Edwardian Architectural Terminology

[Anonymous]

I live in a terrace of houses built in 1906, flat fronted except for a bay with hipped roof to the ground floor front room. Inside the front door there used to be (and still is in some of these properties) a small area with a tiled floor divided from the hallway by a wooden partition with four panelled door. The top half of the partition and the top panels of the door were/are glazed. In effect this is a porch, but within the house instead of added to the front. Does anyone know if there is a correct architectural name for this?

 

[Anonymous]

Vestibule possibly?

 

[Anonymous]

Or lobby?

 

[Anonymous]

My dictionary says a vestibule is a small entrance hall or ante-room.

It also says that a lobby is a room or corridor used as an entrance hall, vestibule etc!

Lobby from Italian lobia - portico, vestibule - Latin - vestibulum.

Vestibule sounds so much more grand than lobby though. Sort of Oscar Wildean. The sort of place one would leave one's umbrella in the stand.

 

[Anonymous]

Vestibule sounds good. I had thought of lobby and felt it probably wasn't the right word but I just couldn't get vestibule though it was on the tip of my tongue. Thanks both for replying so quickly.

 

[Anonymous]

"Vestibule sounds so much more grand than lobby though. Sort of Oscar Wildean. The sort of place one would leave one's umbrella in the stand."

or alternatively, terribly genteel and laughably suburban, as witness the great poem of English social faux pas:

How to Get on in Society

Phone for the fish knives, Norman
As cook is a little unnerved;
You kiddies have crumpled the serviettes
And I must have things daintily served.

Are the requisites all in the toilet?
The frills round the cutlets can wait
Till the girl has replenished the cruets
And switched on the logs in the grate.

It's ever so close in the lounge dear,
*But the vestibule's comfy for tea*
And Howard is riding on horseback
So do come and take some with me

Now here is a fork for your pastries
And do use the couch for your feet;
I know that I wanted to ask you-
Is trifle sufficient for sweet?

Milk and then just as it comes dear?
I'm afraid the preserve's full of stones;
Beg pardon, I'm soiling the doileys
With afternoon tea-cakes and scones.

John Betjeman

Interesting that the long "o" pronunciation of Scones is being satirised as non-U here. I allus knew us Northerners were t'real toffs.

 

[Anonymous]

If we are talking comedies and niceties of social manners and mores, then of course one would have neither a lobby nor a vestibule - one would have a hallway or entrance hall. One wouldn't have an umbrella as one would have alighted from one's carriage at the door. If an umbrella was required (as in town it may have been) then surely a servant would have held it while one was making one's progress to the doorway. One's hat and gloves would have been handed to a waiting servant.

Oscar Wilde would have known exactly what sort of social class would have a lobby or vestibule - and indeed who would have a verandah and a loggia.

I am sure Mr Pooter would have aspired to a lobby - or a vestibule.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes 'lobia' sounds about right . . !

Victorian architectural terms were often designated by the Holy Guild of Gynaecologists’ Chief Fantasist: Sir Arthur Conman Boyle, who was in his time, a very good golfer.

Grimmers