Edwardian Houses

Edwardian architecture is an architectural style popular during the reign of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom (1901 to 1910). ... Edwardian architecture is generally less ornate than high or late Victorian architecture, apart from a subset – used for major buildings – known as Edwardian Baroque architecture. Although Edward VII’s reign was relatively short (1901-1910), the style of housing being built much later continued to bear the hallmarks of the period. The style progressed from the Victorian model. The Arts and Crafts Movement also had an influence on the developing housing style during this period. Followers aspired to a return to the greater use of well-made handcrafted goods rather than mass produced, machine-made products, so favoured by the Victorians. Use of ornate ironmongery and windows and doors were particular examples of their influence and there are a number of things to look out for when viewing houses from the period. Edwardian building standards were a great improvement on those of previous generations and the quality of materials that were used has rarely been surpassed. The majority of houses built from the 1890s through to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 used bricks which were dense and durable, timber of high quality and windows and doors, which with a bit of maintenance, can last for centuries. Their appearance is also timeless. Architects used Tudor timber framed buildings and stout, early 18th Century houses as their inspiration to create Arts, Crafts and Neo-Georgian style properties. Speculative builders then applied many of their features onto the mass market of semis and terraces. At the same time an obsession with privacy meant houses were set back from the road, creating front gardens which today can make for an attractive feature or space for a drive. This feature is something lacking in earlier properties. Despite the wide range of styles and materials used in this period there are certain characteristics from the roof down to the ground which help pinpoint their construction to the decades either side of 1900. Some of these features listed will be found in other periods but a number of them together in one house and the chances are that it’s Edwardian. 1. Chimneys Chimneys were often sited halfway down the slope of roof so they stood directly above the fireplace. On Arts and Crafts houses they were often made into a prominent feature with decorative brickwork or in a form which looked like it had been plucked from a rustic cottage. 2. Roofs Roofs were generally steep pitched with gable ends which often meant there was space in the loft for additional accommodation. Dormer windows featuring little pointed barge-boards are hence a common feature. Slate was still widely used but ceramic roof tiles which looked more traditional were becoming common. Ridge tiles tend to be plain compared with Victorian types. 3. Cavity Walls Since their introduction by the Victorians, cavity walls became more common in housing construction although usually reserved for the more bespoke higher end market projects. They provided better protection against penetrating dampness and improvement in thermal insulation than solid walls. Builders used various methods to tie the two leaves of masonry together, but by far the most common was the iron tie. Danger: Today, these are often found to be corroding, which can lead to instability, unevenness and cracks in external walls. Modern methods of repair are economical and unobtrusive, provided the defect is diagnosed in time. 4. Heating In grander larger houses, central heating was provided by a coal or coke fired boiler, usually in the cellar. Large diameter iron pipes and cast iron radiators distributed heat around the house, usually by thermo-siphon rather than a pumped system. Old iron pipes rust internally, which restricts the flow through. Failure in rusting tanks in the roof can result in a deluge through the house and the resultant damage and disruption. So, all iron pipes and tanks should be replaced. Pipes beneath floors and within roof voids were often lagged in asbestos, which requires specialist removal. 5. The Upper Storey The Upper Storey at the front of the house was often clad with mock timber frame patterns, hanging tiles, a coat of pebbledash (originally unpainted), or a plain render with patterns pressed into it. Tall, thin bay windows were popular and the barge-boards on the gable end at the top were generally plainer than earlier types with only a simple profile along the bottom edge at best. 6. Sash Windows Sash windows often had the upper section divided with glazing bars while the lower one was left plain. This gave the facade an appropriate rustic appearance while the clear pane below allowed an unobstructed view for residents. By the early 1900s side hinged casement windows were becoming more popular with distinctive little openings along the top filled with coloured glass in stylised floral patterns. In addition the use of metal building products developed until the outbreak of WWI in 1914, and painted metal framed windows, often with ornate stays and latches, were a particular innovation. Commonly, these would be set into hardwood sub-frames or stone mullion surrounds. The metal was not galvanised and relied on paint for protection. 7. Porches and Balconies Porches and Balconies edged with timber railings and fretwork patterns (now usually painted white) are a distinctive feature of Edwardian houses. On more modest terraces a single bay window was added at the front capped off by a short sloping roof which continued right across the front of the house forming a porch above the door. 8. Front Doors Front doors typically had the upper two thirds glazed. This could be a single or pair of openings filled with coloured glass or a series of small arched openings which became smaller towards the top (a unique Edwardian style). Panels formed in the door often had raised mouldings around the edge to make them appear deeper. By 1910 doors with just the upper third glazed and three vertical panels below become popular although these are more common in 1920s and 30s properties. If there was not an external porch then the door was usually recessed into the house. 9. Damp Edwardian houses had measures taken to reduce the problem of rising damp. Bitumen or slate damp proof courses and bands of engineering bricks were used as a barrier and the ground floor was raised up so air bricks could be fitted front and back to allow a breeze to pass beneath and ventilate the under floor space. 10. Tiles Ceramic terrazzo or quarry tiles often in red, black and white were used to decorate the pathway up to the house and the floor of the entrance hall. Colourful glazed ones were often applied to the walls either side of a front door. Minton styles were very common providing a grand entrance to the reception hallway and entrance vestibule areas. Danger: These floors is neglected can often steadily deteriorate and due to their type and nature should not be covered over as this will tend to encourage moisture build up to surrounding areas and lead to damp and potential timber decay issues to surrounding areas of the building. 11. Ceilings Ceilings tend to be very high in this period originally with a picture rail and the area above it originally filled with a decorative frieze. Danger: Lath and plaster ceilings will crack and craze over time and will become increasingly difficult to maintain. Such work, particularly where ornate plaster coving and ceiling roses are found are a very specialist skill to restore and repair and should only be talked by a suitably experienced craftsman. 12. Design Edwardian houses tend to be tall and thin and were built along relatively straight streets whereas 1920’s and 1930’s houses which share much in common with them were usually wider with hipped roofs and are found along winding lanes, crescents and cul-de-sacs. The Art Deco style developing in the 1930’s often had bold painted rendered elevations. Originally, the render would be coated with a mineral-based paint that allowed the walls to breathe and subsequent coats should be of a suitable breathable type. Danger: External render finishes often become weathered and de-bonded which if left neglected can lead to damp penetration internally. Thermal cracks and weathering should be checked annually. If you’re looking for a period Edwardian property call us today to help you in your search for your ideal new home.