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The Queen Anne is said to be the most ornate Victorian form. In Canada, between the early 1880s and late 1890s, this style was a very popular choice for wealthy residents looking to build a new home. Today, there are three notable locations of the Queen Anne style in Toronto:
139 Seaton Street
297 Carlton Street
314 Wellesley Street
- Other examples of Queen Anne appear sporadically in areas like The Annex and Rosedale.
The Queen Anne movement began in England almost two decades before ever reaching Canada. During this time many people were heavily influenced by medieval England and France, feeling it necessary to revive the past. Architects borrowed elements from many different eras – such as the Tudors, the Elizabethan and the Jacobean, the Renaissance, the Gothic, and even the Gregorian – combining them all into something original and classically beautiful. By the time the Queen Anne movement reached Canada, the style had already been defined and was ready to flourish.
Queen Anne architecture can be described appropriately as romantic and feminine. While some houses are more embellished than others, this style can be easily recognized by the following decorative and structural features:
- A steep, gabled roof
- The use of overhang and jetties
- An asymmetrical design
- An elaborately carved porch that may extend two sides of the house
- Towers, open turrets, and multiple chimneys
- Decorative shingles, patterned masonry, or half-timbering
- Bay windows
- Apparent use of spindling and brackets
