English cottage

The English cottage was a grander version of the bungalow.

The English cottage, also known as a ‘suburban house’, was built throughout the period from 1910–1935 and followed on from the arts and crafts style of the late 19th century.

The style was developed by builders at the same time as the bungalow, and in many ways was a grander version of that style using many of the bungalow features.

The main difference was the fact that the English cottage was typically 1½–2 storeys and had a steeply pitched roof, often sweeping low over a porch and invariably broken by dormers or secondary roof structures. 

Floor plan

The floor plan was similar to the bungalow floor plan, but on two levels.

There was sometimes a gallery at the first floor level. The bathroom with toilet was generally on the first floor, but there could be a second toilet on the ground floor (such as under the stairs or near the back door).

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Typical features

As well as being 1½–2 storeys and having a steeply pitched roof with dormers or secondary roof structures, the English cottage was typified by:

  • different cladding on each level
  • the upper level sometimes being cantilevered slightly
  • the change of floor level often being marked by bell casting
  • small-paned casements windows, without the fanlights of the bungalow style
  • arches at the front door/entrance porch
  • tile or slate roofs – often Marseille tiles, sometimes Rosemary tiles or diagonal asbestos cement (poilite) slates.

An English cottage could be ‘Tudored’ by incorporating diamond pane leadlights and/or a projecting oriel window.