Salisbury Cathedral, built c. 1200—1275, is a superb example of Early English Gothic architecture (apart from its 14th-century tower and spire)

In architecture, the Early English Period is a historical division of English Gothic architecture. It lasted throughout most of the 13th century, from about 1190—1250 according to Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, or 1189—1307, according to Thomas Rickman, who coined the term in his Attempt to Discriminate the Style of Architecture in England (1812—1815). Despite the name, the style is to be found in buildings throughout the British Isles. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1352x1120, 349 KB) Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1352x1120, 349 KB) Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... Architecture (classical [[Greek ) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... See also Gothic art. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Sir Nikolaus Pevsner CBE (January 30, 1902 – August 18, 1983) was a German-born British historian of art and, especially, architecture. ... Thomas Rickman (June 8, 1776 - January 4, 1841), English architect, was born on the 8th of June 1776 at Maidenhead, Berkshire, where he assisted his father (a Quaker) in business as a grocer and druggist until 1797. ...

The Early English Gothic style superceded the Romanesque or Norman style of the 12th century, and during the late 13th century it developed into the Decorated Period style, which lasted until the mid 14th century. With all these early architectural styles there is a gradual overlap between the periods: as fashions changed, new elements were often used alongside older ones, especially in large buildings such as churches and cathedrals, which were constructed (and added to) over long periods of time. It is customary, therefore, to recognise a transitional phase between the Romanesque and Early English periods from the middle of the 12th century. Interior of the Saint-Saturnin church St-Sernin basilica, Toulouse, 1080 – 1120: elevation of the east end Romanesque sculpture, cloister of St. ... The Nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the nave anticipates the Gothic style. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... The west end of Exeter Cathedral The Decorated Gothic (or simply Decorated) period is a historical division of English Gothic architecture. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ... A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Anglican, Roman Catholic and some Lutheran churches, which serves as the central church of a diocese, and thus as a bishops seat. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ...

Although usually known as Early English, this new Gothic style had actually originated in the area around Paris before spreading to England, where at first it was known as "the French style". Its earliest appearance was in the choir or "quire" of the abbey church of St Denis; the choir was built in 1144 (other parts of the building are in earlier and later styles). (See Sequence of Gothic Styles: France for more detail.) The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Basilica of Saint Denis (in French, la Basilique de Saint-Denis), a famous burial site for French monarchs, is located in Saint Denis (near Paris). ... See also Gothic art. ...

Characteristics of the style

Salisbury Cathedral interior

The most significant and characteristic development of the Early English period was the pointed arch, also known as the lancet. It was used almost universally, not only in arches of wide span such as those of the nave arcade, but also for doorways and windows. For this reason Early English Gothic is sometimes known as the "Lancet" or "First Pointed" style. (Romanesque builders generally used round arches, although they had very occasionally employed slightly pointed ones.) Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 584 KB) Gothic arches in Salisbury Cathedral Source: Jan van der Crabben (Photographer) File links The following pages link to this file: Gothic architecture ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 584 KB) Gothic arches in Salisbury Cathedral Source: Jan van der Crabben (Photographer) File links The following pages link to this file: Gothic architecture ... Isometric view of a typical arch An arch is a curved structure capable of spanning a space while supporting significant weight (e. ... Full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... The Cleveland Arcade in downtown Cleveland (late 1960s) An arcade is a passage or walkway covered over by a succession of arches or vaults supported by columns, or else it is a covered passage fronted by a series of arches. ... A window is an opening in an otherwise solid, opaque surface through which light and sometimes air can pass. ...

Compared with the rounded Romanesque style, a pointed arch looks more elegant and, more importantly, is more efficient at distributing the weight of the stonework above it, making it possible to span higher, wider gaps using narrower columns. Although the pointed arches used are sometimes equilateral and sometimes drop-arches, the lancet-arch is the most characteristic. The period is best recognized in England by the great depth given to the hollows of the mouldings, alternating with fillets and rolls, by the decoration of the hollows with the dog-tooth ornament, by the circular abaci of the capitals. Instead of being massive, solid pillars, the columns were often composed of clusters of slender, detached shafts (often made of dark, polished Purbeck "marble") surrounding a central pillar, or pier, to which they are attached by circular moulded shaft-rings. In geometry, an equilateral polygon has all sides of the same length. ... Molding is a strip of material with various cross sections used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. ... In architecture, ornament is decorative detail on buildings. ... In architecture, an abacus (from the Greek abax, a slab; or French abaque, tailloir) is a flat slab that sits upon the capital of a column, forming its uppermost member. ... A capital of the Composite order In Western architecture, the capital (from the Latin caput, head) forms the crowning member of the column, which projects on each side as it rises, in order to support the abacus and unite the square form of the latter with the circular shaft. ... Purbeck is a local government district in Dorset, England, named for the Isle of Purbeck. ... In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. ...

