxford, UK

International spread of Victorian styles

During the 18th century, a few English architects emigrated to the colonies, but as the British Empire became firmly established during the 19th century, many architects emigrated at the start of their careers. Some chose the United States, and others went to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Normally, they applied architectural styles that were fashionable when they left England. By the latter half of the century, however, improving transport and communications meant that even remote parts of the Empire had access to publications such as the magazine The Builder, which helped colonial architects keep informed about current fashion. Thus, the influence of English architecture spread across the world. Several prominent architects produced English-derived designs around the world, including William Butterfield (St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide) and Jacob Wrey Mould (Chief Architect of Public Works in New York City).

Australia

The Victorian period flourished in Australia and is generally recognised as being from 1840 to 1890, which saw a gold rush and population boom during the 1880s in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. There were fifteen styles that predominated:

• Victorian Georgian
• Victorian Regency
• Egyptian
• Academic Classical
• Free Classical
• Filigree
• Mannerist
• Second Empire
• Italianate
• Romanesque
• Tudor
• Academic Gothic
• Free Gothic
• Rustic Gothic
• Carpenter Gothic The Arts and Crafts style and Queen Anne style are considered to be part of the Federation Period, from 1890 to 1915.

File:Royal exhibition building tulips straight.jpg|Melbourne's world heritage Royal Exhibition Building, built in 1880 (Free Classical) File:General Post Office, Sydney.jpg|General Post Office, Sydney, in the Free Classical style (1891) File:The Hotel Windsor, Melbourne, Australia.jpg|Hotel Windsor, Melbourne, 1885 File:St Peters Cathedral.JPG|St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide (Gothic Revival) File:SydneyTownHall gobeirne.jpg|Sydney Town Hall, in Second Empire style File:Sydney (AU), Queen Victoria Building -- 2019 -- 3580.jpg|Queen Victoria Building in Romanesque style (1898) File:South Melbourne Townhall.jpg|South Melbourne Town Hall in Second Empire style File:StMarysSydneyCathedral1.jpg|St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, in Victorian Gothic architecture (1882) File:York Street, Sydney.jpg|Victorian Mannerist architecture lining a street in Sydney File:Melbourne Princess Theatre Feb 2013.jpg|Princess Theatre, Melbourne File:State Library of Victoria - right side.jpg|State Library of Victoria of the Academic Classical style (1870) File:UniSA Library, Adelaide, East view 20230207.jpg|Brookman Hall, UniSA City East Campus, Adelaide, South Australia File:Adelaide rotunda.jpg|Gazebo in Adelaide, South Australia File:(1)Italianate home Dutruc Street Randwick-1.jpg|Italianate home in Randwick File:(1) Nichols Street Homes.JPG|Filigree style terraces in Surry Hills with ornate iron-wrought detailing File:Goodrest corner leopold and domain road south yarra.jpg|Second Empire and Filigree residence in South Yarra

Hong Kong

Western influence in architecture was strong when Hong Kong was a British colony. Victorian architecture in Hong Kong: File:St Andrew's Church 2017.jpg|St. Andrew's Church File:St John Cathedral Hong Kong.jpg|St. John's Cathedral File:1881 Heritage Overview 201108.jpg|Former Marine Police Headquarters (now officially named as '1881 Heritage', which is a hotel and a shopping mall)

