Virtual Caveman Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 With the white stone corners, it reminds me of a lot of old buildings here in new england! 1
René de Vintageman Posted January 17 Author Report Posted January 17 (edited) On 1/13/2026 at 5:02 PM, Virtual Caveman said: With the white stone corners, it reminds me of a lot of old buildings here in new england! Hi Virtual Caveman, Yes Georgian architecture has these white corners, quoins, too. Georgian architecture is a form of renaissance architecture. Quoin, pronounced just like the English word for a small, round, metallic form of money ("coin"), means corner in French. What is a quoin? The architectural definition of quoin , is a cornerstone or corner edge of a structure, or the stone used to form the cornerstone of a building. In a more general sense, the term may also refer to a wedge-shaped piece of building material. Quoin may also be used as a verb meaning to raise or support an object with a wedge. In architecture, quoins are found on the corners of exterior walls and are used functionally for structural support, for decoration, or both. Any cornerstone where two walls intersect is known as a quoin. Quoins are usually composed of brick or stone, and are designed to contrast in appearance with the walls of the structure on which they are placed. This contrast is often achieved through the use of a distinct color, texture, or size. The use of quoins in architecture dates back to ancient Rome. With the emergence of stone-cutting techniques, ancient Romans were able to create strong, weathertight corners through the use of uniformly shaped, sturdy, stone blocks. The use of quoins as a decorative element in architecture boomed around 1400-1600 during the European Renaissance as a technique to help achieve the sought-after qualities of balance and consistency. Quoining, a relatively simple and cost-effective technique, has remained a popular method for adding style and visual appeal to structures ever since. Specialized masonry techniques are sometimes used to make the quoins more visually interesting, more sturdy, or both. Toothing is a common method of constructing quoins in which the sections are placed at alternating lengths, short side, then long side. In other words, the quoins alternate in which side of the block is facing outward, which creates a pattern of protruding and receding quoins. Rusticated stones will appear to stick out from the wall. Quoins in Architecture Definition & Examples Quoins-definition-architecture-construction Examples of Anglo-Saxon quoin types > for your VS look https://www.anglosaxonchurches.co.uk/quoins.pdf Uppark Mansion in Sussex, England. Howard Morrow/Getty Images New (! lol) England architecture featuring white quoins often appears in Georgian, Federal, Second Empire, and Greek Revival styles, using contrasting white (or light) stone/stucco quoins on brick or darker walls to emphasize corners and add grandeur, reflecting English manor influences popular from the 18th to late 19th centuries for both grand homes and public buildings. These quoins, sometimes plaster-covered stone or distinct brick, provide structural support and decorative flair, creating a stately look common in historic towns across the region. Key Styles Featuring White Quoins: Georgian (c. 1700-1780): Emphasized symmetry and classical details, often with contrasting quoins, dentils, and pediments, becoming more common with two end chimneys after 1750. Federal (c. 1780-1820): Refined Georgian symmetry, with white quoins accentuating corners on elegant brick or stone buildings, as seen in Boston's Otis House. Greek Revival (c. 1825-1860): While known for columns, some examples use contrasting quoins, like granite on stone, for an elegant, classical feel. Second Empire (c. 1855-1885): Popular for public buildings and mansions, these often feature mansard roofs, elaborate cornices, and prominent quoins defining corners. Uppark is a 17th-century house in South Harting, West Sussex, England. St. James Episcopal Church Parish House, 119 N. Duke St., Lancaster. This 1903 parish house is one of Lancaster’s finest Georgian Revival structures. Edited Thursday at 07:23 PM by René de Vintageman 2
Virtual Caveman Posted January 18 Report Posted January 18 Wow, thanks for the historical context! They really are a nice accent, maybe I'll incorporate some ashlar blocks in the corners of some buildings. Brick looks so nice but can take so long to accumulate enough to build any sizeable structure 1
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