The Gothic Revival

The Gothic Revival movement began in England during the years of the late 1740's.  Also referred to as the Victorian Gothic or Neo-Gothic movement, the Gothic Revival movement reflects a more romantic movement in architecture and it also shows the love the people had for Gothic styles.  The movement became fairly popular in the early 19th century as those who loved the Neo-Gothic style want to bring it back.  At the time the Neoclassical style was prevalent and the Gothic movement contrasted greatly with it.

The Gothic Revival was very popular when it came to the architecture of churches and cottage houses. The main characteristics of this movement were the use of parapets, Castle like towers, stained glass which was mostly found in churches, tracery windows as well as the famous pointed Gothic arch windows and door entries.

This is St.Patrick's Cathedral, designed by the architect William Wardell.  It was built in 1858 and is situated in Melbourne, Australia.

Just by looking at it one can easily tell that the building forms part of the Gothic Revival movement as the main characteristics of the movement are all present.  The pointed, arched doorways and windows, the parapets and the long pointed roof- like structures and the tracery on the windows make it very evident that this church forms part of that period.







The main characteristics of Gothic furniture are pointed and vertical styles with narrow peaks.  The use elaborate detail and christian imagery especially in common places such as churches where also very much characteristics of this period.

William Burges was  and English architect and designer who was born in 1827 and died in 1881.  He was one of the pioneers of the Gothic Revival movement.

His work echoes very much the work of the pre-raphelites and of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The Gothic Revival movement greatly influenced the Arts and Crafts movement.