A Victorian home's mansard roof, gables, and ornate pillars poised under moonlight may give some people the chills. After all, the dilapidated Victorian home has become the hallmark of all things spooky, often used in tales to set an eerie mood. From movies like "The Addams Family" to "Psycho," the Victorian has played a prominent role in creeping us out. But why has this architecture earned a haunted reputation?
Victorians draw some of their drama from Gothic architecture. The style emerged in the mid to late 19th century during the reign of Queen Victoria. Following the death of her husband, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria dressed all in black for the remainder of her life and generally withdrew from the public eye.
A Victorian home may be characterized by ornate molding and decorative trim on its facade and interiors. It also often features turrets, towers, and bay windows that are often dressed in heavy drapery.
"At the time they were built, they were fashionable, trendy, and modern," Sarah Lea Burns, a professor emeritus in Indiana University's department of art history who researches haunted houses,
told CNN in 2013.
But tastes changed in the 20th century. Few of these homes were originally wired for electricity, which gave them a dark, outdated reputation. Later, as many Victorians fell into disrepair, their unkept lawns and spiderwebs may have helped the haunted stereotype stick. And occasionally, the odd ghost story gets passed on with the deed.
"With old houses of any style, especially those that have been in the same family for generations, more than likely, there will be legends," Burns told CNN.
Source: “Why Is Victorian Architecture Associated With All Things Scary?” Curbed.com (Oct. 16, 2017)
