Victorian Architecture

Victorian Architecture

There was a great debate during Queen Victoria’s reign concerning the use of the Victorian style. Originally, there was the Victorian Classicism which suited the concept of harmony and beauty pursued at those times. But the Revivalists preferring the Gothic alternative argued that the material and building methods characteristic for this style were actually more suitable for the northern climate.

In Toronto, you had to be one of the wealthiest citizens to be able to afford paying for the solid material and above all, for the services of stone carvers. If you are curious and would like to see some Gothic Revival houses, Cabbagetown is the best place to go.

All the pictures have been taken by Elena.

St. Joseph street, a Victorian house

Victorian Style House in Downtown Toronto

A Victorian house, corner of Admiral Road and Bernard Avenue

Victorian style building. University of Toronto

Toronto Heliconian Club.

St. Joseph street, Victorian Style house

College Victoria

The Queen Victoria monument in the Queen Park of Toronto

Victoria College building

A Victorian Portico

Facade of a Victorian building

St. Michael’s College In 1852 this college was established as a Roman Catholic boys’ school in the palace of the Right Reverend Armand, comte de Charbonnel, Bishop of Toronto and a vigorous opponent of the public school system in Canada West. The minor seminary opened by Basilian priests that year was combined with the school in 1853, and in 1855 St. Michael’s College was incorporated. A new college structure and adjoining parish church, St. Basil’s, were built on Clover Hill. On September 15, 1856, classes commenced with the Reverend Jean Mathew Soulerin, C.S.B., as superior. The college progressed gradually and in 1881 it affiliated with the University of Toronto. Michael’s formally became an arts college within the University in 1910.

The building in the Queen Park

Trinity College, 6 Hoskin Avenue.

This building was designed by F. W. Cumberland and demonstrates his skill in freely adapting the Romanesque style to the purposes of a College in the new world (Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada). Flowers-church - Flower garden.

Knox College. The university grounds lie about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the Financial District in Downtown Toronto, and immediately south of the neighbourhoods of Yorkville and The Annex