History and Characteristics of Tudor Revival Architecture

Tudor architecture can be traced back to 15th-16th century Medieval England in Henry VII and Henry VIII. Many noblemen at the time lived in enormous manor homes made from stone, while the common folk had created a style better suited to their station. The core frame of the commoner’s house was supported by timber, and the builders would hold the frame together with a daub (dung, clay, and sand) and wattle (woven sticks), building solid walls in between. This half-timber design caused the wooden timber frame to be seen both inside and outside, setting the basis for the future of what we know as Tudor.

As time went on, the designs began to become more complex and sturdier. They are a fusion of Gothic and Renaissance design components. However, its popularity fell when Elizabeth I became queen, ushering in the era of Elizabethan architecture.

By the 19th century, these housing styles had made their way to America and became known as Tudor Revival (or Mock Tudor). The housing style gained popularity from the 1890s to the 1940s, especially in the northern part of the country, because the design is well-suited to the colder climes with more snow and rain. The Tudor Revival still featured its predecessors’ same wood frame technique, merging it with modern building ideals.

Initially, the design was encouraged mainly by European-trained architects who built them for wealthy clients who wanted to combine the Old World and the New World. However, by the 1930s, they became relatively commonplace even for the American middle-class. These home styles are widespread in Washington DC and make up a good number of stately residences.

But the trend of this European architectural style waned and began to die when the Great Depression swept across the country. The last straw was in 1945, after World War II, when citizens wanted to feel more patriotic, abandoning the foreign styles for more traditional-style designs. It also didn’t help that the Mock Tudor homes had high maintenance and high cost of construction.

With a primarily rectangular and asymmetrical design, the Tudor Revival homes are usually constructed with top-level stone or brick walls but showcase the wooden beams (now decorative). The houses appear two-toned, with stones or lighter-colored stucco in between the wooden beams. The houses are typically patterned with earth-tone colors like buff, brown, and tan to highlight their older-style appeal.

The roofs boast many gables, standing steeply pitched, covered with slate, and decorated with tiny dormers. These styles make the top better suited for a lot of rain and snow. The second story usually juts out to hang over the porch in a style called a cantilevered porch. These Tudor Revival houses always sport long, elaborate chimneys.

Staying true to their origins, the windows on Tudor Revival homes typically have casement windows that stand in rows out of the wall, covered in a metallic or wooden frame. The asymmetrical floor plan reflects inside the Tudor homes but gives them a spacious living area. Lastly, there is no complete Tudor house without a chimney; it is one of the essential features.