Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Victorian House
The Victorian House
(1837 - 1901)
V
The Victorian
period is the time
when
Queen Victoria
ruled Britain.
1845
1880's
90 's
18
Victorian Housing grew in reaction to the increase of
population which doubled between 1841 and 1901. The
middle classes who wanted to own fashionable villas
rejected the back to back terraced housing popular in the
industrial areas.
Italianate
Window
English Heritage carried out a
survey of Estate Agents which
revealed that 82% of agents
believed sash windows added
value to your house and 78%
believed sash windows helped to
Late Victorian sash arch sell you house more quickly.
Stained & Leaded Glass in the Home
Evidence of stained glass
can be found back to the 10th
Century. In the mid 1800's the
interest in Gothic architecture
created a revival in the use of
stained glass. Small pieces of Victorian Geometric
coloured glass were held
together with lead. Scenes and
details were painted (stained)
onto the glass with black and
brown paint.
Victorian
Front Doors
Victorian houses tended to
have narrow hallways and
entrances. The front door was
often made of softwood and
painted, stained or grained to
look like hardwood. The doors
would have been panelled,
divided into four or six
sections with some panels
filled with glass.
With the rise in the middle classes, social mobility created
a new generation that wanted to show off their possessions.
The Victorians loved collecting and displaying their new
found wealth. Walls were covered in paintings; display
cabinets were full of vases, ornaments and other treasures.
Entertaining was important to the Victorian house owner.
Furniture was crammed into rooms in anticipation of guests.
A card table, drinks cabinet and a piano was on most
Victorian homes wish list.
The Victorians loved strong colours and
bold patterns. The walls would have had large
carved skirting and picture rails, heavy
patterned wallpaper and topped with large
ornate coving. Traditionally the Victorian house
style had a heavy, cluttered, dark interior that
was not afraid to mix patterns and colours.
Gothic features Italianate windows
Bullnose
Victorian
Architraves
Plaster cornicing and coving
Traditionally
red or grey made
from hard
unglazed clay.
Found in kitchens
and other areas
that receive heavy
wear and tear.
Candle, Paraffin and Gas Lighting
Single piece cast iron Painted Victorian Single piece cast iron
Wallcoverings: Wallpaper