Gothic Revival Architecture

Circa 1750-1900

REMEMBER

• Revival styles are adopted from earlier styles that were typically built in brick—revival styles in NS are typically wooden construction

• Architecture in NS is RARELY purely one style so expect Gothic Revival, Romanesque, Queen Anne, styles to be mixed in—a house that is 200 years old has likely had some additions

Gothic RevivalGothic Revival style in wooden construction homes often copied elements found in large public buildings—particularly churches.

The most common elements shown are steeply pitched roofs, cross-gables, and window trim that is pointed like arches—in some homes even the windows are arches.

Character Defining Elements

• Steeply pitched roofs; cross-gables are always have a very steep pitch (steeper than main gable)

• Cross-gable• Can be symmetrical or asymmetrical (most of the time they are symmetrical)

• Bargeboards are very detailed• Fancy moldings (including foils: trefoil, quatrefoil)

• Windows and/or window trim (hoods) shaped like arches

What is a gable?

A gable roof has two equal slopes that meet at the peak. Where the roof stops at its bottom is called the ridge line. The gabled end of the roof

is the one that forms a triangular section.

Cross-Gable

Often the cross-gable does not project out from the ridgeline of the main gable.

This photo shows a cross-gable that is a dormer, sometimes there are very large and are another entire part of the house.

Bargeboard is a type of trim found under the eaves. Particularly common on the eaves of gables. Bargeboard hangs from the eave and does not attach to the main part of the house.

There are 3 different types of arch windows:- Lancet arch- Equilateral arch- Ogee Arch

In this photo you can see the window trim is also shaped like an arch. The trefoil design is just a decorative element, a

fancy type of moulding/trim work. A trefoil is just a shape formed by 3 rounded lobes.

A quatrefoil is made of 4 rounded lobes.

Other Character Defining Elements (Not always present)

• Finial• A decorative peak ornament on the peak of a roof,

smaller than a pinnacle •Dentils• Stepped window trim formed by right angles • usually over windows too close to the roof line to

have arch trim• Pinnacles• Buttress or Flying Buttress• Brackets under the eaves• Board and Batten siding

Dentil Moulding

Dentil molding usually projects below the cornice, along the roofline of a building.

However, dentil molding can form a decorative band anywhere on the structure.

A dentil is one of a series of closely spaced, rectangular blocks that form a molding.

PinnacleA pointed termination (top) of a spire, buttress, or other extremity of a building.

Pinnacles can be on homes or churches that don’t have spires or buttresses, they may come up directly from the roof line.

Pinnacles are sometimes ornamented and are a decorative element on some Gothic Revival homes.

A spire is a much larger pointed structure which rises from a tower, turret, or roof and often forms a major part of the building.

Buttress

An exterior support, usually made of brick or stone.

Projecting from the face of a wall and serving either to strengthen it or to resist the side thrust created by the load on an arch or a roof.

On wooden construction buildings buttresses are typically just a decorative element that fit the Gothic Revival style.

Flying Buttress Projecting from the face of a wall and serving either to strengthen it or to resist the side thrust created by the load on an arch or a roof.

They can also be used to support spires or towers.

They do not go to ground level unlike a regular buttress. Very uncommon in wooden construction.

Eave Brackets

Eave brackets are a decorative element.

They are simply a bracket placed under the eave to help hold it in place.

They are more common when the eave overhangs the face of the home but at least a foot.

Board and Batten Siding