High Victorian Gothic was an eclectic architectural style and movement during the mid-late 19th century. A sub-style of the broader Gothic Revival style, it developed in England in the mid of the 19th century.

Initially, this style was inspired by English medieval architecture, but later it drew from medieval French and German traditions as well. It was essentially an urban building style and was often used to design schools and libraries.

Promoted and derived from the works of the architect and theorist John Ruskin, it is sometimes referred to as Ruskinian Gothic.

Characteristics:

• Always executed in brick or stone.
• Heavy and substantial
• Polychrome decoration and use of varying textures
• “Constructural coloration,” aka the use of polychrome materials – red brick, black stone, white granite, yellow sandstone
• Pointed arches
• Decorative dormers and cross gables
• Round turrets and conical roofs
• Varied stone ornamentation including gargoyles, tympanums, etc