Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/521

 1869.] Descriptions. 425 DESCRIPTIONS TUDOR-GOTHIC STORE. IN" continuation of our purpose, to furnish a series of designs, which may be likely to gratify all tastes, and illustrate every variety of style, we have, in the present number, given one for a Store front, in the Tudor-Gothic style of architecture, which would be well adapted, either for a wholesale, or a large retail, business establishment. Before entering into any description of our illustration, which, however, does not call for a very extended one, we will very briefly touch upon the style in which it has been designed. The Tudor-Gothic has been also, by different authorities, and at different periods, called the "Florid English," " Perpendicular English," and " Florid, or Late, Pointed." The period during which it prevailed was from 1460 to 1537, and embraced the reigns of the following sovereigns of England : Ed- ward IV., Edward V., Richard III., Henry VII., and Henry VIIT. There has been much diversity of opinion, as to the exact limit of the ap- plication of this term of Tudor ; but, in a general sense, it refers to the style, which prevailed during the Tudor dy- nasty. It is not necessary for us, how- ever, here, to enter into a discussion on the distinctive characteristics, which gave rise to the different divisions, in . which this era has been portioned. Suf- fice it to say, that the more general opinion is, that the distinction which exists between the buildings put up at the commencement and towards the close of the dynasty is sufficiently marked to warrant the designation, "Early Tudor," and "Late, or Eliza- bethan Tudor," which are now applied to them. The characteristics of the preceding era, the Ornamented English, were not altogether abandoned, but mixed up and diversified with new and peculiar ones. Some of these innovations in the earlier part of the style were the introduction of Gate-houses, beautiful Bay and Oriel Windows, Turrets, and elaborate brick chimney shafts, and a general profusion of ornamentation and decoration, in the way of mouldings of brick-work and terra-cotta, medallions, heraldic devices, &c, dispersed throughout the buildings. Previous to the commencement of the Tudor dynasty, the civil Avars, which so long devastated England, had their in- fluence on the architecture of the period, compelling the people to pay more re- gard to their dwellings being secure and strongly fortified, than to possess any features of elegance. But when peace once more reigned throughout the length and breadth of the land, men began to pay attention to making their mansions more attractive and elegant, and less castellated and fortified in their ap- pearance. Towards the end of this dynasty, or what is called the Elizabethan Era, there began to be a manifestation of a mixture of Italian details with the Gothic fea- tures ; and, although the style is re- markably picturesque and ornate, it is open to criticism on the ground of the taste being defective and the construc- tion unscientific. The subject of our illustration is, as will be seen, a building three stories in height, with an attic. The facade is divided into three sections, the centre one of which is surmounted by a low pediment, enriched with an ornament above. The two side sections have