What Are The Defining Characteristics Of A Georgian House?

Georgian houses were built at a time of tremendous growth in the United Kingdom and the introduction of builders' books meant that houses were being built in groups to the same or similar designs. This period also marked the emergence of purely domestic houses for the middle classes, whereas previously merchants and professionals had lived above their work premises.

The key features are that the ratio of the main windows is 2:1 with regard to height and width, except for the top storey where servants were quartered, and that the roof is hidden behind a parapet. Sash windows, where the two vertical sections slide up and down, were set into apertures that were squared off at the top rather than arched, but the front door would have a semi-circular window, or fan-light, above it. This gave a purity of design to the façade that was demanded in order to conform to the currently fashion for proportion, symmetry and order taken from classical architecture, particularly Grecian. Many Georgian houses were built in terraces, often curved as in Bath and Regent's Park. The facades were clad in brick, either red or yellow according to local styles and fashion, or stucco which was often scribed in blocks to give the impression of being stone.