Ashe Cottage

Ashe Cottage is a wooden Gothic Revival house in Demopolis with two semi-octagonal gabled bays on its front and a single-story porch between them. The structure displays ornate bargeboards and decorative trim characteristic of this architectural style.

The structure was first built in 1832 and later expanded in 1858 under Dr. William Cincinnatus Ashe, who incorporated designs from Samuel Sloan's 1852 publication The Model Architect. This renovation blended the original structure with contemporary design ideas.

The house represents how wealthy families in the American South valued Gothic Revival architecture during the mid-1800s and what that style meant to them at the time. This choice reflected a broader movement that brought European romantic design ideas to the region.

The house is a private residence on North Commissioners Avenue and is not open for visits inside. Visitors can view the exterior and appreciate its distinctive architectural features from the street.

The house features a paired-gable design that appears in only about five percent of Gothic Revival residences across the United States. This uncommon architectural detail makes it a notable example within this building tradition.

Location: Alabama

Architectural style: Gothic Revival, Carpenter Gothic

GPS coordinates: 32.51921,-87.84033

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:45