The History of London Terrace Houses

We believe home renovation companies in London should be well informed on the properties they are enhancing. At Home Tales, we carry out an in-depth investigation into each of our clients’ homes to ensure that any changes made will respect the original structure and traditional aesthetic. In the instance that our client would like to undertake a ground floor extension in London, we examine the condition of the building, what precedents can be found in surrounding properties, and any existing constraints that could impact the project.

In our line of work, we naturally have a keen interest in exploring the history of properties in London. Certain features within a property can tell you the era in which it was built when considering to the socio-economic issues at the time. In today’s post, we wanted to talk about the history of London terrace houses, exploring how it came to the UK and the reason for its appearance.

Origin

The terrace house was introduced to England in the 1630s by Inigo Jones, an Architect that drew inspiration from French and Italian architecture. The first set of terrace properties can be seen in Covent Garden (1631), which has a strong resemblance to elegant Italian palazzos. Following the Great Fire of London in 1666, London needed to be rebuilt and terraced housing gained great popularity. These houses were originally designed to keep families and servants under one roof rather than individual accommodations. This layout suited all classes, with aristocrats having their servicemen at their every beck and call, and the working-class being able to house larger families and workshops. This became the trademark of Georgian architecture, making it initially an expensive and fashionable build.

Georgian Era

This revolutionary housing worked great in the 17th century, with builders constructing entire streets at a much faster rate. During this time, the price of glass had fallen so it was possible for windows to be built large enough to light up the entire floor space within. This lends itself to the conception of the sash window, designed to ventilate such a home. The most exquisite history terraces, such as those seen in Bath, faced a square or garden to create the “perfect” neighbour scenery. Back in London, these houses were not just for shelter, but they included workshops, hence why a lot of the shops we see in London have housing above it.

Victorian Era

Moving into the Victorian period, terraced properties became a housing solution to the growing population. London’s population was becoming incredibly dense and required compact, efficient town planning. During this period, terrace housing was sought after by the aspiring middle class, whilst the rich became more in favour of detached housing.

When compared to terrace houses in the Georgian period, middle class Victorian terraces were more colourful and decorative, with ornate detailing, bay windows, and patterned roof tiling. Although they looked much more exciting and vibrant, the quality of the builds were overall lowered. Towards the end of the Victorian period, terrace housing actually became associated with the lower middle class, slowly moving down the ranks through each century. This was an issue until housing standards were introduced in 1875, with rules to improve sanitation, ventilation, and to include toilets which were located in outhouses to the rear.

20th century

The 20th Century saw the rise of the Arts and Craft Movement which demonstrated amazing attention to detail, with the Architect usually having control of all aspects of the house including furniture and its placement. This meant Arts and Craft terrace houses featured more ornate detailing compared to 19th Century terraces, from the trimmings to the interiors, to the roof work.

Shockingly, after damages from the First World War, Victorian terraces became associated with overcrowding issues and slums. New versions of these houses were introduced to deal with the growing demand for housing. These new terraces were shorter and built in rows of 4 to 6 houses. This meant an overall decline in the popularity of terrace housing, and the subsequent rise in favourability for semi-detached properties.

Following the Second World War, over half a million homes across the whole of England were lost and made uninhabitable, leaving plenty of people on the street and in shelters, so radical housing solutions were needed quickly. This led to the conception of the concrete tower blocks that are now so prevalent all around London. Today’s Architects are still in favour of bringing back the terrace house due to the belief that this type of housing creates a stronger sense of community, though tower blocks take up less land and save much more on costs. Strengthening the sense of community is one of the main pillars for creating a high quality of living in London.

If you are looking to carry out renovations, a ground floor extension, or loft conversion, why not give us a call? Our friendly team would love to hear from you! Contact us by phoning 02070432378 or by emailing us at hello@hometales.co.uk. Alternatively, book a telephone consultation to discuss your project with us at a time that best suits you by clicking here. We offer two types of consultation, a standard (free) consultation and a Consultation Plus. In the standard consultation we offer general advice on your project and provide a details quote, whilst a Consultation Plus is a longer, in-depth discussion with comprehensive advice and design ideas.


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