Victorian windows have some distinct characteristics, even though they came about through different architectural styles. Greek revival, Queen Anne, shingle, and Gothic style homes were popular in different periods from the 1830s into the 1900s. While each of these styles were different they all shared similar qualities.
Basics Of Victorian Windows
Victorian era houses tended to be tall, often made up of narrow walls and uneven facades. Multi-level hipped roofs, large porches with assorted railings and columns, bay windows of different shapes and sizes, and other features made these homes varied and unique. Unlike previous generations, these builders were creating homes designed to stand out and be recognizable. The simple, utilitarian styles of previous eras gave way to ornamentation and an emphasis on style.
Characteristics of Victorian Windows
Vertical
Tall and narrow were two of the best words to describe rooms of this period. The simple square window from the previous century were replaced by tall narrow ones. Instead of square or nearly square window frames, some were several times taller than they were wide.
Larger Panes
Victorian windows feature larger panes than most other styles. Many were tall enough to serve as doors, and some did. Glass making had developed to the point where it was possible to make large panes inexpensively. Safer and more reliable transportation made shipping less risky and more affordable as well.
Asymmetrical Groupings
Victorian homes left behind the simple boxy look popular among previous generations. Window placement in earlier times was symmetrical, evenly spaced, and uniform. The new architecture featured roofs of varying heights and shapes, facades with many levels, hexagonal and octagonal corner rooms, and other attributes that created a busier, more varied facade. Instead of a boxy front with a simple square window, homes invited creativity. Groupings such as bay and picture windows, and different shapes and sizes created homes with different personalities. Stained glass, trim, and multiple styles of siding emphasized ornamentation instead of function.