What Is a Tudor House?
How to Identify Architectural Styles in the Washington, DC Area
Part of what makes the DC metropolitan area so wonderful is the diversity—in terms of not only culture but also architecture! There are many Tudor style homes—in fact, in this area, Tudor homes made up one of the largest portions of homes built during the 1920s and 1930s.
What Is a Tudor Style House?
What is a Tudor home? What are its distinguishing characteristics? Tudor homes are characterized by their:
- Steeply pitched gable roofs
- Playfully elaborate masonry chimneys (often with chimney pots)
- Embellished doorways
- Groupings of windows (often casements in rows of three or more, framed in either wood or metal, divided into six or eight rectangular panes or arranged in a diamond pattern)
- Decorative half-timbering
- Stucco or brick
- Renaissance embellishments—arched openings, board and batten doors, black metal door hardware, and tabs of cut stone set into a brick wall, etc.
Brief Summary of the Tudor Style
European-trained architects, influenced by Old World styles, brought the eclectic, asymmetrical Tudor style to America toward the end of the nineteenth century. Built for wealthy homeowners, Tudor houses were of solid masonry with elaborate decorative stone and brickwork. They were sometimes called “Stockbroker Tudor” because their financially successful owners had frequently made their wealth in the booming 1920s stock market. The Tudor style fell out of popularity around World War II when a resurgence of patriotism encouraged an appreciation for a more American style. Read more about the Tudor style on AsktheArchitect.org »
One of the best examples of a Tudor style house in Montgomery County, Maryland is the landmark Newlands/Corby Mansion in Chevy Chase at the juncture of Chevy Chase Circle, Connecticut Avenue, and Brookville Road. Just east of the mansion, at Western Avenue and Brookville Road, is a fine example of a more modest, but beautifully detailed, Tudor home. The Wentworth team has also remodeled many Tudor style houses in the DC area.
Pictures of Tudor Homes
Contact the Wentworth team today to learn more or if you’re ready to remodel your home!
