Reference
Heritage Architecture Glossary
122+ essential terms covering Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian architecture, conservation principles, and traditional building techniques
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A
- AcanthusOrnament
- A Mediterranean plant whose stylised leaves feature prominently in Classical and Corinthian decorative motifs, commonly found on column capitals, corbels, and plasterwork in Georgian buildings.
- ArchitraveJoinery
- The moulded frame surrounding a door or window opening. In Georgian and Victorian properties, architraves feature characteristic profiles that help date the building.
- Article 4 DirectionPlanning
- A planning designation that removes permitted development rights in a specific area, meaning that changes normally allowed without planning permission (like window replacement) require formal approval.
- Arts and CraftsArchitectural Style
- An architectural and design movement (1880-1920) emphasising traditional craftsmanship, natural materials, and honest construction. Hampstead has significant Arts and Crafts housing, particularly around Flask Walk and Hampstead Garden Suburb.
- AshlarMaterials
- Finely dressed stone blocks laid in regular courses with very thin joints, used for prestigious façades. Distinguished from rubble or random stonework.
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B
- BalusterJoinery
- A vertical member (often turned wood or cast iron) supporting a handrail in a staircase balustrade. Baluster profiles are period-specific and help date properties.
- BargeboardRoofing
- The often decorative board fixed to the edge of a gable roof, covering the ends of the roof timbers. Victorian bargeboards are frequently ornately carved.
- Bay windowWindows
- A window that projects outward from the main wall of a building, forming a bay. Common in Victorian properties, types include canted (angled), curved (bow), and square (oriel).
- BondingBrickwork
- The pattern in which bricks are laid. Common bonds include English bond (alternating courses of headers and stretchers), Flemish bond (headers and stretchers in each course), and stretcher bond.
- BreathabilityBuilding Science
- The ability of a building material to allow water vapour to pass through, essential in traditional solid-walled construction to prevent moisture trapping and associated decay.
- Building RegulationsPlanning
- The technical standards that building work must meet for safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency. Separate from planning permission and Listed Building Consent.
C
- CapitalOrnament
- The decorative top of a column or pilaster, ranging from simple Doric to elaborate Corinthian designs. Period capitals indicate architectural style and date.
- Casement windowWindows
- A window hinged at the side to open outward (or inward). Common in Arts and Crafts and Edwardian properties, distinct from sliding sash windows.
- Cavity wallConstruction
- A wall constructed with two leaves (usually brick or block) separated by an air gap. Generally post-1920s; earlier buildings have solid walls.
- Conservation AreaPlanning
- An area designated by the local authority as having special architectural or historic interest, where development is controlled to preserve character. Most of NW3 falls within conservation areas.
- Conservation officerPlanning
- A local authority specialist who assesses planning applications affecting heritage assets and advises on appropriate interventions.
- CorbelConstruction
- A projecting stone or brick bracket supporting a beam, cornice, or other feature. Often decoratively carved in Victorian buildings.
- CorniceOrnament
- The projecting horizontal moulding at the top of a wall, building, or room. External cornices are often substantial; internal cornices mark the wall-ceiling junction.
- CovingOrnament
- A concave moulding forming the transition between wall and ceiling. Simpler than a cornice, common in more modest rooms.
- Crown mouldingOrnament
- American term for cornice or coving—the decorative moulding at the junction of wall and ceiling.
D
- DadoInteriors
- The lower part of a wall, typically from floor to about waist height, often finished differently from the upper wall (with panelling, paint, or different wallpaper).
- Dado railJoinery
- The horizontal moulding marking the top of the dado, traditionally protecting walls from chair backs. Key period feature often removed in 20th century "modernisation".
- DentilOrnament
- A small rectangular block forming one of a series, creating a tooth-like pattern in classical cornices. Common in Georgian architecture.
- DormerRoofing
- A window set vertically in a sloping roof, with its own roof structure. Types include gabled, hipped, and eyebrow dormers.
- Double glazingWindows
- Windows with two panes of glass separated by an insulating gap. In heritage contexts, slim-profile units or secondary glazing are preferred to preserve character.
