We met a neighbour the other day who made the comment that our house is very "Victorian," while his house, though from around the same time period, is more "Edwardian." While I knew that our house is Victorian, I didn't know the specifics of what classified it as such, other than its brick exterior and white trim. Always looking for an excuse to do my homework, I took this on as my next question to answer. Victorian houses were built during the Victorian era, from 1837-1901, which was the reign of Queen Victoria. There was a housing boom during this time, and people of the middling class could suddenly afford to build bigger and more elaborate houses. Both the abolishment of the brick and glass tax and the new railway, which we know is a huge part of Stayner's history, made it possible for people in this area to build these beautiful houses. That being said, the middle class and working class Victorians were still thrifty where they could be, and often used what was most readily available for building materials (there are a couple of beams that were actually old hydro posts in our bathroom). Defining features of Victorian houses include: -Peaked roofs with dormer windows (windows set in the peaks) -Deep porches -Pilllars or columns -Ornate detailing in windows, trim and framing -Large front bay windows -An "L" shaped house structure (the front part of the house that juts out is the bottom of the "L") ...It was also common for Victorian houses to have two front entrances... Kyle uncovered a second front door in our house behind a wall in the living room. So, we have one front door facing the street and another on the right side of the porch, which would go into the living room. The reason for two entrances? Victorians doubled their doors for social and practical purposes: 1. The second entrance was often used as a formal entryway that led into a sitting room or front parlour. This was to be used for visits by special company and for more formal occasions, like funeral wakes. Sometimes, these doors were also used on Sundays. 2. Another reason for the second door was air ventilation. Because there was no such thing as air conditioning in that time, a door would be placed below the master bedroom, so that the owners wouldn't sweat to death in the sweltering summer months. 3. Small business owners, doctors, or ministers would use second entrances for clients. This would allow them to keep their public life separate from their private life. 4. During the colder season, many families would close off a part of the house to make it easier for heating. Do you know of a house with two front doors? Does the second door lead into a front living room? Share if you do, as I am interested to see more houses with this feature :).
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About MeKyle and I just became new homeowners. The house we purchased is not what one would classify as "move in ready"; in fact, it is quite the opposite. Built at the turn of the 20th century, our Victorian style house is both beautiful and terrifying in its ancient status and will be a project in renovation. This is a documentation of our triumphs and lessons learned, as we deconstruct and reconstruct this house. The end result? A space that we can proudly say we created. Archives
December 2016
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