Tudor Architecture
The Tudor architecture is the renowned style of construction from the Tudor era extending over 118 years, starting from the year 1485 to year 1603, and has left an indelible mark on the history of architecture in Europe and beyond.
A number of Tudor style buildings derived inspiration from the Medieval period. Some Tudor houses were built to resemble modest Medieval cottages with false thatched roofs, mock masonry finish and an antiquated interior. Other Tudor structures were a simulated portrait of late medieval palatial extravagance with exquisite brick or stone work, parapet walls, cross gables and massive decorative chimneys.
The prominent features of a Tudor style home included tall, narrow windows with small windowpanes, low doors and integral timber framing. With decorative half-timbered walls, steeply pitched roof, and a huge chimney capped with an ornate chimney pot, the Tudor house looked like an affluent cousin of a medieval lodge. The brick layout was mostly stucco or patterned style and surrounded with decorative woodwork with intricate designs.
Several areas largely relied on oak wood as the primary material for construction, especially in areas such as Cheshire, Lancashire, and Warwickshire. Another cheap alternative was using plaster as the infill, creating small black and white Tudor houses. Other significant features of the Tudor architecture were spectacular gatehouses, linen fold oak panelling and squared window mouldings.
During the Tudor period, several architectural marvels were built. King Henry VIII built over sixty-plus which were scrupulously acquired and built with great deliberation and planning during his reign. The houses were located at strategic points to function as a court for the King, apart from having lavishly ordained gardens and recreational facilities for the King himself. The royal palaces of the Tudor period include the Hampton Court Palace, Greenwich Palace, St James' Palace, the Tower of London, Whitehall, Richmond Palace and Nonesuch amongst others.
King Henry VIII built the magnificent palace called Nonesuch, located between Cheam and Ewell. It comprised of 1600 acres of land with deer parks surrounding the main building. King Henry VIII was an enthusiast of architecture, and his tireless energy and immense passion led to the construction of some world-renowned landmarks. He actively intervened and contributed to architecture design, imbibing new practices and innovative techniques into the art of palace construction. The obvious result of his undiminished efforts was that in 1547, the English empire during the Tudor era owned the largest number of houses in the history of England. The primary palace for the kings of Britain was King Henry VIII's St. James's Palace.
A conspicuous feature of Tudor architecture was the use of brick, which became a commonly used building material and a fashionable item for the homes of the rich. The brick style architecture originated from the region of East Anglia. Brick was actually an expensive building block for construction, affordable only to the elite few. The Hampton Court Palace is the most significant Tudor brick structure, although many affluent estate owners adopted the method for constructing their own abodes.
An astonishing transformation that took place in the history of Tudor architecture was a change in the purpose of architecture. Many structures had been built for religious purposes before the Tudor era. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII, concentrated effort was put in to build more worldly structures, with a greater number of people being able to splurge on building structures for personal use.
A peculiar change in the style of construction was building smaller and more compact structures. The buildings were more intimate and concentrated on details with lavish decorations, aesthetic curvatures and complex features. The buildings now included newer structures such as Tudor chimneys and enclosed fireplaces. Chimneys were beautifully decorated and adorned with chequerboard patterns of multicoloured bricks. The interior furnishings were closer to the later Victorian or Craftsman in style.
Another distinguishing feature of the Tudor era was the Tudor arch. This parabolic or semicircular arch was built as a flat and pointed four-cantered structure with a low and wide elliptical shape. This defining feature was a structural shift from the pointed Gothic arch style, which was used to ordain Tudor building windows.
Some astounding examples of the Tudor style of architecture to date include the lavish Victorian Tudors surrounding the main square in Chester and the Cotswold Cottage. Shrewsbury and Stratford-upon-Avon have a number of preserved Tudor structures such as the black and white Palmer's Farm. The Tudor mansions such as the Elizabethan Montacute House and Hatfield House are amongst the few huge unfortified structures. The Stanley Palace, built in 1591, at Watergate Street, Chester depicts an example of a timber-framed building.
The few ecclesiastical Tudor structures still standing include Henry VII's Chapel at Westminster (built in 1503), Kings College Chapel at Cambridge, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and a few portions of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges.
The style has continued its presence in English architecture long after the Tudor era, and magnificent structures have been constructed across the world after the Tudor revival in the late 19th century. The strikingly beautiful palaces and humble Tudor cottages are a stunning reflection of the rich cultural history of the Tudor era.
Original Authors: Stephen Palmer
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 24/04/2007
