Victorian Era Architecture Characteristics
Ornate grandeur and lavish decoration – that was the style among Victorians back in the day. During the mid to late 1800’s, the Gothic Revival heavily influenced architecture in the UK. This period of architecture played on medieval English styles, with decorative towers, finials, parapets and figurines featuring widely. The cost and availability of cast iron during Victorian times fuelled its popularity massively. This was the material of choice for Victorians, and it allowed them the freedom to create structures that were fashionable at the time. Its impressive castability made intricate detailing possible. And it was structurally capable, meaning these complex designs could be applied to buildings and infrastructure. Cast iron in Victorian architecture was a win-win.
Features of Victorian Era Architecture
The reign of Queen Victoria between 1837 and 1901 produced a period of opulent extravagance, which poured into architectural designs at the time. In fact, the architectural profession is primarily a Victorian creation; in 1834, the Institute of British Architects was born. At this time, architects were able to focus less on developing and surveying and more on style and design. Their designs were facilitated by the Industrial Revolution and the arrival of the railways. Suddenly, materials such as cast iron could be transported easily up and down the country, turning these elegant ideas into reality. Technical developments, such as iron-framed construction, benefitted from the new method of transportation and readily available materials.
Various historic styles inspired Victorian era architecture:
- Gothic Revival architecture featured pointed arches and highly decorative interiors with medieval, religious influences.
- Italian Renaissance palaces inspired buildings in the Italianate style. Features include tall, arched windows, symmetrical design, porches, balconies and ornate detailing.
- Neoclassical influences include prominent columns and features that inspire power and authority.
Victorian Era Architecture and The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period of revolution for cast iron. In the mid-18th century, Abraham Darby pioneered a new method of using coke to fuel huge blast furnaces. His method offered a significant step forward in the smelting of pig iron to produce cast. This was a turning point for cast iron production and availability. Gradually, towns up and down the country became industrial rather than farming communities; often, entire towns were purpose-built around their blast furnace.
Suddenly, this valuable alloy was available in large quantities, and it was cheaper than other building materials. The important properties of cast iron were something the Victorians made good use of…
- Its huge compressive strength made it perfect for beams, columns and other structural elements. Look out for examples of Victorian beam engines and, of course, the famous Iron Bridge.
- The durability factor allowed cast iron to feature prominently in marine power generation components.
- Cast iron is highly resistant to corrosion, making it a popular feature on the seafront, for example, the Madeira Terrace in Brighton.
- Cast iron has excellent castability due to its high carbon content and silicon. Spiral staircases, statues and bandstands made from cast iron feature heavily in the Victorian era.
- Cast iron’s machining and damping capability benefit machine tools, locomotives, marine, automotive, and structural applications.
It’s impressive castability and flowability in particular, made cast iron super popular with the Victorians. Decorative cast iron is found almost everywhere in Victorian era architecture. Look out for images of the impressive Crystal Palace building, a huge cast iron and glass structure that used some 4,500 tons of cast iron and was in fact only a temporary building used to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. The trend continued in America with the construction of the Capitol Dome building. Over eight million pounds of cast iron went into building this remarkable structure.
Closer to home, cast iron can be found nationwide in ornate railings, bridges, fountains, statues, staircases, paving and more. If you want to spot Victorian cast iron architecture, look out for decoratively elaborate detailing.
Preserving Victorian Architecture
As Victorian architecture continues to age, time and effort should be invested to guarantee its integrity and preserve the history associated with these heritage items. Cast iron structures and decorative items made during the Victorian era often suffer from corrosion, mechanical stress, and environmental wear and tear, and the restoration process can be challenging. The damage usually requires structural repairs, using precise welding techniques to mend cracks, fractures, and erosion. Cosmetic restoration requires meticulous attention to detail, by hand painting and referencing historic archives to replicate the visual completely.
Victorian era architecture is brimming with elegance, opulence and historical influences. It offers a wealth of inspiration and knowledge for modern-day architects, designers and homeowners alike. Restoring cast iron heritage items keeps history alive and allows future generations to benefit from the aesthetics, prominence and memories of this important period in history.
If you have a cast iron heritage item in disrepair, contact the team at Cast Iron Welding Services for an informal discussion. We are experts in our field and we have extensive knowledge regarding heritage restoration, thanks to our work on unique, diverse projects up and down the country.
Marie Palmer
Director
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