Design of the Period House - 1830-1869

The middle decades of the 19th century saw the decline in the use of Classical features and the rise of Gothic, moving from round-topped windows and shallow pitched roofs, to pointed arched windows and steeply pitched roofing.

The neo-Gothic architectural and decorative style was in its heyday between 1855 and 1875.

However, Classical features kept returning in the 1830s and in the 1850s with French-style towers, turrets and domes. The 1850s and 1860s saw the architectural style called variously 'Italianate', 'Roman', 'Romantic Classicism' or 'Free Renaissance', as popularised by Queen Victoria's Osborne House.

For more on:

• the styles of this era; see Classical, Gothic and Italianate
• the design of particular elements, such as windows; see Design by Element
• the different styles by room; see Design by Room