KEYS TO KNOW
Victorian homes come in many variations, with a wealth of individual features, finds Kirsty Mcluckie
Victorian homes remain steadfastly popular among house buyers, but within the era, which stretched from 1840 to the turn of the 20th century, there are many variations, depending on age, fashion and geography.
From the rows of plain terraced homes to the ornate tenements, built for workers and still sought after in cities, to the grand homes of newly-rich merchants, accessorised with every turret and battlement they felt they commanded, it is a rich architectural heritage which deserves to be treasured.
Italianate is the name given to a very particular type of Victorian architecture and homes built to the style are impressive, and remarkably adaptable to modern life.
Queen Victoria popularised the look. Her home, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, was built between 1845 and 1851 and exhibits typical Italianate features such as square towers based on Italian campanili and adjoining arched windows.
The appearance is reminiscent of Roman villas, and those in the forefront of fashion soon followed the royal lead.
Italianate style in Scotland can be found in areas where wealthy Victorians commissioned new homes, usually in the suburbs of our cities where rich families moved to enjoy cleaner air.
In Glasgow, Pollokshaws and the West End have good examples, or in Edinburgh, take a walk through the Grange to spot the telltale features.
The west of Scotland has many fine Italianate villas, three of which have just come on market.
Mount Pleasant in Dumfries is a great example. The handsome villa is symmetrical with a three-storey tower at its centre.
The ground floor has large arched windows that shower the internal rooms with light. Such design illustrates why Italianate style is still so popular today.
There are also features such as original mosaic tiling on the vestibule floor, and cornicing, ceiling roses, wooden panelling and shutters, plus the handsome marble fireplaces which make sure the house retains its luxurious Victorian feel.
Tor House on the Isle of Bute was commissioned by a bookseller named John Wilson in 1855.
Wilson instructed a young architect by the name of Alexander Thomson to create a handsome villa in the new Italianate style.
Thomson went on to become one of Scotland’s most influential architects, rivalling Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Known latterly as “Greek” Thomson for his love of introducing classical lines and features into domestic and civic design, Tor House represents a quite exceptional example of the architect’s early work and demonstrates a mixture Greek and Italianate styling.
The property retains some remarkable features, including stylised carved doors, stained glass, ceiling plasterwork featuring a familiar sunburst motif, fireplaces and an Italianate tower at the centre of the L-plan villa.
Airdaluinn in Campbeltown is a more modest offering but it is still B listed for its style.
Again Airdaluinn’s architecture is nearsymmetrical with Italianate influences and single-storey single bay wings to the east and west elevations. Where is it: Mount Pleasant, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway. What is it: A five-bedroomed Victorian house in the Italianate style. It has a drawing room, dining room, sitting room and breakfasting kitchen and tower room. Double garage and large landscaped garden. Good points: Itisoneofthe finest houses in Dumfries, C listed and a great example of this type of architecture, inside and out. Features such as the mosaic-tiled floors and the beautiful staircase are all original as is the ornate plasterwork. The approach is impressive too, through carved stone gateposts to a sweeping drive. Bad points: The tower room serves as a study, but the views over Nithsdale are likely to be distracting. Only one bedroom is ensuite. Price: Offers over £475,000. Contact: Knight Frank on 0131 222 9600.