London England

Richard Shaw was the man responsible for bringing the Queen Anne style into popular use in Britain. He was known as one of the premier Arts and Crafts architects, along with Philip Webb and Edwin Lutyens, but his work in the suburbs or London is what is really memorable. He brought suburban living to the city.

Queen Anne architecture in Britain bears little resemblance to the Queen Anne found here. A preference for white painted window sills, fish tail shingles, multi-panes of glass and simple ornament is indicative of the style.

The Old Swan House has elements of both Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts.

London England

Shaw spent much time during his student years sketching the great cathedrals of Europe. While there, he also made a great study of the lesser known treasures surrounding the works of the great masters and whether by natural inclination or predestination, these are the ones that were cemented in his artistic psyche. He drew the small shops, comfortable residences and small domestic buildings made by uncelebrated craftsman. He found these modest survivors of the distant past as engaging as the larger monuments. His interest centered on the qualities that would later fascinate the Arts and Crafts guys, Frank Lloyd Wright, H.H. Richardson and the movers and shakers of the early twentieth century: a respect for the intrinsic beauty of the materials, a harmony between the building and its surroundings, and a delight in unexpected ornament.

Shaw's ‘Sketches from the Continent' are of anything from street scenes in Anger France to lean-tos in Germany as well as the land mark four star destinations.

Anger France

This photo of the buildings in the above sketch was taken in 2008.

Further studies of mantels, staircases, and battlements had him convinced that the craftsman's attitude towards construction had immense, if humble, significance. It was the stone masons who lead the design team in the construction of the great cathedrals, and it was the woodworkers, masons and vernacular craftsmen who had developed the residential styles whose charm had stood the test of time.

Brockville

Brockville has an astonishing amount of really lovely turn of the century homes, many of them Queen Anne Revival.

This is a textbook Queen Anne with a round turret, large wrapping verandah, and multiple textures including fishscale shingles, radiating ornament and clapboard. Gable finishes include anti-macassar brackets. In fact every surface is adorned with some sort of white, lacy finish. The owners of this home should be given an award for upkeep as it is in excellent repair.

If you are interested in buying and restoring an old home like this, don't let the amount of paint dissuade you. Both Linseed paint and milk paint finished with either linseed or hemp oil will last a good 50 years if applied properly. See the paint section under the resources page or click here.

Brockville

A closer look at the front porch shows the vast quantity of detailing. Many Queen Anne Revivals are done up in a variety of colours, thus the familiar name for the style "painted ladies". This one is very elegant in simple white.

Brockville

Right next door to the gorgeous white Queen Anne Revival is this lovely stone version of the same style. It has the signature corner turret as well as the abundant verandahs - in this case closed in with multipaned glass.

What distinguishes this from the Italian Villa and the Victorian Villa is the preference for a Renaissance or medieval building method. The stone, while banded, is rustic. The stone lintels in an accent stone are imbedded in the medieval method. The sills are also quite early as opposed to the more ornate Victorian versions.

Brockville

This is a detail of a multicoloured painted porch also found in Brockville.

The arch designs between the pillars on the porch are unique: horseshoe arches and large Renaissance two centered arches. The pillar design is interesting with the same bull's eye pattern found in the moulding detail in Burlington.

In contrast to the Cobourg Queen Anne Revival, this has no classical detailing on the porch at all.

Brockville

Up on the hill in Brockville is this excellent example of a Stick style building. The stick or Eastlake style is taken directly front the European half timber style buildings illustrated by Richard Norman Shaw in his "Sketches from the Continent (above).

In half timbered buildings, the structure of the building is constructed out of very large timbers, usually large trees cut in half. The cross-bracing and window bracing are all built into the external structure. Then the area between the timbers is filled with a mixture of horse hair, cow manure, lime and other insulating fillers called "wattle and daub", then the interior and exterior surface is covered in a brick, stucco or wood water shield for weather.

In this variation of Queen Anne it is very easy to see the original medieval inspiration.

