Built in 1876, Portland, Maine, architect Francis H. Fassett (1823-1908) designed this example of the High Victorian Gothic style as his own family’s home. It is a double-house, also called a duplex, semi-detached, or twin depending on location. Fassett and his wife lived on one side, and his son and his family lived on the other.
High Victorian Gothic was an eclectic style considered by some to be a variation of Gothic Revival and by others to be a distinct style. It draws heavily from the architectural theories and writings of British art critic John Ruskin (1819-1900).
Its character-defining features include polychrome (multi-color) decoration – often achieved by combining brick and different types of stone, varying textures, and Gothic details, often based on Venetian Gothic prototypes. It was not commonly used for residential structures. However, some architectural historians consider the Stick Style to be the wood-framed version of High Victorian Gothic and was often used for houses.
25 styles are shown and described in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Select preservation titles by other authors, including “A Field Guide to American Houses” by Virginia McAlester, are also available in our shop! Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book Combo Packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2024.
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