by Kate Eglan-Garton

Created on: November 21, 2008   Last Updated: November 27, 2010

The unmistakable steeply pitched roofs and half-timbered brickwork that identifies the stately Tudor style is all but absent in today's architectural society. Once an imitation of a medieval cottage or country house, this style was an art in progress that continued throughout the interior. Walking inside would find wood or marble floors adorned with great area carpets with rooms opening all around the gala hallway. Oversized beams graced ceilings and a mystic sense of majic was in the air.

There was a brief period in the 1970s that produced a rather poor rendition of the exquisite model using inferior products such as boards and stucco in place of the well- crafted herringbone lain brick exterior base. Some things just cannot be reduced in measure without changing the nobility and luster of an architectural favorite as the Tudorbethan design. Maybe this futile example is what changed the perception and popularity of the once graceful design.

There are still architectural firms that present a portion of this style today by incorporating overlapping gables, dormers and tudor arches to add a touch of flair to an otherwise plain, square house and it is very unusual to find oriel or transcom windows in a plan. Diamond paned casement windows or leaded glass have evolved into glass blocks for privacy and the once half-timbering that gave the Tudor such a medieval appearance, has grown into all brick or sided homes.

Materials on the market today have probably hindered many from reproducing such a fine image of the English style beauties. The detail of shaped window casements, dormers and jetted roofs would run into tens of thousands of dollars. Many of these homes were 2 stories tall and required quite a bit of space where today architects have to work within the perimeters of a city lot. Brick is a large expense and finding a mason who could actually create a herringbone design would be a chore indeed and the extreme steep roof points would be quite the challenge.

The dream of a Hansel and Gretal type cottage could still be a reality as cottages are making a comeback to many scaling back on energy eating open space. With the right architect and design, borrowing attractive distinctions from this lost era could bring about a charming and warm home. It would be a delight to see the spectacular shaped entranceways and side porches to remind us of a grace and culture all but forgotten.

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