Early English Gothic
- AD 1190-1275 (+/- 25 years)
- Pointed arches
- Clusters of small columns to form pillars
- Favourite style for Cistercian Abbeys
- Roche Abbey
- Wells Cathedral
- Salisbury Cathedral
The round arches of the earlier designs gave way to the pointed arch in the nave, the
windows and the doorways. The new Gothic style is attributed to the area surrounding Paris in
France. The abbey church of St. Denis was the first example of the new style and was the
creation of Abbot Suger. The pointed
arch not only looks better than a round arch, but it is a much stronger construction
distributing stress more efficiently. This also allowed the builders to put a vault over the nave
and dispence with the wooden rooves that were likely to catch fire. The piers also became more
complex and thinner in construction. The capitals at the top of the piers take the form of
inverted bell shapes either moulded or carved into foliage. The walls of the church became much
thinner and
the windows much bigger allowing more light to enter. The arches have alernating rolls and hollows that
soften the shape. During the thirteenth century this
style of design developed into what is known as the Geometric style. In this style, the
windows became larger with the increased use of mullions, and the decorations became
more complex and geometric in design.
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