Why Victorian Houses Look Like They Do

[@k101st4]

How is this channel not huge? I can’t find anything this informative on the historical aspects of craftsmanship. Enjoying the content.

[@BrentHull]

Cool. Thanks. Tell you friends.

[@henryryals1848]

I can’t thank you enough for these videos. What a wealth of knowledge. It’s quickly become my favorite Chanel.

[@BrentHull]

Wow, thank you!

[@SpanishEclectic]

You are a busy man! I'm impressed by your knowledge and energy. Over the years so many Victorian houses were split up into apartments, or turned into offices. While the interior ornamentation was often sacrificed, this saved a number of them from being torn down. So much of the fancy wood trim mimics the carved stone ornamentation of prior centuries. Kaleb Higgins in St. Louis is restoring the 1889 Second Empire home of Charles S. Brown, one of the founders of Hall & Brown Woodworking Machines. He recently purchased an impressive haul of vintage woodworking machines, many of which were belt driven. It's interesting to note the following Arts & Crafts movement pushed back against the manufactured in favor of the hand made. I recall you explained about this in another video. All fascinating history. Thanks for helping keep these skills alive.

[@BrentHull]

Nice, thanks for sharing.

[@williamstringer6519]

I watch Caleb's videos each week. Admittedly it is sometimes like watching paint dry, but his enthusiasm, perfectionism and charm are addictive. I am in for the long haul.

[@RealJuanCastaneda]

The first time i watched this i couldn't understand a thing. I think it was the day i started making my first woodworking project. But now, about 6 months later, i appreciate this video so very much. I live in Carthage Mo, a very historic town, and i wanted to know more about all the big beautiful houses on the main roads. I would've never been able to know those houses if it weren't for this video. Thank you.

[@BrentHull]

Nice, good to know. Thx.

[@BlackMagickMike]

This WHOLE explanation was so concise and understandable, AND was everything I didnt seem to get in my Art History and History of Design courses back in college! Thank you for making those connections!

[@BrentHull]

Glad it was helpful! I appreciate the feedback.

[@vanderven7008]

A history major with a love of architecture. Love this video, really great work and a lot of obvious passion. Amazing!

[@BrentHull]

Many thanks! I appreciate you watching.

[@stevemiller7949]

Rhett Butler: Scarlett, I'am gonna build you the biggest, gaudiest house in town. Scarlett: Good! I want everybody to be pea-green with envy!

[@BrentHull]

Haha, forgot about that.

[@tc9148]

So interesting and informative.

[@BrentHull]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@richardguimond1087]

Why do I not fall asleep in your history lessons? Great teacher with in depth knowledge, thank you

[@BrentHull]

Wow, thank you!

[@rogerhodges7656]

Another great video! I look forward to each post. Please keep them coming.

[@BrentHull]

Thank you! Will do!

[@oogahboogahzoogah]

Truly a wealth of knowledge, thank you! I have been curious about this since I moved to northern california and saw so many victorian homes. I live in an old logging town and now it all makes sense!

[@BrentHull]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@Jeannified]

Such a fantastic video! I sent it to my stepsister, who is a director at the Los Angeles Conservancy. She will love this!

[@BrentHull]

Wow, thank you!

[@Lee-jh6cr]

Excellent! Grew up in an 1890 Colonial built with the old horseshoe type nails. We had an oriental rug in the LR & my great aunt upstairs with her kerosene lamp, oak trees & lilacs. I thought we were The Munsters or Addams Family! Like your old tools & books.

[@BrentHull]

Oh wow! Thanks for sharing.

[@KimberlyBGray]

“Design is more available; it doesn’t mean it is good design!” Right!!! Appreciate your content. Thank you.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks so much.

[@homeloveeverything2932]

I find it interesting that new homes today have no details in molding and most houses are boxy, like a shoe box. Plus there’s a lot of open concept floor plans. I wonder if it started because there are fewer skilled craftsmen now who know how to do details, plus no molding or molding with no carvings, along with fewer walls means less expense and more profits for the builders.

[@BrentHull]

I think it is mostly about an ignorant buying class that is enamored by appliances and TVs and cost savings. My 2 cents.