- DressingMaterials
- Stone, brick, or render used to accentuate architectural features like window surrounds, quoins, or string courses.
E
- EavesRoofing
- The lower edge of a roof where it overhangs the wall. Eaves details vary by period and style.
- EdwardianArchitectural Style
- Architectural style from the reign of Edward VII (1901-1910), often extending to 1914. Characterised by lighter, more restrained decoration than Victorian, with Arts and Crafts influences.
- Egg and dartOrnament
- A classical decorative moulding pattern alternating egg-shaped and arrow-like motifs, common on Georgian and Regency cornices and architraves.
- Encaustic tileMaterials
- A decorative floor tile where the pattern is created by different coloured clays inlaid into the tile body, not a surface glaze. Popular in Victorian hallways.
- English bondBrickwork
- A brick bonding pattern with alternating courses of headers (short ends) and stretchers (long sides), creating a strong structural bond.
F
- FanlightWindows
- A semicircular or fan-shaped window over a door, typically with decorative glazing bars radiating like fan ribs. Characteristic of Georgian and Regency entrances.
- FasciaRoofing
- The horizontal board fixed to the rafter feet at the eaves, to which guttering is typically attached.
- FinialOrnament
- A decorative ornament crowning a roof ridge, gable, or pinnacle. Victorian finials are often elaborate terracotta or cast iron.
- FlashingRoofing
- Weatherproof material (traditionally lead, now often lead or zinc) used at junctions between roof coverings and walls, chimneys, or other features.
- Flemish bondBrickwork
- A brick bonding pattern with headers and stretchers alternating in each course, creating a decorative diagonal pattern.
- FlutingOrnament
- Vertical grooves carved into columns or pilasters, a characteristic of classical architecture.
G
- GableRoofing
- The triangular portion of wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. Dutch gables have curved tops; crow-stepped gables have stepped edges.
- Gauged brickworkBrickwork
- Bricks cut and rubbed to precise shapes for decorative work, particularly flat arches over windows. Indicates high-quality Georgian craftsmanship.
- GeorgianArchitectural Style
- Architectural style from the reigns of George I-IV (1714-1830), characterised by classical proportions, symmetry, and restrained decoration.
- Glazing barWindows
- The wooden or metal bars dividing a window into individual panes. Georgian glazing bars are typically thin and elegant; Victorian ones more robust.
- Gothic RevivalArchitectural Style
- The 19th-century revival of medieval Gothic architecture, featuring pointed arches, tracery, and elaborate ornament. Common in Victorian churches and some houses.
- Grade I ListedPlanning
- The highest level of listing, for buildings of exceptional interest. Only about 2% of listed buildings are Grade I.
- Grade II ListedPlanning
- Buildings of special interest warranting every effort to preserve them. The majority of listed buildings are Grade II.
- Grade II* ListedPlanning
- Buildings of more than special interest—the middle tier between Grade I and II. About 5.5% of listed buildings have this status.
H
- HeaderBrickwork
- A brick laid with its short end visible, as opposed to a stretcher. Important for understanding bonding patterns.
- Heritage StatementPlanning
- A document assessing a building's significance and justifying proposed works, required for Listed Building Consent applications.
- Hipped roofRoofing
- A roof with slopes on all four sides, meeting at a ridge. Common on Georgian and some Victorian buildings.
- Historic EnglandPlanning
- The government body responsible for listing buildings, scheduled monuments, and registered parks and gardens. Formerly English Heritage.
- Hydraulic limeMaterials
- A lime that sets by chemical reaction with water (unlike air lime which sets by carbonation). Used in damp conditions and stronger applications.
I
- InglenookInteriors
- A recessed space beside a large fireplace, often with built-in seating. A feature of Arts and Crafts interiors.
- IronmongeryJoinery
- Metal fittings for doors and windows including handles, hinges, locks, and bolts. Period-appropriate ironmongery is important in heritage restoration.
J
- JambConstruction
- The vertical side of a doorway or window opening.
- JoineryJoinery
- Wooden components such as windows, doors, staircases, and mouldings, and the craft of making them.
K
- KeystoneConstruction
- The central wedge-shaped stone at the crown of an arch, often decoratively carved.
