The homes themselves, built largely in the charming style sometimes known as Carpenter Gothic, date to the town’s origins in the late 19th century, when Gothic Revival architecture was in its heyday.

Characterised by its wooden structure and jig-sawn ornamentation, Carpenter Gothic was also frequently employed in religious settlements, including the famous gingerbread cottages of Martha’s Vineyard (pictured here), as the steep gables and sharply peaked rooflines mimicked the original tents the homes were constructed to replace.

Welcome to Lily Dale: the world's largest Spiritualist community