[@mariothoughts]

We need a video on ornamentation and maybe interior millwork finishes such as shellac and varnish

[@BrentHull]

Ok, I'll work on it. Thx.

[@bradwatson7324]

My wife and I had an 18th-century-inspired theme to our wedding. But often during the planning phase, when we would tell people of our intention, they would exclaim, "Oh, I love Victorian!" Depending on who we were talking to, we'd sometimes have to correct them and say, "Yeah, you're off by a century." :-) Even though we live near Fort Worth (and not along the east coast), we managed to pull it off -- and it was quite lovely, I must say.

[@BrentHull]

Awesome and congrats!

[@matthewlong1199]

Very well explained. Thanks for posting!

[@BrentHull]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robertbamford8266]

Thank you for the fascinating, packed overview. “Because they could.” The insight into mechanization and the use of hardwood puts a different perspective on the beautiful millwork from that period. I can only imagine the comments of some of the die-hard old-style (Luddite) craftsmen. I also find it fascinating that Victoria became Queen decades before the Civil War and lived to see the first production motor cars (though she missed Ford by 7 or so years and the first powered flight by 2 years).

[@BrentHull]

I agree, its interesting to see how style evolves. Thanks for commenting.

[@KCKingdomCreateGreatTrekAgain]

I LOVE the Victorian era architecture. I like Richardsonian Romanesque too which you didn’t name. It’s in the same time frame. Only other big era I LOVE in architecture is the colonial/federal era which also has a wide selection. I’ve subscribed now.

[@BrentHull]

Welcome aboard. Thanks for watching.

[@theofarmmanager267]

Excellent video. Very interesting to hear about this evolution from your side. The adjective “Victorian” is misleading in that changes in every walk of life were happening regardless of who was on the throne. It’s illogical to think that things changed overnight when George died and Victoria took over; just the same when Victoria died and Edward took over. A (the) major effect of the Industrial Revolution was that the evolution that had been happening for centuries before became a revolution. In other words, the speed of change increased incredibly - and now, 250 years after the start of the IR, that speed of change continues to increase exponentially. But these evolutions did not happen across geographies and across social classes at the same time. As is ever the case, the upper classes in the major cities got change the quickest whilst the poorest in the rural areas got change last - with all the other geographies and classes taking their places in between the extremes. Brick was the building innovation of the Elizabethan era - although it was used heavily by the Romans 1400 years before, the use of brick had fallen almost to zero. Suddenly, it became the height of fashion and the ultimate show of wealth to use brick in your house. Initially, as an infill between the timber frames and then, this evolved into brick as a structural element. The very height of this show of wealth were ornate brick chimneys; often very tall with ornate brick patterns and built as a spiral. This all said that “I can afford to use this new brick and I have proper fireplaces” The use of brick then gradually made its way across the country and across classes so that, by the mid 19th century, buildings in slums were made of brick. The reaction of many people to this was they didn’t want their houses to be built of the same material as slums and so they had their houses built of stone or, more usually, brick covered with stucco. When the Victorian style is talked about here, it usually refers to a very ornate, very fussy, almost overcrowded expression of architecture and interiors. Increasingly, the quality of the materials deteriorated as a result of demand increasing and inferior products being produced to meet demand. That era also saw the very start of the suburbanisation of the big cities. All influenced by the increasing centralisation of work in cities and the expansion of the railways radiating out from cities. Hand in glove, railways and suburbs grew - first 2 miles from a city centre; then 5, then 10, then 15. Those first estates were largely terraces of brick built two up/two down; you stepped from the street into the living area which had a scullery/ cooking room behind. Upstairs were 2 small bedrooms. Washing was in a tub in from of the range; toilets were initially earth closets in the yard behind the house. One window per room - typically sash with 1 fixed and 1 moving. Thousands of those houses still survive and, with research you can date the houses near the railways to the date of that railway line. If you ever get the chance to go to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, you will see another side of Victorian. This house and estate became the favourite residence of Victoria and Albert. Obviously, no expense spared with luxuries that must have astounded everyone at the time. And yet, the style could only really have happened with the IR. Ornate panelling made with timber moulded from industrial planing mill. Cast iron details made in large foundries. Ceramic tiles from factories. And with a remarkable influence of Indian architecture. India was a colony of the UK at the time and Victoria was, amongst other titles, Empress of India from 1876. She loved many things Indian although she never actually visited. And so, we see a kind of Anglo-Indian slant on many aspects of the interiors. This was not unique by any means as anyone visiting the Royal Pavilion in Brighton will see: that was developed from 1811 by Victoria’s as a quite extreme take on Indian architecture. Meandering complete

[@BrentHull]

Great, I always enjoy your meanderings and thoughts from across the pond. I find we Americans 20-40 years after you guys, Federal (Adamesque) doesn't happen here until 1780's for example. Regards!