Walls, too, could become less massive, window openings could be larger and grouped more closely together, and architects could achieve a more open, airy and graceful building. The high walls and vaulted stone roofs were often supported by flying buttresses: half arches which transmit the outward thrust of the superstructure to supports or buttresses, often visible on the exterior of the building. At its purest the style was simple and austere, emphasising the height of the building, as if aspiring heavenward. In architecture, a vault is an arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy. ... In architecture, a flying buttress is a structural feature used to transmit the thrust of a vault across an intervening space, such as an aisle, chapel or cloister, to a buttress built outside the latter. ... Michelangelos interpretation of Heaven Heaven is an afterlife concept found in many religions or spiritual philosophies. ...

The arches are sometimes cusped; circles with trefoils, quatrefoils, etc, are introduced into the tracery, and large rose windows in the transept or nave, as at Lincoln Cathedral (1220). The conventional foliage decorating the capitals is of great beauty and variety, and extends to spandrels, roof bosses, etc. In the spandrels of the arches of the nave, transept or choir arcades, diaper work is occasionally found, as in the transept of Westminster Abbey, which is one of the best examples of the period. In common parlance, a cusp is an important moment usually regarded as a decision point upon which consequent events are determined. ... Architecture Architectural Trefoil (also a Christian symbol) Trefoil (from Latin trifolium, three-leaved plant, French trèfle, German Dreiblatt and Dreiblattbogen) is a term in Gothic architecture given to the ornamental foliation or cusping introduced in the heads of window-lights, tracery, panellings, etc. ... The word quatrefoil etymologically means four leaves, and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts. ... Tracery is implementation of net-like decorations in a building used especially in Gothic architecture. ... The rose window in Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England, at the western end of the nave. ... Full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... // Headline text Headline text Headline text Headline text Link titleItalic textBold textInsert non-formatted text here--195. ... This article is about the leaf, a plant organ. ... A spandrel is originally a term from Architecture, but has more recently been given an analogous meaning in Evolutionary biology. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... The Cleveland Arcade in downtown Cleveland (late 1960s) An arcade is a passage or walkway covered over by a succession of arches or vaults supported by columns, or else it is a covered passage fronted by a series of arches. ... In Heraldry, Diapering (from an old term for damask) is a technique in which those who draw achievements of arms attempt to decorate large areas of flat colour by drawing crosshatches or arabesques. ... The Abbeys western facade The Collegiate Church of St John, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ...

Other notable examples

Early English architecture is typical of many Cistercian abbeys (both in Britain and France), such as Whitby Abbey and Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire. Salisbury Cathedral is a superb example of the style; because it was built over a relatively short period (between c. 1200—1275), it is relatively unpolluted by other styles (except for its famous tower and spire, which date from the 14th century). Other good examples are the Galilee porch at Ely Cathedral; the nave and transept of Wells Cathedral (1225—1240); the west front of Peterborough Cathedral; and Beverley Minster. An abbey (from the Latin abbatia, which is derived from the Syriac abba, father), is a Christian monastery or convent, under the government of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serve as the spiritual father or mother of the community. ... The ruins of Whitby Abbey a view from across the harbour Whitby Abbey is a ruined monastery sited on Whitbys East Cliff. ... The ruins of the abbey church Rievaulx Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey located in the small village of Rievaulx (pronounced Ree-voh), near Helmsley in North Yorkshire. ... Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... A porch is an architectural feature relating to a floor-like platform structure attached to the front or back entrance of a residence. ... Front of Ely Cathedral Ely Cathedral (in full, The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely) is the principal church of the diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Ely. ... The west front of Wells Cathedral Wells Cathedral is a cathedral in Wells, Somerset, the smallest cathedral city in England. ... Peterborough Cathedral from the south east, circa 1898 Peterborough Cathedral - west prospect in the seventeenth century Peterborough Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, and is very unusual amongst medieval cathedrals in Great Britain because of its triple front (dominated by the statues of the three... The West front of Beverley Minster. ...

External links

• BTinternet architectural timeline
• Looking at Buildings website: Gothic Windows and Tracery
• Britain Express — Architectural Guide

This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain. Supporters contend that the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1910-1911) represents the sum of human knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century; indeed, it was advertised as such. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...