People are only just realising useful reason gargoyles were added onto buildings
Gargoyles were a common feature in Medieval times, but they rarely make their way onto modern structures - and there's an interesting reason why. It was recently revealed on Reddit
Strolling through Europe's towns and cities, you're bound to notice a gargoyle perched on many an ancient edifice.
These stone creatures were all the rage in medieval architecture but are seldom seen on contemporary buildings, sparking curiosity among Reddit users who've been asking: "Why did we stop putting gargoyles on buildings? And why did we put them up in the first place?"
Designing Buildings sheds light on this, explaining that gargoyles weren't just decorative; they had a practical use as well. A statement from the site says: "Early gargoyles were carved from wood or terracotta, but from the Medieval period onwards they were typically sculpted from stone. They were sometimes painted or even gilded with metals such as lead."
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Gargoyles often depicted beasts, mythical entities, grotesque human visages, and anthropomorphic figures. The site further notes: "In addition to the practical function of projecting water away from a building, gargoyles were also intended to symbolise 'guardianship' of the building and to ward off evil spirits. Their open mouths were symbolic of them devouring giants."
But by the early 18th century, architectural tastes shifted towards less ornate waterspouts and the introduction of rainwater downpipes. It continues: "In 1724, the London Building Act made the use of downpipes a compulsory feature on all new construction, and subsequently the inclusion of gargoyles in architecture fell into decline.
"However, in an ornamental form, they were revived by the Art Deco period in the early-20th century, most notably on the Chrysler Building in New York."
One Reddit user chimed in: "Why did gargoyles fall out of favour? Quite simply, their practicality and cost. Gargoyles are typically heavy, carved stone, which were neither cheap to make, nor easy to maintain in their own right.
"Constant water flow made some structurally unstable, which resulted in a spate of falling gargoyles towards the end of their design era. Ultimately, modern guttering made them superfluous.
"Downpiping became the building standard in Great Britain at the beginning of the 18th century. The more austere, utilitarian designs of Georgian architecture (think of The Circus townhomes in Bath, UK) left no room for ostentatious grotesques."
Another user added: "My wife and I have dedicated to decorating our house 'Victorian Gothic' style inside. What we would love for the outside is two gargoyle statues on either side of the driveway. Sadly, what I have found are insanely expensive."
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