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Although Victorian architecture began in the United Kingdom, the style moved swiftly into North America during the 19th century. While many cities across Canada have preserved housing from this era, Toronto is one of the largest areas where Victorian architecture prevails. Cabbagetown, specifically, is Toronto’s most continuous residential area that proudly displays a variety of Victorian structures.
“Victorian” simply refers to Queen Victoria’s reign in England; however, the era is often considered to encompass the period between the Civil War and World War One. This definition may seem broad but this is because Victorian architecture is an umbrella category for specific styles such as Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne (to name a few).
The Industrial Revolution can be considered responsible for the rise of Victorian architecture. Due to the fact that the early 19th century induced great change in England, it was only natural for some to feel nostalgic about the past. As a result, people began to reinvent the styles of the Middle Age, bringing them back into modern culture.
Of the many styles revived during the Victorian era, the most common and distinguishable features include:
Other popular characteristics include dormers, cornices, entablatures, gables, lintel, and transoms.