Brockville

When people talk about Victorian craftsmanship, more often than not they are referring to the Queen Anne Revival. It was certainly in the late Victorian or High Victorian era, and because it is usually the province of the wealthy who could afford such things, the craftsmanship in these houses is amongst the best.

The coffered detailing on the chimney, many coloured slate roof, and fine woodwork shown here are indicative of the quality found in the Queen Anne Revival home.

This house has been restored by people who did an excellent job.

Picton

This beautiful smaller Queen Anne style house is in good company on the main street into Picton. Original 'unruined' Georgians, Italianates, and Arts and Crafts homes can be found along the same street.

There are a few types of Queen Anne style homes, the larger one has a huge verandah and a turret. This type can be distinguished by the from facing gambrel gable with the distinctive half circle decoration found in Burlington and other places. The front gable is finished with shingles reminiscent of the shingle style as found in New Hampshire.

Picton

Across town this Queen Anne seems to represent more of the recognized features of Queen Anne Revival. The central tower on this home seems at first like an Italian Villa addition, but There is no double arched window or balconette but rather a roof like that in the gorgeous Italianate manor ******** in Saint George.

The corner turret on the verandah, the multiple roof lines, and the lack of any other Italianate features or detailing places this squarely as a Queen Anne even though the base of the building is clearly a Victorian Gable and Bay..

Wellington

Another white Queen Anne can be found in Wellington, about 15 minutes drive from Picton.

The large verandah and multi-textured surface are indicative of the style.

Wellington

An interesting phenomenon is the 'paired Queen Anne's" found here and in Hastings.

Here there is a blue and white next to the solid white. Most of the detailing is the same but the blue accentuates some of the detailing. The upper gable is shingled with both fish scale and plain shingles. The area above the window on the bay under the gable end have anti-macassar brackets. The porch is full and inviting.

Wellington

Here is a close up of the shingle work. Note that the window is created with multi paned art glass and the owners have been brilliant enough not to ruin it.

Hastings

Here is another instance of two buildings, side by side, clearly built by the same contractor and possibly for the same client.

The corner turret here is octagonal. There is a prominent second floor balcony, and the entire building is covered with fish scale shingles, clapboard with naval ornament, and large amounts of gingerbread.

Hastings

The House next door has the same trappings but is in red and white instead of yello and white. The shingles are red, but other details are white. Notice how the blue and white in the Annapolis Royal illustration has even more detail pronounced by the paint colour.

Hastings

The second floor balcony is a nice feature on both houses. The gingerbread - detailing around the balcony and verandah - is Victorian in nature. Contrast this with the detailing on the London house below.

Kingston

This example from Kingston is as lovely inside as outside. It is beautifully maintained, and is currently a bed and breakfast, so you can see the inside as well.

The design is unusually symmetrical with a very large central tower. The tower has a deeply sloping roof, a small dormer, and iron cresting. Large cornices are kept in place by equally large brackets. Two dormers with half-hip roofs contain lancet windows.

The lower level has a verandah with ornate posts and gingerbread. Opposite this is a bay window with modillions. The cornice is large and extravagant.

The light standards and verandah details are exquisite.

Merrickville

This charming bed and breakfast has the same qualities as the buildings shown above: the corner tower, the large sweeping verandah, the gables, and the dormers. In this case the corner tower is square with half-round windows and an acroterion.

The differences are in the clustered column supports for the verandah, the oval window, and the Palladian windows. Also notable are the roof brackets and the unusually large soffit showing a classicism not often found in this genre. The property gently slopes down to a river.

Merrickville

Like many Queen Anne Revival details, this rounded verandah, silhouetting a turret, and cantilevered out over the latticework base is really 'just showing off'. Notice how the underside of the roof is fully finished< the fascia and trim are perfect, and the column is intact and in great shape.

Again, this house has been cared for and is a beautiful example of an opulent house made to be enjoyed and lived in. The garden is very much a part of the house, it is a sculpted living space.

Cobourg

In Cobourg is the ****** house built by *******, owner of the ***** rail company which made custom rail cars for all the railways in North America.

The Exterior shows a house that was constructed in stages: the design is not cohesive, it looks like there have been additions made to the original plan.

