Conservation expert Lee Bilson explores the evolution of doors
In his series exploring the evolution of key architectural features, conservation expert Lee Bison looks at our homes’ entrances
Throughout history doors have captured our imaginations, setting the scene for what lies beyond and giving clues to a property’s history. This seemingly simple, functional feature has evolved over the centuries, its design determined by monarchs, influenced by the technologies of the day, and defined by the use of a space within.
Early openings
In the earliest of Britain’s surviving homes – of the late medieval and Tudor periods – doors can be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes. Arches were popular – either two-centred (with a high, pointed apex), three-centred (rounded), or four-centred (low and wide, with a pointed apex). Though all types were used, the four-centred ‘Tudor’ arch (seen above) was prominent from the late 14th to the 16th century.
The main door of a home of this period would have been the most elaborate, with elements in the high end – the most important area of a hall house – being similarly treated. Generally, the more basic the door and arch above, the lower the room’s status. Doors were typically formed of planks and battens, strengthened with long iron hinges and studded with nails – a method that continued under the Elizabethans – though stone doorways and moulded detailing were rare in these earlier forms.
In the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, doors grew larger, and more elaborate detailing emerged – particularly in the grander houses of the gentry. Unlike in the medieval and Tudor periods, where several types of arch were common, the Elizabethans and Jacobeans tended to use only shallow fourcentred arches. These were increasingly coupled with classical-inspired details, such as columns
flanking the doorway, or ornamental strapwork. These details helped to demonstrate the status of a home, as well as the owner’s knowledge and education. While few had visited the classical sites, the earlier advent of printing meant prolific etchings were available for craftsmen to copy from, even if these early attempts were somewhat crude.
Queen Anne abundance
It was the construction of doors that saw the biggest change in the Jacobean period, with the introduction of richly ornamented panelled designs, and this trend was firmly exploited in Queen Anne homes during the early 18th century. The doorways of these dolls’ house-like properties had a dominant presence – inside and out.
The main doorcase often had a hood, perhaps on large console brackets that could be plain or decoratively carved in a classical leaf motif; the arched hood was a particular favourite. In contrast to earlier crude attempts at classical detail, as the baroque style developed there was a departure from accurate classical proportions and design elements. Aspects such as the exuberant use of rustication, large keystones and bold pediments were used widely into the 18th century, known as the Gibbs surround, after Scottish architect James Gibbs.
Georgian grandeur
In the Georgian era, the six-panelled design was the dominant form of door. The Gibbs surround was used in the earlier part of the period, but from the second half of the 18th century pedimented styles with engaged columns, and decorative lead semicircular fanlights grew in popularity.
These doors were either plain or carved and continued to become more inventive over time, using carved mouldings and geometric panelling, or incorporating inspiration from ancient Greece.
Regency trickery
The use of graining or marbling to decorate woodwork, from doors and windows to shutters and wainscoting, became very popular in the Regency period. Cheaper woods or surfaces were turned into fine examples of oak and exotic timbers, or classical-inspired marbles. These kinds of treatments weren’t just reserved for the interiors – external doors and doorways received similar decorative touches. Whereas today we see windows and doors painted in flat colours, in the Regency period these would have regularly had grained finishes applied to imitate expensive oak.
Victorian changes
In the terraces of the early Victorian period, front doors were placed on the same side of each house, but by the late 19th century, they were often paired together in deep recesses. This placement created neighbourly environments and gave the idea of a more grandiose doorway. The preference for four-panelled doors grew, with plain overlights rather than the decorative fanlights of the Georgian era – though fanlights were still sometimes used.
Perfect porches
Under the Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts movements, porches became idyllic in almost any style. The search for purer forms drew Arts and Crafts designers to historical sources once more – a theme typical of all Victorian styles, with their designs looking back to details of the medieval, Elizabethan and Queen Anne periods. On the whole designs aimed to be simple, with materials used in a way that made them the focus. As the entrance epitomised the sense of welcome to a home, porches became a key feature. These could be somewhat imposing, particularly in later examples. The designs of C.F.A. Voysey are models of using simple forms, with porches featuring stone detailing and integrated seating.
Edwardian decoration
By the Edwardian era, the internal spaces of our homes were now so far removed from those of the Tudors, that the solid wood door was no longer the prerequisite. Internal spaces became larger and offered rooms with dual aspects wherever possible, adapting the traditional pile systems employed in previous periods, and embracing the gardens and greenery with window seats and French doors.
As with Arts and Crafts designs, porches were a mainstay in Edwardian homes, typically being highly decorative, with bold white woodwork featuring fretwork patterns and often daring stained or coloured glass. This use of glass was prolific. Front doors incorporated bold coloured and textured glass in floral motifs, referencing ideas of designers such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Similarly, internal doors sought to allow borrowed light into dark spaces, with glass being incorporated into the top panels of a four-panelled door.
Modern simplicity
The biggest change in the 20th century was to internal doors – the Victorian four-panelled design that had been a mainstay since the mid-19th century was replaced with one consisting of a single panel, sometimes glazed, to the upper section and multiple vertical panels beneath. Crittall-style doors and windows were also extremely popular, with fully glazed internal doors very common alongside the brand’s famed French doors, expanding on earlier eras’ ideas of borrowing light.
Maintenance issues
Original doors add so much to the appearance of a period property and should be retained and restored wherever possible. Keeping on top of maintenance is key. Modern finishes should be used only with great care – instead consider linseed or natural paints (try Bulmer Paints). The same goes for fillers, and wherever possible natural products or timber repairs should be used instead of epoxy or resin-based repairs.
If the work is beyond your DIY level, search for a professional at the Building Conservation Directory (buildingconservation.com). The website also lists courses, which will enable you to learn a craft to bring that extra bit of pride to your home.