L
- LathMaterials
- Thin strips of wood nailed to studs or joists as a base for lime plaster. Traditional lath and plaster was standard until the mid-20th century.
- Lime mortarMaterials
- Mortar made from lime, sand, and water (not cement). Essential for historic buildings as it allows moisture movement and can accommodate slight structural movements.
- Lime plasterMaterials
- Plaster made from lime putty or hydraulic lime, allowing walls to "breathe". Distinct from modern gypsum plasters which trap moisture.
- Lime washMaterials
- A traditional paint made from slaked lime, used on lime plaster and render. Breathable and naturally antimicrobial.
- LintelConstruction
- A horizontal structural member spanning an opening such as a door or window, supporting the wall above.
- Listed BuildingPlanning
- A building included on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, protected by law from unauthorised alteration or demolition.
- Listed Building ConsentPlanning
- Permission required for any works affecting a listed building's character, including both internal and external alterations.
- Locally ListedPlanning
- Buildings identified by the local authority as having local heritage value but not meeting national listing criteria. Subject to some additional planning scrutiny.
M
- Mansard roofRoofing
- A roof with two slopes on each side, the lower slope steeper than the upper, allowing more usable space in the roof. Named after French architect François Mansart.
- Meeting railWindows
- The horizontal rails of a sash window where the upper and lower sashes meet when closed.
- Minton tileMaterials
- Decorative ceramic tiles made by Minton & Co., particularly encaustic floor tiles popular in Victorian hallways and churches.
- ModillionOrnament
- A projecting bracket under the corona of a classical cornice, often scroll-shaped.
- MorticeJoinery
- A cavity cut into timber to receive a matching projection (tenon) from another piece, forming a mortice and tenon joint.
- MouldingOrnament
- A continuous decorative profile in wood, plaster, or stone, used for cornices, architraves, skirtings, and other features.
- MullionWindows
- A vertical structural member dividing a window into lights or panes.
N
- NewelJoinery
- The main vertical post at the end of a staircase handrail, often decoratively turned or carved.
O
- OgeeOrnament
- A moulding profile with an S-shaped curve, combining convex and concave curves. Common in Gothic and classical ornament.
- Oriel windowWindows
- A projecting window supported by brackets or corbels rather than extending to the ground. Common on upper floors.
- OvoloOrnament
- A convex moulding profile, roughly quarter-round in section. Common on window glazing bars.
P
- PantileRoofing
- An S-shaped roofing tile that interlocks with adjacent tiles. Common in parts of Eastern England and Scotland.
- ParapetRoofing
- A low wall along the edge of a roof, balcony, or terrace. Georgian buildings often hide pitched roofs behind parapets.
- ParquetMaterials
- Wood flooring laid in geometric patterns using small blocks of hardwood. Popular in Victorian and Edwardian interiors.
- Party wallPlanning
- A shared wall between two adjoining properties. Works affecting party walls require notification under the Party Wall Act 1996.
- PedimentOrnament
- A triangular gable above a portico, door, or window, derived from Greek temple architecture.
- Permitted DevelopmentPlanning
- Work that can be carried out without planning permission, subject to certain conditions. Can be removed by Article 4 Directions.
- PilasterOrnament
- A flat column attached to a wall face, purely decorative rather than structural.
- Pitched roofRoofing
- A roof with sloping surfaces meeting at a ridge, as opposed to a flat roof.
- PlasterworkOrnament
- Ornamental plaster features including cornices, ceiling roses, and decorative panels.
- PointingBrickwork
- The mortar visible between bricks or stones. Historic pointing profiles (flush, weather-struck, ribbon) differ from modern cement pointing.
- PorticoConstruction
- A covered entrance supported by columns, often with a pediment above. A key feature of Georgian classical architecture.
- Putlog holeBrickwork
- A hole in masonry left by scaffolding during original construction, often filled but sometimes left visible.
Q
- Queen Anne RevivalArchitectural Style
- A late Victorian architectural style (1870s-1900s) combining Dutch gables, terracotta, and red brick. Not to be confused with actual Queen Anne period architecture.
