The front door was highly important in the Victorian era, as it provided a statement about the wealth of the occupants. A Victorian front door had to convey the right impression to people approaching, and those passing by in the street.
In the Victorian era, doors were generally panelled and elaborately carved, they would be surrounded by a door frame with imposing architrave to match the door, sometimes carved and then painted or grained to appear more expensive. They would use stained glass and gleaming brass door furniture which was polished daily by the domestic servants, the overall effect, even on a small house, would be impressive. Whatever the style or status of the house, an imposing front door inset with glass panels was an essential feature of most Victorian entrances.
Looking for a Victorian door for your property?
We design and makeVictorian style doors in our Nottingham-based workshop(but we can deliver further afield too.) Our period doordesigns are thoroughly researched, so they’re true to the era. We can design a door to match the charm and character of your building. Each door ismadefromlong-lasting timber and fitted with ultra-safe “Diamond Standard” snap-proof locks.
Find out more
If there was no porch, some doors had a hood above, to protect one from the weather.
Colours used on doors became brighter during the century.
Many doors still had fanlights above, typically in the traditional Georgian style but decorated with intricate ironwork designs. However the development of glazing and the manufacture of larger panels of glass in the late 1830’s enabled glass to be incorporated into the front door. Initially only the two upper panels were glazed but by the 1880’s the entire top half of a door might include leaded panes and patterned coloured stained glass.
The Gothic revival and the Arts and Crafts movement in the middle of the century resulted in a resurgence of interest in the use of stained glass. Doors were being decorated with beautiful glass panels, created by William Morris with floral patterns and designs based on medieval themes. Morris encouraged the art of painting the glass as well as stained glass. Towards the end of the century Art Nouveau became fashionable and the curved shapes were particularly well suited to stained glass designs.
In contrast to the impressive front doors of the upper and middle class homes many simple homes had basic wooden ledged doors made of tongue and groove boarding, with horizontal planks to strengthen the planks. The ledged door was also found on back entrances.
Cast iron was a popular metal used on door furniture in the first half of the century, designs for door knobs, knockers and hinges echoed back to the previous century with designs like lions heads, dolphins and urns. By 1850 the use of brass became more widespread and front doors had shining brass bell pulls, finger plates and letter boxes. A very imposing sight. Cast iron foot scrapers were also a traditional feature beside a front door. House numbers engraved on glass panels or in metal began to appear on front doors.
Antique/vintage style is now very much in vogue, so whether you’d like a Victorian front door created to update the look of your home, or you wish to restore your period property, we can help you. Simply take a look through our bespoke door galleries and contact us today.
FAQs
In the Victorian era, doors were generally panelled and elaborately carved, they would be surrounded by a door frame with imposing architrave to match the door, sometimes carved and then painted or grained to appear more expensive.
What were the types of doors in the Victorian era? ›
Victorian Internal Doors
Most internal doors had flat panels (not raised and fielded) and nearly always featured knob style door handles. Although the 4-panel design remained popular, later in the period, 5 and 6 panel doors became fashionable, continuing into Edwardian times.
What did Victorian internal doors look like? ›
The classic look for Victorian interior doors is a simple 4-panel design. These were arranged with thick strips (mullions) across the centre and bottom. The panels were not quite symmetrical, with two longer panels at the top and shorter, almost square ones at the bottom.
What are the features of a Victorian front door? ›
A Victorian front door stands out for its elaborate and detailed design. Usually crafted from timber, these doors frequently have three or four panels, with the top panels often featuring decorative stained glass to enhance their visual appeal.
Did Victorian doors have knobs or handles? ›
One of the most iconic features of Victorian door hardware was the door knob. No longer a simple round handle, the Victorian door knob became a work of art in itself. It was often made of brass, which was polished to a gleaming shine.
Why do Victorian doors open into the room? ›
Victorian doors usually open into the room for a couple of reasons. It helps with privacy, making it easier to cover up before someone enters. Also, it's considered safer, especially in busy areas, as it reduces the chance of accidentally bumping into someone while opening the door.
Why do Victorian houses have two front doors? ›
Thus, double entry doors were created so that both front rooms could be easily accessed. This, though, is not the only reason behind the idea of double front doors. The other reason is a fairly clear one – some homes were either built as or eventually converted to duplex style living to house two families.
What color did Victorians paint their front doors? ›
Green. Green will always work as a great front door colour. During the Victorian period, dark green was a regular pick. However, you can go a little lighter if you're looking for something that will coordinate with more contemporary property details.
What is the difference between Georgian and Victorian doors? ›
While Victorian door designs are usually simpler and more understated than Georgian front doors, they are also well suited to classic colours such as black and red. Victorian brickwork typically has a richer colour than Georgian brickwork and so Victorian front doors often suit deeper colours.
Why were old doors so big? ›
In olden days people were less dependent on artificial lighting and artificial ventilation system, so it might be one of the reason for the bigger doors. or Maybe because people use to live in joint families so more people can cross at a particular time that might also be the reason.
Victorian-style fire doors are thicker than standard Victorian internal doors at 44mm in thickness rather than the conventional 35mm.
What does a Tudor door look like? ›
Tudor-style front doors often showcase a dark, rich woodgrain finish with characteristics such as embossed panels, arch-top glass, or accessories such as speakeasys, hinge straps, or clavos.
What is a typical feature of a Victorian style house? ›
“Recognizable characteristics are steep, tiled roofs, painted brick, bay windows, and asymmetrical design,” Dadswell says. “Wooden floorboards, plaster cornicing, sweeping staircases, wooden sash windows, and tiled entrance hallways would have been incorporated into most Victorian homes.”
How did they open doors before door knobs? ›
What Were Used Before Door Knobs? We do know that surface rim locks were first used by the Egyptians and it is likely that some form of pull handle, perhaps bronze or iron, would have been used to pull the door open. The key would have been used merely to lock the door.
Why are old door knobs so high? ›
Older Doors
The exact reason why is still unclear. Some people argue that it was to ensure children couldn't enter rooms, while others say it was more a trend or fashion. Doors which are around a hundred years old, usually have door handles placed 1440mm from the floor.
How were doors made in the 1800s? ›
In the Victorian era, doors were generally panelled and elaborately carved, they would be surrounded by a door frame with imposing architrave to match the door, sometimes carved and then painted or grained to appear more expensive.
What did Edwardian doors look like? ›
Edwardian doors were constructed from panels, which often had raised mouldings around the edge to make them appear deeper, and were painted in a range of colours, such as popular shades of green and blue, or in contrasting colours to add effect.
What are Georgian doors? ›
Georgian front doors tend to be of solid construction, featuring four, six or eight panels. The panels are arranged symmetrically and are often embellished with intricate mouldings or raised features. As mentioned, symmetry was paramount in Georgian design.
In the Victorian era, doors were generally panelled and elaborately carved, they would be surrounded by a door frame with imposing architrave to match the door, sometimes carved and then painted or grained to appear more expensive. They would use stained glass and gleaming brass door furniture which was polished daily by the domestic servants, the overall effect, even on a small house, would be impressive. Whatever the style or status of the house, an imposing front door inset with glass panels was an essential feature of most Victorian entrances.