Ireland

Georgian architecture is more prominent in Ireland than Victorian architecture. The cities of Dublin, Limerick, and Cork are famously dominated by Georgian squares and terraces. However, Victorian architecture flourished in certain quarters, particularly around Dublin's Wicklow Street and Upper Baggot Street, and in the suburbs of Phibsboro, Glasnevin, Rathmines, Ranelagh, Rathgar, Rathfarnham, and Terenure. The colourful Italianate buildings of Cobh are excellent examples of the regional Victorian style in Ireland. Further examples of Victorian architecture in the country include Dublin's George's Street Arcade, the Royal City of Dublin Hospital on Baggot Street and the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital on Adelaide Road. File:Cobh-Cathedral-West-Side-2012.JPG|A Victorian terrace in Cobh known as the "deck of cards" File:South Great George's Street Dublin.jpg|Victorian shops and cafes, including the George's Street Arcade, Dublin D02 File:Baggot Street Upper, Dublin.jpg|Victorian Upper Baggot Street, Dublin D02 File:D6W pillar box.jpg|Victorian terraced houses in Dublin D6W File:Rathmines Road.jpg|Rathmines Clock Tower, Rathmines, Dublin D06 File:The Royal City of Dublin Hospital.jpg|The Royal City of Dublin Hospital, Dublin D04 File:Botanic Gardens In Glasnevin (Dublin) (7951823690).jpg|National Botanic Gardens glasshouse, Glasnevin, Dublin D09 File:Royal Victoria.jpg|The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Adelaide Road, Dublin D02

Sri Lanka

During the British colonial period of British Ceylon: Sri Lanka Law College, Sri Lanka College of Technology, Galle Face Hotel and the Royal College Main Building.

North America

In the United States, 'Victorian' architecture generally describes styles that were most popular between 1860 and 1900. A list of these styles most commonly includes Second Empire (1855–85), Stick-Eastlake (1860–), Folk Victorian (1870–1910), Queen Anne (1880–1910), Richardsonian Romanesque (1880–1900), and Shingle (1880–1900). As in the United Kingdom, examples of Gothic Revival and Italianate continued to be constructed during this period and are therefore sometimes called Victorian. Some historians classify the later years of Gothic Revival as a distinctive Victorian style named High Victorian Gothic. Stick-Eastlake, a manner of geometric, machine-cut decorating derived from Stick and Queen Anne, is sometimes considered a distinct style. On the other hand, terms such as "Painted Ladies" or "gingerbread" may be used to describe certain Victorian buildings, but do not constitute a specific style. The names of architectural styles (as well as their adaptations) varied between countries. Many homes combined the elements of several different styles and are not easily distinguishable as one particular style or another.

Notable Victorian-inspired cities during this era include, Astoria in Oregon; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Boston in Massachusetts; Alameda, Eureka, San Francisco, and Midtown Sacramento in California; The Brooklyn Heights, Forrest Hills, Park Slope, St. George, and Victorian Flatbush sections of New York City, Garden City, Oyster Bay, and Roslyn on Long Island, and Albany, Troy, Buffalo, and Rochester in Upstate New York; Asbury Park / Ocean Grove, Cape May, Deal, Flemington, Freehold, Hackettstown, Jersey City / Hoboken, Madison, Metuchen, Montclair, Ridgewood, Plainfield, Summit, and Westfield in New Jersey; Chicago, Galena, and Winnetka in Illinois; Detroit and Grand Rapids in Michigan; Cincinnati and Columbus in Ohio; Galveston in Texas; Baltimore in Maryland; Louisville in Kentucky; Atlanta in Georgia; Milwaukee in Wisconsin; New Orleans in Louisiana; Richmond in Virginia; St. Louis in Missouri; and Saint Paul in Minnesota. Los Angeles grew from a Pueblo (village) into a Victorian Downtown – now almost entirely demolished but with residential remnants in its Angelino Heights and Westlake neighborhoods. San Francisco is particularly well known for its extensive Victorian architecture, especially in the Haight-Ashbury, Lower Haight, Alamo Square, Western Addition, Mission, Duboce Triangle, Noe Valley, Castro, Nob Hill, and Pacific Heights neighborhoods.

