This otherwise restrained example of the High Victorian Gothic style in York, Pennsylvania, features an exuberant turret. How do you know if it’s a turret or tower? Unlike a tower, a turret does not reach the ground.
High Victorian Gothic is the masonry cousin of the wood-framed Stick Style. These houses often feature polychrome brick, stone, and/or tile on the exteriors with expressive wood trim elements at the gables and often on porches. The projecting turret creates a dynamic skyline and adds excitement to the design.
Understanding the style of a house will help you identify which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Twenty-five historic architectural house styles and types are 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 and from online retailers.
Signed and personalized copies are available directly from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Want to learn more about historic house styles? “A Field Guide to American Houses” by Virginia McAlester is the classic volume on the subject. It is also available in our shop along with select restoration and preservation books by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2024.
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