Where do I start?! Victorian front door/entrance hall

[ireneadler101]

The front door and entrance hall in our new (Victorian - 1865ish - gothic style) house is hideous.

We would like to restore it to its former glory - but have no idea where to start. Any tips from anyone who has done something similar? I am guessing that it would originally have had some stained glass around the front door - or is that more Edwardian?

 

[mims&pip]

Do you have 'Victorian Gothic House Style' by Linda Osband? I tried without success to find my copy to get some ideas for you. I've got just about every Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau house style (and otherwise!) book there is, plus a few on Victorian style, but sadly the gothic ones seem to have been a casualty of my last attempt at decluttering when we sold our previous house

A previous house of ours - 1880s - had some gothic touches, such as arched windows in the conservatory and original etched glass patterned with quartrefoils in the large hallway windows.......

Mims x

Edited to add......

I just found one book on Gothic Revival architectural style (by James Massey and Shirley Maxwell) that escaped my cull, lol!

In the section on 'doors and windows', it states - "A truly satisfying Gothic entrance probably intimidated visitors more than it welcomed them. The best examples led through massive, paired dark oak doors carved with arched panels and fastened with heavy iron locks and hinges. Simpler portals might consist of plain but heavy vertical board doors.

Flanking sidelights and transoms with pointed-arch tracery often helped avert a sense of oppressive sobriety - for, despite their penchant for solemnity, Gothicists were as greedy as their fellow Victorians for sunlight and fresh air. Consequently, Gothic Revival houses tend to have a great many windows. Singly, or in pairs or multiples, romantic casements with dozens of tiny, diamond-shaped panes evoked medieval precedents. More modern double-hung windows were common as well, sometimes with hints of gothic tracery, sometimes plain. Glazed, clover-shaped openings - trefoils, quatrefoils, and even cinquefoils - adorned buildings of all types. In churches, brightly coloured glazed rose windows dazzled worshippers. Stained glass, almost a requirement in Gothic Revival religious structures, was frequently found in residences as well. Dormer windows often harboured the ubiquitous arch."

 

[plasticpigeon]

One of my biggest regrets is not buying a victorian gothic inspired house when I was looking to buy. Unfortunately my partner wasn't up for it. However I do have some photos. The front hall is not as wide as yours, and I'm sure there are local differences, but it is a start.

 

[ireneadler101]

Thanks that's really helpful - this is the exterior of the house which has a few gothic features.

 

[wobs]

Not Gothic, but ours was in a similar state when we bought it.
Picture below was when it was nearly finished:

The only original bits are the door frame, and windows above the door.
The side panels, side windows (leaded glass), door etc. are all new, made by a local joiner.

If your frame is original, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem, other than deciding on a design.

My first choice would be to look at what others in the area have for inspiration (assuming there are similar houses in the area).

House looks fabulous BTW.

 

[ireneadler101]

Thanks all for your thoughts - really interesting. Pip & Mims - I have ordered the book you mentioned, thanks!

I have done some googling and have found something that is sort of similar - it makes me think that originally there could have been double doors here.



Sadly most of the old houses in the area have been knocked down - there is, however, one that remains across the road - I am hoping to pay them a visit this weekend to see if I can have a peek at some of the house's original features (if any remain).

 

[wobs]

You're probably not in this area, but this chap did our leaded glass, and they have multiple generations of experience:
http://www.normanharrapandson.co.uk/home

I'm sure there are similar businesses in your area, and may have many catalogues available that aren't online. Their expertise in these matters should not be discounted.

 

[88v8]

Tragic, the vandalism that some owners inflict on their property.

If you set up eBay searches for Old door, Vintage Door, Period Door, Rustic door, Stained glass door, you may - no, you will - find something suitable. Then if you want a wider door, you'll just need to get the frame altered.

Don't know the dims, but I'd guess your original door could have been a 7' x 3' with upper glazed flanking panels and, as you say, a stained transom light.

Good stained doors are not cheap, but neither is having new glass and it just doesn't look the same.
Having said that, here's an old door paired with new glass in a new frame
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VICTORIAN-EDWARDIAN-ORIGINAL-5-PANEL-EXTERIOR-FRONT-DOOR-WITH-TRANSOM-/270662611190?hash=item3f04bfb0f6:m:mpj9N1FFWyNe2RAYOXH3KZw
The style is not really right, but food for thought.

Here's one that's Nouveau, hence too nouveau, so to speak. The ad is typical in that it doesn't state the size grrrr.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stained-glass-door-over-100-years-old-855mm-x-2040mm-/112075824829?hash=item1a183d5ebd:g:URwAAOSwTZ1XmyHr

Here's one generated by the more specific search Arched Stained Glass Door, which produced few hits, but perhaps less dross.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LARGE-1780S-TUDOR-STAINED-GLASS-FRONT-DOOR-RECLAIMED-ARCH-FRAME-OLD-LEADED-RARE-/301968560096?hash=item464eba8fe0:g:yIsAAOSwmtJXYAt8
If you wanted to go to an arch, that door would be a good foundation around which to create the rest of the assemblage.

As regards finding a matching set of door and side panels, I think you will struggle as there was no standard size for the openings, nor any standard profile for the arch.
Doors otoh tended to be 6'6"x2'6", 6'8"x2'8", 7'x3' so the right size of door to fit your existing frame should be doable. However, unless the mouldings show that to be the original frame, I would guess that the original door was wider and what you have is a new frame made to fit a standard modern door.

Anyway, the nice thing about this job is that you can take your time. But if you find a suitable old stained glass door, jump on it, the best ones are few and far between.

Ivor