Final answer:
The Gothic style was favored in Victorian Britain for civic buildings because it represented traditional British identity and a response to industrialization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major reason that the Gothic style was often used for civic buildings in Victorian Britain is that it was seen as a style that expressed British identity. This architectural movement emerged as a response to the industrialization period and was tied to traditional values like conservatism and support for the monarchy. The Gothic Revival, beginning in the 1740s in England, revived medieval forms against the backdrop of industrial society's critique of its mechanical production. Prominent figures like A. W. N. Pugin contributed to the popularization of this style, characterized by features such as pointed arches, steep gables, and extensive use of stone and brick. Traditional British identity and nostalgia for the pre-industrial past played significant roles in the adoption of Gothic Revival in civic architecture.