Traditional New England Porch Railing Styles

Colonial Farmhouse

• New England has an abundance of simple, small farmhouses fashioned from wood. New England has lots of natural stone, but according to Valerie Ann Polino of the Yale-New Haven Teacher's Institute, the colonists had neither the tools nor skill to build stone houses. Many colonial farmhouses were so simple that they had no porch or railing, but those that did had a simple, straight structure with a little gate on the edge of the porch. The style was simple and clean, with no extra adornment.

Federal

• Merchants and ship owners in New England's maritime communities wanted large and imposing housing. Federal style houses were big, comfortable square structures. The porch railings were still straight and clean, but thicker and stronger than farmhouse style. They also had a decorative touch. For example, large balls were placed on the corners and edges for a more imposing look.

Greek Revival

• Greek Revival architecture was popular from about 1830 to 1855. It is recognized by the large columns that create an imposing entrance at the front porch. Often a second story porch was built, using the Greek columns as supports.

Italianate

• Italianate architecture was popular in New England and the Midwest during the mid- to late-1800s, with porch railing that were much more ornate. The designs included sawed in fretwork and decorative filial additions. Italinate homes are still seen in New England today.