[@joan8178]

Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge in such a clear, understandable way. Because you show us examples it makes your topics more interesting and memorable. I am learning so much. More, please!

[@BrentHull]

I appreciate that! Working on more!

[@bottomup12]

New subscriber thanks to Finished Carpentry TV. I’m going to enjoy and learn a lot.

[@BrentHull]

Awesome, welcome aboard. Let me know your thoughts.

[@BryceLovesTech]

Queen Anne is the best. I don’t understand why they don’t build houses like this anymore?

[@BrentHull]

I'm curious what you love about the style and what you wish they still did. Is it the ornamentation. The overall look? Thanks for watching. In some ways, the McMansion of the 1980's and 90's was a new type Victorian. Although lacking in many ways.

[@soil-play]

​@@BrentHull Not even close - McMansions may be economically and philosophically similar but seem to lack the appealing proportions/ratios and lack the ornate architectural details that typify Queen Anne's.

[@briansmith-l1q]

i bought a victorian , 1872,,,, two story, curled mansard roof. small curved staircase, but it was also built witha budget. i'm sure you know, but a good point is that in early days of this,,, is that woodwork was painted,,, usually white. It was a sign of wealth, kinda, lol

[@BrentHull]

Nice, yes, colors were wild in that era. White is more popular later. Their is a great book on paint colors for Victorians You should check it out. Exterior decoration.

[@kristiedcox1971]

Luved this episode! Been trying to find more out about our 1900 home. Can you help me or know a direction to point me to learn more? Ours is “Victorian “ but type n such I’m still searching for. My biggest question at the moment it ours currently doesn’t have and no remnants of it ever having any fireplaces which perplexes me to no end. Please can you help?! Ty! ✌️💛☺️

[@BrentHull]

Please send pics and any information to [e-mail]. Happy to help figure out the mystery. Thanks.

[@Jeannified]

My son loves the Second Empire Victorians.

[@BrentHull]

Me too!

[@stephenburns3678]

Thank you .

[@BrentHull]

Welcome 😊

[@justinfoss7968]

Great video, thanks Brent! Now I have some more facts to throw at my girlfriend while we are driving through our little historic mill town!

[@BrentHull]

Glad to help! Haha.

[@ladydiana2905]

This is fantastic! I always thought the detailed wooodwork was because of the skilled artisans (custom design) but it’s actually mass produced with machines. Why are modern homes so boring?

[@BrentHull]

Good question! Thanks for watching.

[@molly1117]

I would say it's mainly exciting is extremely expensive. :o,

[@noirgrime]

Was that the CornHub intro?

[@BrentHull]

IDK, i'd need to ask my editor.

[@stevenfoust3782]

Victorian era was amazing

[@BrentHull]

Truly unique. Thx.

[@marvinhaines9297]

Excellent video, but there is NO WAY IN HECK that that Jacobethan Revival interior is in that Second Empire house. I could even find proof if you don't believe my instincts. A Second Empire stairway typically has a tapered newel and a curving banister with tapered, turned balusters.

[@BrentHull]

Ok. Thanks.

[@invisableobserver]

If you research it you will find buildings all over the world had the same architecture, (kind of a greco-roman) before the early 1800's, ask yourself how it was possible without the electric communication we have today. These buildings were made of huge stones that cannot be cut, carved or lifted using modern technology. I suggest you research why & how was it possible, most of them were destroyed in the early 1900's without reason.

[@BrentHull]

Its sad. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesslaton8696]

Your channel should be SO much larger....You have been shadowbanned.

[@BrentHull]

Well, we just started this year. Hopefully it will gain steam. Thanks for watching.