Cobourg

Beside the front door is a small vestibule or air chamber that provides an air lock between the outside air and the inside. Notice that this is the same shape as the windows on the Old Swan designed by Shaw (above).

The woodwork is exquisite and the windows are all artglass, curved, but still made with leaded panes.

Cobourg

The main entrance is typical of a larger Queen Anne house. There is a preeminent staircase leading to the upper rooms, and there is a stair hall large enough to receive many guests at a time. This entrance room often has a fireplace and an inglenook.

In the case of the ******* house, the opening is curved and frames the stairway as it leads up. A closet and doorway to the kitchen are made from the same paneled design as the stairwell itself.

Cobourg

The treads are wide and generous. There are three spindles to a tread. The spindles themselves are turned in an ornate design.

The design beneath the treads on the outer surface has the same ornate scrolling as an Italianate tread.

Cobourg

Above the stairwell is a skylight made from nine panels of art glass. The railing snakes around from the generous upper landing to the west wing and then downstairs.

It is rare but not impossible to find this kind of craftsmanship in a modern house.

If you have a staircase with a missing rail or spindles, there are many places that may be able to help supply original pierces taken from other Queen Annes that have been pulled down for one reason or another. Historic Lumber in Acton has many railings, spindles and newels ready to be restored and installed. Legacy in Acton or any of the three Timeless materials outlets may have them too. See the Resources page for contact information.

Cobourg

The carving in the lintels, above the doors, and around the stairway itself is wonderful. Various owners who have been lucky enough to live in this house, have taken good care of the woodwork so it is in great shape.

Cobourg

The plasterwork in this house was not as well kept, but the house was lucky. Hal Cooper and his wife Barb purchased the house tow years ago and Hal has been tireless in his efforts to restore the plaster to its original glory.

By the time this place was built, gas was an accepted form of lighting. Each room in this house has an original gasolier which has been refurbished to accept electrical lighting. If you are looking for gasoliers, they can be found occasionally in auctions or flee markets.

Cobourg

The advantage to restoring this type of house is that all the plumbing is usually in. You may need to replace some bits, but the fixtures are large, sturdy, and beautifully designed.

To get a period bathroom restored to the original if someone has 'upgraded' it to a lovely avocado colour during the 70's, there are many places where period sinks and faucets occasionally appear. See the Resources page.

Rednersville

This is a new version of the Queen Anne style. The original concept is evident, but the finishes, windows, and detailing are all new.

The corner turret is what first catches your eye. It is multicoloured and topped with a pepper pot roof. The lower section of the turret has a lovely circular verandah.

On the front façade, the doorway is relatively small and has a starburst pediment design. Above this is a window with a triangular arch. The starburst pattern is copied onto the gable above the second floor porch.

Durham

Queen Anne homes are often called "Painted Ladies" because of the bright colours and feminine look.

Bowmanville

Not all Queen Anne Revival buildings are large and turreted. The style is also seen in smaller buildings that simply have an eclectic mixture of influences and details.

This house in Bowmanville is an inventive mixture of many periods. It has an extremely rare keyhole arch on the front portico. This portico has a large cornice and cornice brackets with iron cresting. The second storey has two pairs of round-headed arches on very high windows. The top gable has a heavy Palladian window with an exaggerated keystone set on a background of fish scale shingles. The gable is decorated with vergeboarding and held in place by cornice brackets. It is truly extraordinary.

Niagara Falls

This Queen Anne Revival building has a verandah that runs around two sides of the building. This verandah is likely to be used frequently as it overlooks the escarpment by Niagara Falls. Unlike modern surveys and cul-de-sacs where most trees or natural contours of the land are bulldozed out of existence, the 19th century builder took advantage of the natural setting, and the results are spectacular.

The building has the usual gables, chimney stacks, and corner tower. This one has a round, brick, decorative hoodmold with corbelled label stops. There is also a lovely dichromatic brick pattern over the window.

Niagara Parkway

The massing of this highly decorated house on the Niagara Parkway is more squared than most Queen Anne Revivals of the 'corner turret' variety, but it clearly has the massing of a Queen Anne.

