Clinging ivy lends a charming and romantic air to a historic house, while destroying it. Between the penetration necessary to hang on a vertical surface, the moisture trapped against the surface by the leaves and vines, and the highway system created for insects and rodents, ivy is a disaster happening in slow motion. It is more quickly destructive to wood but will eventually damage masonry surfaces as well.
The Tudor Revival style of the early 20th century seem to be particularly attractive to ivy growers as shown here. If you must have ivy or other vining plants on your house, keep it on trelliswork held off the surface somewhat. That is less destructive, but still not great for a house.
Understanding the style, or styles, of a house will help you identify which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Tudor Revival is one of 25 styles described and illustrated with multiple examples 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 online bookshop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!
“Restoring Your Historic House” is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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