- QuoinBrickwork
- Dressed stones at the external corners of a building, often contrasting with the main wall material.
R
- RafterRoofing
- A sloping structural member forming the main framework of a roof.
- RailJoinery
- A horizontal member in a door, window, or panelling framework.
- RegencyArchitectural Style
- Architectural style from the period when George IV was Prince Regent (1811-1820), characterised by elegance and Greek Revival influences.
- RenderMaterials
- External wall coating of lime, cement, or modern materials, providing weather protection and often concealing brick or stone.
- RidgeRoofing
- The horizontal line at the apex of a pitched roof where two slopes meet.
- Rising dampBuilding Science
- Ground moisture rising through masonry by capillary action. Often misdiagnosed; true rising damp is relatively rare in properly maintained buildings.
- RubbleMaterials
- Uncoursed stonework using irregularly shaped stones. Contrasts with ashlar.
- RusticationMaterials
- Masonry cut to emphasise joints, creating a textured surface. Common on Georgian ground floors to suggest solidity.
S
- Sash windowWindows
- A window with one or more movable panels (sashes) that slide vertically. The defining window type for Georgian and Victorian buildings.
- Secondary glazingWindows
- An additional glazed frame fitted inside an existing window to improve thermal and acoustic performance while preserving original windows.
- SkirtingJoinery
- The moulded board at the base of a wall, protecting it from feet and furniture and covering the wall-floor junction.
- SoffitConstruction
- The underside of an architectural element such as eaves, beams, or arches.
- Solid wallConstruction
- A wall without a cavity, typically of brick or stone. Standard construction before the 1920s; requires different insulation approaches.
- StileJoinery
- A vertical member in a door, window, or panelling framework.
- Stock brickBrickwork
- The traditional London brick, typically yellow-brown ("London stock"), made from local clay. The predominant brick in Georgian and Victorian London.
- StretcherBrickwork
- A brick laid lengthwise, with its long face visible.
- String courseConstruction
- A horizontal projecting band of masonry running across a façade, often marking floor levels.
- StuccoMaterials
- A fine lime or cement-based render, often scored to imitate ashlar stonework. Characteristic of Regency and early Victorian terraces.
T
- TerracottaMaterials
- Fired clay used for decorative mouldings, tiles, and architectural ornament. Popular in Victorian architecture for its versatility.
- Tie beamRoofing
- A horizontal beam connecting the feet of rafters, preventing them from spreading.
- Tongue and grooveJoinery
- Timber boards with a projecting tongue on one edge and a matching groove on the other, interlocking to form a continuous surface.
- TransomWindows
- A horizontal bar dividing a window into sections, or a fixed window above a door.
- TuckpointingBrickwork
- A decorative pointing technique creating the illusion of fine joints by filling with mortar matching the brick colour, then inserting a thin ribbon of contrasting colour.
U
- UnderpinningConstruction
- Strengthening or deepening existing foundations, essential for basement excavations and correcting subsidence.
V
- ValleyRoofing
- The internal angle formed where two roof slopes meet. Lined with lead or other flashing materials.
- Vapour barrierBuilding Science
- A layer preventing water vapour movement through a construction. Generally inappropriate for traditional buildings which rely on breathability.
- Venetian windowWindows
- A window with three openings, the central one arched and wider than the flanking ones. Also called a Palladian or Serlian window.
- VerandaConstruction
- A roofed, open gallery or porch attached to the outside of a building.
- VictorianArchitectural Style
- Architectural styles from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), ranging from Italianate and Gothic Revival to Arts and Crafts.
- VitrifiedMaterials
- Clay or ceramic material fired at high temperature until glassy and impervious. Describes certain bricks and tiles.
- VoussoirConstruction
- A wedge-shaped stone or brick forming part of an arch.
W
- WainscotInteriors
- Wood panelling on the lower part of interior walls. Similar to dado panelling.
- WeatherboardingMaterials
- Horizontal overlapping boards forming external wall cladding. Common in rural areas and increasingly on extensions.
Z
- ZincMaterials
- A metal used for roofing, cladding, and architectural details. Develops a characteristic grey patina over time.
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