Gothic Revival Style: 1840-1880

Gothic Revival in America set out to be an incarnation of an architectural style developed in England that centered around rural and country houses built of stone. The style was never as popular in this country as its' cousins, Greek Revival and Italianate, and seldom applied to urban homes. It was promoted as a style suitable for a home in a natural setting - emphasizing high, multiple gables and wide porches; it did not lend itself to narrow urban lots.

The house at 30 West Street has stunning ornamental trusses and inverted finials.

Many barns and carriage houses built during this period show Gothic details. It was meant to be a country design that extolled country living. Not to be outdone, urban areas developed their own Gothic style called Carpenter Gothic. The Gothic Revival features that remain in our village are shown as details on doors, rooflines, windows or cornices.

Characteristic Details:

Form

One and one-half or two-story front or side gable with a prominent cross gable.

Roofs and Cornices

Steeply pitched roofs with steep cross gables and decorated verge boards. The house at 32 Filkins Street retains its decorated verge boards with an inverted finial at the center, as well as its drip mold window decorations.

Decorative trusses at the peak of the roofline were encouraged by the perfection of the scroll saw. The house at 30 West Street is a fine example of Carpenter Gothic with its stunning ornamental trusses and inverted finials.

Porch

Predominantly one story with chamfered or bracketed decorated posts.

Doorways

Doors commonly show pointed arches or the decorated moldings similarly seen on Gothic style windows.

Windows

At least one window with Gothic detailing is prominently displayed in the center of the most prominent gable. Full bay windows on the first floor level are also common, as well as cutout patterns above rectangular windows giving a pointed arch effect.

Barn at 48 West Church Street: steeply pitched roof, center gable and scalloped wood shingles. In 2014 this carriage house along with the Queen Anne home on the property were designated an historic landmark.

The carriage house at 141 West Ave: board-and-batten vertical siding and a center projected gable with cross bracing. In 2012, this carriage house along with the Italianate house, were designated an historic landmark. 

For an index of other styles that can be found in the Perinton area go to the Architectural Styles page in the History section.