The extent to which any one is the "largest surviving example" is debated, with numerous qualifications. The Distillery District in Toronto, Ontario contains the largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America. Cabbagetown is the largest and most continuous Victorian residential area in North America. Other Toronto Victorian neighbourhoods include The Annex, Parkdale, and Rosedale. In the US, the South End of Boston is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places as the oldest and largest Victorian neighborhood in the country. Old Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, also claims to be the nation's largest Victorian neighborhood. Richmond, Virginia is home to several large Victorian neighborhoods, the most prominent being The Fan. The Fan district is best known locally as Richmond's largest and most 'European' of Richmond's neighborhoods and nationally as the largest contiguous Victorian neighborhood in the United States. The Old West End neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio is recognized as the largest collection of late Victorian and Edwardian homes in the United States, east of the Mississippi. Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota, has the longest line of Victorian homes in the country. Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati, Ohio, has the largest collection of early Victorian Italianate architecture in the United States, and is an example of an intact 19th-century urban neighborhood. According to National Register of Historic Places, Cape May Historic District has one of the largest collections of late 19th century frame buildings left in the United States.

The photo album L'Architecture Americaine by Albert Levy published in 1886 is perhaps the first recognition in Europe of the new forces emerging in North American architecture.

File:PAFA 1900 from Library of Congress (cropped).jpg|Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, by Frank Furness File:AlleghenyCountyCourthouse.jpg|Allegheny County Courthouse, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by Henry Hobson Richardson File:Santa Fe passenger terminal in San Diego prior to 1915.jpg|The California Southern Railroad's San Diego passenger terminal, built in 1887 File:Brooklyn Bridge Postdlf.jpg|Brooklyn Bridge, 1883, New York City File:Carson Mansion Eureka California.jpg|The Carson Mansion in Eureka, California, widely considered one of the highest executions of Queen Anne style, built 1884–86 File:SteinbeckHouse.jpg|John Steinbeck's childhood home in Salinas, California File:Emlen-physick-estate.jpg|Emlen Physick Estate in Cape May Historic District, New Jersey, by Frank Furness File:Saitta House Dyker Heights.JPG|The Saitta House, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, New York, built in 1899 is designed in the Queen Anne style File:655 Wrightwood Avenue Circa 1880, Lincoln Park Chicago Illinois.jpg|1880s photo of 653 W Wrightwood (now 655 W Wrightwood) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois File:Farnam Mansion 2.jpg|The Italianate style Farnam Mansion in Oneida, New York. Built circa 1862 File:JamesJHillHouse.jpg|James J. Hill House in St. Paul, Minnesota, built in 1891 File:Victorian Gazebo.jpg|Victorian gazebo in Ohio File:Over-the-Rhine-12th-and-Vine.jpg|Series of Italianate tenements in Over-The-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio File:Ford Piquette Avenue Plant - Front Façade.jpg|Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, Detroit, Michigan, built 1904 File:Cape may pink victorian.jpg|Gingerbread trim on an 1882 house in Cape May, New Jersey File:206 West Moore Street, Hackettstown, NJ.jpg|The Jacob C. Allen House (c. 1870) in Hackettstown, New Jersey

Canada

Canada's chief dominion architects designed numerous federal buildings over the course of the Victorian era. Thomas Fuller's completion of the Canadian Parliament Buildings in 1866, in particular, established a High Victorian Gothic influence over Canadian architectural design for several consecutive decades, producing many public buildings, churches, residences, industrial buildings, and hotels.

File:Banff Springs Hotel1.jpg|Banff Springs Hotel File:Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate.jpg|Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate File:British Columbia Parliament Building, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.jpg|British Columbia Parliament Buildings (main block) File:Canadian Museum of Nature - 06.jpg|Canadian Museum of Nature File:Michael Toronto.jpg|Cathedral Church of St. James (Toronto) File:Cathedral 006.JPG|Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Saint John, New Brunswick) File:Central Chambers - 04.jpg|Central Chambers (Ottawa) File:2016-11 Château Frontenac 06.jpg|Château Frontenac File:Christ Church Cathedral day.jpg|Christ Church Cathedral (Montreal) File:Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton, New Brunswick (2005).jpg|Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton) File:Craigdarroch Castle just after sunset - view from the south, Victoria, Canada 01.jpg|Craigdarroch Castle File:Halifax Armoury.JPG|Halifax Armoury File:Residence H-Vincent-Meredith 01.jpg|Lady Meredith House File:Hotel de ville de Montreal 09.JPG|Montreal City Hall File:Langevin Block (2013)(cropped).jpg|Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council (formerly Langevin Block) File:Old Post Office Galt Cambridge Ontario cropped.jpg|Old Galt Post Office Building File:Torontos Old City Hall 2009.jpg|Old Toronto City Hall File:Dawn at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.JPG|Parliament Buildings (Centre Block and Library) File:Gare Viger 16.jpg|Place Viger File:London-OntarioChurch2.jpg|St. Paul's Cathedral (London, Ontario) File:The Algonquin in St Andrews.jpg|The Algonquin File:Brockville Fuller Bldg.JPG|Thomas Fuller Building (Brockville, Ontario) File:Uoft universitycollege.jpg|University College, Toronto Main Building File:City Hall and Volunteer Monument, Winnipeg, MB, 1887.jpg|Winnipeg City Hall (1887)

