Keep up to date with the latest Stags news
What are the characteristics of a Victorian property?
· Coloured brickwork
· High pitched roof
· Ornate gable trim
· Geometric tiling
· Narrow hallways
· A brickwork porch
· Front door to the side of the façade
· Stained glass windows
· Bay windows
· Wooden flooring
· Fireplaces in every room
· Elaborate design details that, at the time, reflected the wealth of the owner and those coming into ‘new’ money
Ranging from 1837 to 1901, under the rule of Queen Victoria I, the Victorian period was a time of increased production of houses. Covering a large length of time, we find that the building of houses, and the style in which it was done, varies dramatically throughout the era.
In the wake of the Industrial Revolution, houses became less grand and more accessible as the wealth was spread more evenly across society. Because of this, it became necessary to build additional homes, resulting in terraced housing on narrow streets, which we see characterised across the period. This included the ‘back-to-backs’ which were terraced houses built close to factories specifically for workers to live in, they were erected cheaply and quickly with no outside space. Building of this type of home became illegal in the late-19th century as part of the 1875 Public Health Act, with barely a single house of this type surviving in most of the UK’s northern industrial cities that used to be famous for them.
The abolishment of these ‘back-to-backs’ made way for the byelaw terraced houses that we see today. Typically, these byelaw terraces open straight out onto the street and are very simple in design.
Externally, Victorian architecture can often appear with a mixture of features, often builders added flourishes depending on tastes, the size of the house and the wealth of the residents with the general style of these homes starting off quite simple and becoming more decorative as time moved on. The Arts and Crafts movement, first introduced in the late 19th century, marked the beginning of a change in the value society placed on how things were made which, in turn, inspired more ornate decoration. By the end of the century, it went from plain brick or stucco and sash windows, to red brick and terracotta with decorative features, evolving in 1901 into the Edwardian period when Edward VII came to the throne.
Internally, high ceilings and large windows were a feature of Victorian homes, but the rest of the layout became a little bit cramped compared to the previous Georgian designs. With a long and thin footprint, Victorian homes are often one room wide, with a narrow hallway leading off into the different reception rooms.
Victorian properties for sale
As mentioned, Victorian properties can vary greatly in appearance depending on the location, time of build and the overall wealth of the occupier.
Below is a selection of Victorian homes, both sold and available with Stags, that showcase some of those famous Victorian characteristics.
Axminster, Devon – Guide Price £1,500,000
Stags Honiton - 01404 45885
Property details - https://www.stags.co.uk/properties/16910435/sales
Newton Abbot, Devon – Guide Price £1,100,000
Stags Totnes – 01803 865454
Property details - https://www.stags.co.uk/properties/17269645/sales
Newton Abbot, Devon – Guide Price £675,000
Stags Totnes – 01803 865454
Property details - https://www.stags.co.uk/properties/17351967/sales
Wadebridge, Cornwall – Guide Price £650,000
Stags Wadebridge – 01208 222333
Wellington, Somerset – Guide Price £575,000
Stags Wellington – 01823 662822
Property details - https://www.stags.co.uk/properties/16872761/sales
Bridport, Dorset – Guide Price £525,000
Stags Bridport – 01308 428000
If you are interested in finding out more about other eras of property, and the characteristics that they hold, follow the links below;
or, if you are interested in buying or selling a Victorian home, contact your local Stags office.
Georgian Properties – https://www.stags.co.uk/articles/georgian-properties-key-facts
Edwardian Properties – https://www.stags.co.uk/articles/edwardian-properties-key-facts
