This week we have started a new job in Leavenheath - complete renovation of a Victorian Cottage. A couple of weeks ago we started a mini blog series about different types of period properties Period Properties - What are they? so this seems a good point to expand on that and tell you a little more about Victorian properties. Victorian Properties are those that were built in the reign of Queen Victoria, so from 1837-1901.

In Victorian times, the population of the country more than doubled, so more houses were needed. Therefore Victorian houses were often built out of necessity. The brick tax (more about this in the blog about Georgian properties) was abolished in 1850, and once this was removed, construction of many new homes began.

Victorian homes were commonly made with smaller bricks, and had large bay windows. Many of the houses were terraced, and built on narrow streets. They were often close to factories, to provide housing for the increasing number of workers in the industrial revolution. Many of them were built back-to-back with no garden or proper sanitation. By the end of this era, more decorative styles were common, and builders often added flourishes to houses depending on the wealth of the owners. 

Victorian homes were often one room wide with a narrow hallway leading off to different entertaining rooms, or they were often just simple two-up, two-down houses, unlike the spacious Georgian homes that preceded them. Common features to look out for on Victorian properties are coloured brickwork, high pitched roof, a brick porch, bay windows, narrow hallway, and a fireplace in every room. As far as interior decor went, many had dark furniture and wooden floors. Patterned wallpaper was common, and elaborate design details were included if the owners were wealthy. By the end of the century, red brick and terracotta were commonly used.

If you are renovating a Victorian property today, look out for original features such as traditional coving, skirting boards which were originally painted white, and fireplaces. Reclaim yards can provide some fantastic pieces. 

Back to the property that we are currently renovating...

The work we will be doing includes structural work, new windows and joinery, roof work, drainage, pointing, all internal alterations and upgrades, new heating system, re-wiring, and overhauling the rain water goods. As always we will keep you updated as we progress!