You can often 'read' a house like a book just by looking at the joinery and the masonry. Whetherit’s the specific pitch of a Tudor roof or the geometric glass of an Art Deco window, physical clues are the best evidence we have. Here is my visual guide to the architectural markers of the last five centuries. When you’re standing outside your home thinking, “When was this built?” , the style of the façade can offer some surprisingly clear clues. Over the centuries, fashions in house design shifted dramatically, and each era left its mark on our streets. Back in medieval times , appearances weren’t the main concern. Carpenters and masons focused on strong structures and practical layouts, not curb appeal. Decoration was minimal, apart from the odd traceried window or a bit of exposed timberwork in wealthier homes. By the Tudor and early Renaissance period, however, things had started to change. Timber-framed houses became more decorative, with close-studding (lots o...