Tudor Revival Architecture is one of the few most identifiable styles of domestic architecture of the latter half of the 19th century. It is also more commonly known as ‘mock Tudor’ in the United Kingdom and came from the style of English vernacular architecture of the Middle Ages that came through the Tudor ages. This style has then come to influence many, prominently within the British colony in countries like New Zealand and Singapore.
With its influence on people who live in different parts of the world, Tudor Revival Architecture has taken the form to adapt and situate itself in a different climate to that of the UK. As the Tudor Architecture revived, the emphasis is its steep, multi-gabled roof lines, decorative half-timber framing, focal chimneys, overhangs, and the use of natural materials.
Evolution | Tudor Revival Architecture
Tudor Revival Architecture was a reaction to the Victorian Gothic Revival and took on simpler design with less ornamentation. Its first appearance was in Britain in the late 1860s at Cragside designed by Norman Shaw, an architect during that time. The half-timbering that he designed was criticised and seen as a betrayal towards the vernacular architecture tradition of the North-East of England.
However, Shaw’s intention was different, he aimed to create a picturesque form of architecture that desires a “romantic effect, he reached out for it like an artist reaching out for a tube of colour”. During the same time, Shaw too designed Lesywood, a building that embodies most of Tudor architecture style. Oddly, Lesywood was named to have the “Queen Anne style” which is now commonly used in the USA whereas, in the UK, the style remains close to the Tudor ages.
1. Ascott House
Ascott House is in Buckinghamshire, England and was initially a farmhouse. Designed by George Devey and built during James I reign. Devey wanted to design a house that developed and grew over the years.
The Ascott House resultantly became Devey’s lifetime work as the house continually became bigger in the late 19th century. The Ascott House resembled many Tudor styles of which are its floors above being decorated by half-timber, its use of bricks for the lower floor and its focal chimneys.
2. Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
Located in Detroit, Michigan in the US, Edsel and Eleanor Ford House stands to be one of the famous examples of Tudor Revival Architecture within the communities in the US. As the Tudor homes were mostly designed to work with the environment in England where the steeply pitched roofs are suited for areas with high rainfall and snow, one can observe that many Tudor houses appear along the East Coast and in the Midwest.
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House that used to house a prominent American family now sits to be a museum. This building to its community serves to be a symbol of American wealth and prosperity. The Fords were cultural, social, and economic leaders of that time who faced the economic depression and the world war. They owned many houses, but the Southeast Michigan home is where they lived in. Designed by a well-known architect Albert Kahn, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is a model of Tudor architecture that features towering chimneys, overhangs, and the notable characteristics of the Tudor style.
3. The Lakehouse | Tudor Revival Architecture
The Tudor Revival style was influenced in countries outside of the UK. Taking The Lakehouse that is built in Pahang Malaysia as an example, it is evident that the Tudor Revival Style has managed to grow and develop in Southeast Asia. This building came to exist when Sir William Cameron, a British researcher was tasked by the British Council to map undiscovered areas of Malaysia. He discovered plateaus with heights varying from 1340-1800 metres above sea level but unfortunately, the map was lost when he died.
Four decades later, a new researcher, Sir George Maxwell pursued rediscovering the plateaus as a tribute to Sir William Cameron the area was named after Cameron and The Lakehouse was built in the area by Colonel Stanley J. Foster. It features half-timbering along most of its exterior walls and steeply pitched gabled roofs. The surroundings of Lakehouse by plateaus adds to the picturesque element of the Tudor Revival Style and helps to complete the fantasy-like ambience of what the style aims to hold.
4. Bramall Hall
Bramall Hall by the Bromale family in Greater Manchester. This building dates to the 11th century and was pivotal in contribution to the Tudor Revival Style. Bramall Hall, a manor house adapts the Tudor style and is considered to be Cheshire’s grandest black and white timber-framed building. Its framework was constructed with oak timbers and connected using mortise and tenon joints which are put in place with oak pegs. To fill the spaces between the timbers, wattle and daub or lath and plaster was used.
5. Joe M. Beutell House | Tudor Revival Architecture
Joe M. Beutell House is notable for its Tudor Revival architecture and was designed by Russell L. Beutell in the 20th century. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and what made this building stand out was that during the time it was built, there were many larger winter resort homes around Thomasville.
As Joe M. Beutell House was made with the Tudor Revival style, it stands to be an interesting house with half-timbering and natural brick facades.
