This timeline is based on images taken from the Images of England site and is designed to enable teachers and students to make an initial survey of buildings in their chosen location by historical period.
A more detailed architectural timeline with further information about dating buildings and architectural styles can be found by visiting the 'Looking at Buildings' website produced in association with The Pevsner Architectural Guides.
It is important to remember that there is a considerable amount of regional variation in building material and style and that building styles sometimes continued to be used outside the defining dates of the appropriate period. This is particularly true for houses lived in by working people, generally built without the intervention of architects [Vernacular], as opposed to high status buildings, which were more likely to follow the latest architectural trend.
Click on the relevant historical period to find examples of listed buildings and typical distinguishing features to look for when dating other buildings in your area.
Modern 1901 - present Victorian 1837 - 1901 Georgian 1714 - 1837 Stuart 1603 - 1714 Tudor 1485 - 1603 Medieval 1066 - 1485 Anglo Saxon 410 - 1066 Roman or earlier pre 410
410 - 1066
Please note that the historical periods covered are wider than those in the 'Building Period' section of the Images of England website in order to correspond more closely with the National Curriculum programmes of study.