Victorian architectural style

Victorian architecture is a series of architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century. ''Victorian'' refers to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), called the Victorian era, during which period the styles known as Victorian were used in construction. However, many elements of what is typically termed "Victorian" architecture did not become popular until later in Victoria's reign, roughly from 1850 and later. The styles often included interpretations and eclectic revivals of historic styles ''(see Historicism)''. The name represents the British and French custom of naming architectural styles for a reigning monarch. Within this naming and classification scheme, it followed Georgian architecture and later Regency architecture, and was succeeded by Edwardian architecture.

Although Victoria did not reign over the United States, the term is often used for American styles and buildings from the same period, as well as those from the British Empire.

Victorian architecture in the United Kingdom

Gothic Revival

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 and New Zealand. 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 Victoria and New South Wales. There were fifteen styles that predominated:

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, 1885
File:St Peters Cathedral.JPG, St Peters Cathedral, Adelaide, South Australia (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:Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Australia.jpg, Princess Theatre, Melbourne
File:Vic State Library Facade Pano,19.07.06.JPG, State Library of Victoria of the Academic Classical style (1870)
File:OIC adelaide north terrace university bldg.jpg, Brookman Hall, UniSA City East Campus, Adelaide, South Australia
File:(1)Italianate home Dutruc Street Randwick-1.jpg, Italianate home in Randwick, New South Wales
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, Victoria

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. Though Victorian architecture flourished in certain quarters. Particularly around Dublin's Wicklow Street and Upper Baggot Street and in the suburbs of 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

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–ca. 1890), 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 Alameda, Astoria, Albany, Deal, Troy, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Boston, the Brooklyn Heights and Victorian Flatbush sections of New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Eureka, Galena, Galveston, Grand Rapids, Baltimore, Jersey City

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