City of San Diego Historic Site No. 1270, Anna Vickers House

Location:

La Jolla, California

The Anna Vickers House is significant under HRB Criterion C as an excellent example of Tudor Revival domestic architecture. The style became popular in the late 19th century and continued through the 1940’s. In truth, the style does not pull only from Tudor architecture but became an amalgam of various English periods and styles of domestic architecture. The style is defined by its decorative use of multiple materials – including decorative (non-structural) half-timbering and brick, stone, and/or stucco – as well as its use of casement windows, irregular massing, long and asymmetrical eaves, and the use of the Tudor arch. The style’s flexibility allows for great variation of expression and the individualization of each house’s plan and decor to the builder or owner.

The house embodies the character defining features of the style. Original fabric and design integrity illustrate the unique character of the construction of this house. Features such as the steeply pitched gable roofs, multiple gables with a dominating front gable, tall narrow multi-pane windows, and massive chimney define this Tudor Revival style house within this La Jolla Subdivision. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps and residential building records also indicate that the original house footprint remains intact with a single addition. The overall craftsmanship and integrity of the house warrants designation under HRB Criterion C for architecture that embodies the character defining features of Tudor Revival style architecture.