Front gable on a Gothic Revival cottage in Portland, Maine. The popularity of the Gothic Revival style was partially the result of the publication of numerous examples of the style in Andrew Jackson Downing’s architectural plan books, starting with “Cottage Residences” in 1842 (written with Alexander Jackson Davis).
The ornate carved barge board at the eaves of the steeply pitched gable and the pointed arch lancet window with colored glass diamond panes are common features of the style. The board siding imitating ashlar stone blocks often appears on houses of this style, but vertical board and batten siding is more commonly found.
Understanding the style of a house and will help you understand which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Gothic Revival is one of 25 historic architectural styles described and illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
The award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book is available in bookstores nationwide and through online retailers.
Signed and personalized copies are available directly from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Want to learn more about historic architectural styles? “A Field Guide to American Houses” by Virginia Savage is the classic book on identifying the styles of historic houses and is available in our shop. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
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