MODULE III

BRITISH GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

 West minister abbey

 Salisbury cathedral
 In England during late 12th century, the old style
of Romanesque architecture (known as "Norman architecture")
was gradually replaced with a new style known as Gothic
architecture, emanating from France.
 This new Gothic style flourished in England from about 1180
until about 1520, and evolved in a similar way to its French
counterpart.
 There are three main periods of English Gothic:
 Early English Gothic (1180-1250). examples of Early English
Gothic is Salisbury Cathedral.
 Decorated Gothic (1250-1350), separated into the Geometric
style (1250–90) and the Curvilinear style (1290–1350).
 Perpendicular Gothic (1350-1520).
 The English variety is characterized by its pointed arches,
vaulted roofs, flying buttresses, enlarged windows, and spires.
 Introduced from France, where it first came together in the
choir of Abbot Suger's Saint-Denis Basilica north of Paris,
dedicated in June 1144.
 In England, the first large-scale application of English Gothic
architecture occurred at Canterbury Cathedral and
Westminster Abbey,
 while a good example of how it evolved naturally from
Norman architecture can be seen at Durham Cathedral which
has the earliest-known pointed rib vault.
 Gothic art took root in England some 50 years later than it did
in France, but it endured for longer.
 In fact it continued to flourish in England for a century
after Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) designed the dome
of Florence Cathedral (1420-36) thus formulating the
principles of Renaissance architecture that started the cultural
revolution.
 Many of England's medieval cathedrals were built in the
Gothic style, but so were numerous castles, palaces, universities
and great houses.
 Although it declined in the sixteenth century, English Gothic
reappeared three centuries later during the Gothic Revival,
 one of the most popular movements of 19th century
architecture (1820-1900). Promoted by the Victorian art
critic John Ruskin(1819-1900), the Gothic Revival style was
exemplified in England by the Houses of Parliament (1840),
designed by Charles Barry and AWN Pugin.
Early English Gothic (1180-1250)
 Early English Gothic cathedrals were significantly "less Gothic"
than their French counterparts.
 they had heavier, thicker walls - not different from the style
of Romanesque art of the late 11th century.
 But the style was characterized above all by the pointed arch
(or "lancet"). Pointed arches were employed not merely in
wide-span arches such as those covering the nave arcade, but
also for doors and windows.
 One of the best examples of Early English Gothic is Salisbury
Cathedral, as it was built over a fairly short period (largely
between 1220 to 1258), and (except for its 14th century
facade, tower and spire) is relatively uncontaminated by other
styles.
Decorated Gothic (1250-1350)
 The Decorated Period in English Gothic architecture (comprising
the Geometric style 1250–90, followed by the Curvilinear
style 1290–1350) is characterised above all by its window
tracery.
 Increasingly elaborate windows began to appear, subdivided
by narrowly spaced parallel mullions (vertical bars of stone),
typically up to the point at which the arched top of the
window starts.
 The mullions then spread out and intersect to cover the top
part of the window with an intricate mesh of patterns, usually
including trefoils and quatrefoils.
 The two phases of Decorated Gothic (Geometric and
Curvilinear) are named after the type of tracery pattern
(geometrical or flowing) which dominated at the time.
 In addition to tracery, Decorated Gothic interiors
characteristically featured tall columns with a more slender
and elegant appearance than in previous periods.
 Vaults became more elaborate, and employed an increasing
number of ribs. Initially this was for structural reasons, but then
it became a matter of aesthetics.
 Furthermore, arches become equilateral, and dog-tooth motifs
are replaced by the ballflower and a four-leaved flower.
 Detailed carving reached its peak during the Curvilinear
period, with intricately carved windows and capitals, and
tracery based on floral patterns as well as the ogee, or S-
shaped curve, with its flowing, flamelike shapes.
Perpendicular Gothic (1350-1520)

 The Perpendicular Period in English Gothic architecture is

characterised by a predominance of vertical lines, especially
in the stone tracery of windows.
 It first emerged around 1350 in works by the royal architects
John Sponlee (d.1386) and William Ramsey (active 1323-
1349)
 Its verticality is especially noticeable in the design of its
enlarged windows, with slimmer stone mullions than in previous
periods, allowing greater opportunity and scope for stained
glass craftsmen.
 The mullions (a vertical bar between the panes of glass in a
window) are aligned vertically up into the arch moulding of
the windows
 Buttresses and wall surfaces are similarly partitioned into
vertical panels.
 The structural and aesthetic development of the vault reached
its pinnacle during the era of Perpendicular Gothic, in the form
of elaborate star-shaped lierne vaults, culminating ultimately in
the appearance of the fan vault
 Several of the earliest examples of English Perpendicular
Gothic architecture, dating back to 1360, can be seen at
Gloucester Cathedral, whose cloisters' fan-vaulting is
particularly striking.
 Other examples include: the nave, west transepts and crossing
tower of Canterbury Cathedral (1378–1411); the choir and
tower of York Minster (1389–1407); Manchester Cathedral
(1422); the transept and tower of Merton College, Oxford
(1424–50); and Eton College Chapel, (1448–1482). During
the 19th century Gothic Revival, the Perpendicular style was
used in the design of the rebuilt Houses of Parliament, and
Wills Memorial Building, Bristol University (1915–25).
Gothic Revival (1800-1900)

 The Gothic style of architecture staged a comeback in both

England and the United States during the 19th century.
 This was partly a response to the severity of Neoclassical
architecture; partly because the influential art critic John
Ruskin (1819-1900) championed medieval craftsmanship in his
books Seven Lamps of Architecture (1849) and decorative
art in interior and exterior designs.
 English Gothic Revival architecture is exemplified by buildings
like: the Houses of Parliament) (1840), designed by Charles
Barry and AWN Pugin; and the country house Fonthill Abbey,
designed by James Wyatt.
 In North America, the style is exemplified by New York's
Trinity Church (1840), designed by Richard Upjohn(1802-78);
St Patrick's Cathedral (1859-79), designed by James
Renwick (1818-95)
Assignment
 Write short note,
 British gothic architecture(early, decorated,
perpendicular, gothic revival) with examples and
photos.
 Submit in pdf.