India

Because India was a colony of Britain, Victorian Architecture is prevalent in India, especially in cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Kerala and Chennai. In Mumbai (Formerly called Bombay) buildings like Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Municipal Corporation Building, Bombay University, Bombay High Court, Asiatic Society of Mumbai Building (Former Town Hall) and the David Sasoon Library are some examples of Victorian Architecture in Mumbai. In Kolkata (Formerly called Calcutta) buildings like the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta High Court, St Paul's Cathedral, Howrah railway station, The Asiatic Society of Bengal are some examples of Victorian Architecture in Kolkata. In Chennai (Formerly called Madras) some examples include Madras High court, State Bank of Madras, Chennai Central railway station and St. Mary's Church. Many churches and colleges such as Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica Kochi, University College Trivandrum, Government College of Fine Arts Trivandrum, Napier Museum, State Central Library of Kerala, Government Victoria College Palakkad, CMS College Kottayam and SB College Changanasserry are some of finest examples of Victorian architecture in Kerala.

Preservation

Efforts to preserve landmarks of Victorian architecture are ongoing and are often led by the Victorian Society. A recent campaign the group has taken on is the preservation of Victorian gasometers after utility companies announced plans to demolish nearly 200 of the now-outdated structures.

References and sources

Citations

Sources

• , includes descriptions of different Victorian and early-20th-century architectural styles common in the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly Oakland, and detailed instructions for repair and restoration of details common to older house styles.

References

1. "Fonthill Abbey {{!}} house, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom".
2. Blank, Alan; McEvoy, Michael; Plank, Roger (1993). ''Architecture and Construction in Steel''. Taylor & Francis. {{ISBN. 0-419-17660-8.
3. "Our Community".
4. "South End Historical Society – Preserving the Past for Future Generations".
5. "Louisville Facts & Firsts". LouisvilleKy.gov.
6. "What is Old Louisville?". Old Louisville Guide.
7. "The Fan District – Great Public Spaces- Project for Public Spaces (PPS)".
8. Stine, L. (2005) Historic Old West End Toledo, Ohio. Bookmasters.
9. Quinlivan (2001)
10. "Cincinnati.com".
11. Lonely Planet. (14 January 2016). "Top 10 US travel destinations for 2012". Lonely Planet.
12. link. (11 September 2009)
13. "Cape May Historic District". National Park Service.
14. "[http://www.dykerheightscivicassociation.com/saittareport.pdf Saitta House - Report Part 1] {{webarchive. link. (2008-12-16 ",''DykerHeightsCivicAssociation.com'')
15. (2 February 2007). "Gingerbread Trim: Feast your eyes on these ornate Victorian-era embellishments". This Old House.
16. "Eldridge Johnson House, 33 Perry Street (moved from 225 Congress Street), Cape May, Cape May County, NJ". Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress).
17. "Canadian Architecture: 1867-1914".
18. "British India and Victorian-Era Architecture".
19. Sean O'Hagan, [https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/14/gasometers-gas-holders-hold-on-for-a-new-life-repurposing Gasworks wonders…] {{webarchive. link. (23 September 2016 , ''The Guardian'', 14 June 2015.)