The turret extends up from the first floor bay window and terminates above the roof. The gable on the other side extends past the central massing of the building a provides a lovely covered balcony on the second floor accessed by French Doors. This is a charming feature. Loads of banding and gingerbread give the house a more Victorian look than is found on Queen Anne's in Eastern Ontario.

Kitchener

The sweeping two sided verandahs of large Queen Anne Revival buildings all look better on a corner lot. This one is no exception.

The beauty of this house is in the black and white detailing contrasting with the red brick. The cornice has alternating bands of white and black that tie the building together. A corner square turret has the same cornice detailing. The square verandah has a white spindle design and white posts. The gables all have white vergeboarding and white lattice design under the eaves. The roofline is varied and punctuated.

Above the half-round windows there are brick hoodmolds. The lowest level of the building is rusticated.

Kitchener

Not too far from the house in Kitchener above is another Queen Anne revival with the same colour scheme. This is a gable front version, and quite different from the first example, but notice that there is a large verandah, a dormer and a turret. There are certainly similarities with the first one.

Kitchener

Another Queen Anne Revival in the same area of Kitchener has the same colour scheme but two very large verandahs and a double gable front. The red brick used would have been local brick. Where the Victorian Gable and Bay design makes good use of dichromatic brick, the Queen Anne instead mixes brick with wood trim and shingles for an entirely different effect.

Note the half-round circle in the upper gable, a design motif found often in Queen Anne Revivals.

Kitchener

The last and final example from Kitchener is very different from the above, and from a different area of town. It is a Gable and Bay done in the yellow brick from the Western side of the city, which has the hood mold and trim of the Victorian period. The upper dormer finished in shingles and the large verandah are the Queen Anne elements, and you could say that this house has been "Queen Anned". It is likely that these additions were not original. The lattice on the second floor also fits more into a Queen Anne mold than the Victorian.

Toronto

The ground floor of this building is rusticated while the rest is of smooth red brick. The lintels and sills are also rusticated, and on the tower and the bay window, a continuous band of rough stone continues this motif.

There is a bow window and a large gabled bay. The roof is punctuated by a wide variety of chimneys. There is a corner tower as well as a large open turret with a pepper pot roof.

This building is typical of urban Queen Anne Revival in that there is an assortment of window types, roof extensions, and detailing to add interest, but no large verandah or landscaping so that it fits within the city block.

Hamilton

In contrast to the building above, this building has a wide verandah that sweeps around the two street façades. The corner tower, the hallmark of the Queen Anne Revival house, sits atop a rounded section of the verandah. There is a tall, conical, roof with fish scale shingles and an acroterion. The rest of the house radiates away from the tower.

The roof is interrupted by several gables and dormers, all with wood molding, carved brackets, and tympanum designs; the top most gable has a star burst pattern. The windows are quite plain, but the glass in the tower is curved. Under the windows is a rusticated sill band that stretches around the building.

Duplessis House 1890 Hamilton

This is a smaller version of the Queen Anne style with no central tower and a small but lovely front verandah that wraps around the side. The plan is asymmetrical using the two storey bay, typical of the late-Victorian period.

The exterior finish is a mixture of clapboard on the main floor and upper bay, and fish scale shingles on the gable and upper floor over the porch.

The front verandah uses a mixture of straight and radiating spindles with a frieze of disks along the top.

Wood work of this quality is often found on Queen Anne buildings, but it is rare to find a building that has been maintained and preserved with such care.

Hamilton

The staircase is a central focus an obvious subject for decoration. This staircase and the balcony above are beautifully conceived and expertly executed. The design is composed of pierced solids. The geometric designs are cut into a flat solid, the voids become the design.

The newel is carved in a wonderful downward tapered design capped with dentils and an elliptical newel.

Hamilton

The second floor landing has a pattern of pierced solids similar to that of the staircase handrail.

Hamilton

Some of the windows, such as this one, are composed of a leaded diamond pattern on the lower sash and an arrangement of opaque coloured squares on the upper.

