House Styles Gothic Revival

Gothic Revival was a Victorian style that borrowed details from Gothic cathedrals and other medieval architecture. Gothic Revival homes in England were most frequently constructed of masonry. In the United States, some large, lavish estates were also made with stone or brick. These homes often resembled medieval churches or castles.

Buildings in the High Victorian Gothic style had many of these features:

• Strong vertical lines and a sense of great height
• Heavy, bold details
• Leaves, vines, gargoyles, and other stone carvings
• Multi-colored masonry, often forming patterns or bands
• Slightly pointed Romanesque arches
• Faithful re-creation of medieval styles

Few people could afford to build a masonry home in the Gothic Revival or High Gothic revival style. In the United States, the masonry versions of Gothic Revival and High Gothic Revival architecture were used mainly for churches, public buildings, and grand estates. However, the ready availability of lumber lead to a distinctly American version of the Gothic Revival style, constructed with wood.