In contrast to the ornate decoration on the verandah and stairwell, the window surround is substantial and traditional.

Perth

This large Queen Anne Revival has more Classical detailing than most. The main entrance has a set of giant order columns with Composite capitals, a plain entablature, and a pediment. The denial blocks decorating the cornice of the pediment are continued in a cornice that surrounds the building.

Unlike many Queen Annes where two sides of the building are plain, "Queen Anne in front and Mary Anne in the rear" (Maitland), there are half-timbered gables on all sides and a porch with Ionic columns and a simple architrave on the rear of the building. Like of the many grand buildings in Perth, this is built from local stone.

London

For anyone who has done a study of Ontario architecture, this building is very obviously from the London area. First it has the light yellow brick of Harrisburg and west. More important for pin pointing the location, however, is the decoration on the gables. Where the Queen Anne, Victorian or Second Empire, this type of detailing was made by a group of people who either had similar training or were from the same company: London is full of this really exquisite craftsmanship that is very different from that of other parts of the province.

The turret on the verandah is a "tour de force".

Thunder Bay

Clearly this house has one of the most extraordinary verandahs in the world. The large circular shape takes up most of the lower level façade, spanning from the center of one Palladian window to the other. Sturdy balusters and simple columns support the large domed roof.

On the second and third floor are a variety of dormers, eyebrow windows, gables, and other openings on an undulating roofline.

There is a central bay window above the verandah that is flanked by two windows with differing but similarly noteworthy keystones.

Woodstock

Like most of the historic architecture in Woodstock, this is a classic example of the style, in this case Queen Anne Revival, and it is beautifully maintained. The turret is in the front of the building, not off to the side as it often is, and it is flanked by two extra large porches. There is a lovely open balcony on the third floor inside the turret. The first floor is rusticated, the upper two floors are of lovely red brick.

Like most brick or stone Queen Anne's, the surface texture is minimal, but there is an offset material that is nicely balanced.

Fergus

This really interesting example from Fergus is a building that is made up of a tower that takes up about half of the footprint of the house. In fact it is more a rotunda than a tower. Decorated gables open up the top floor of the tower, and a large curtained verandah leads to the very elegant front doors.

Notice how all of the brick Queen Anne Revival buildings have a pronounced lintel that is either of stone or of contrasting brick. This flat, rather plain lintel is characteristic of the style.

Annapolis Royal

As in Hastings as well as Wellington - above - these two buildings in Annapolis Royal are side by side.

The decoration on the turrets is as fine as any cabinet making. There verandah with its rounded corner is an inviting element, meant to be enjoyed as an outdoor room.

The decoration above the window on the second floor is pressed wood, typical of the style and age. The method of manufacturing is the same as pressed back chairs.

Annapolis

Comparing these two styles you get a real feel for the elements of the style. A lot of the design depends on colour. The yellow version of this house is lovely, but while there is a garage added on the left, the building looks a lot different simply because of the colour. The pressed wood decorations are the same, but here they are more pronounced. The darker roof is also notable.

If this building where painted in one colour, the effect would be much different.

Annapolis Royal

Here is a close up of another turret in Annapolis Royal. Again the craftsmanship is astonishing. The shingles are carefully applied so that they sweep around the turret. The band above the first floor windows is a solid and graceful piece of molding that echos the cornice of the first floor. The windows are outlined in burgundy, a colour that makes the window 'pop out' at you but does not draw attention to itself.

Originally the windows on the third floor of the turret would have been curved like the ones on the second floor. With all our advanced technical knowledge, computers, and scientific methods, we still can't make curved glass the way they did 130 years ago. It's pathetic really.

New Hampshire

Here is a home from an old neighborhood five blocks from Yale University. It is a lovely mixture of elements: leaded glass windows, fieldstone, lamb's tongue brackets, and an interesting use of medieval jettys. Notice how the window on the lower level is extended beyond the main face of the building by eight inches or so. So is the gable in the center. These are medieval jettys.

The gable has three extraordinary windows. The lower has baskets for flowers. The upper is recessed. The whole, very large, gable is finished in cedar shingles.