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Gothic Style Guide

Widespread throughout western Europe during the Middle Ages, it lasted from the 12th to the early 17th century. Gothic is the architecture of the pointed arch, the rib vault, the flying buttress, window tracery, pinnacles, and spires. By the 15th century walls are reduced to a minimum by large arcades, huge windows, with an emphasis on verticality. During the long building campaigns of the Middle Ages, the style evolved from simple pointed forms, with plain windows, to the highly elaborate vaults and decorative tracery seen from the 14th century. Gothic is mostly dominated by church architecture during this period, but is also seen in collegiate architecture, notably at Oxford and Cambridge. At the same time, the role of the medieval architect or master mason develops from a mere stonemason in the early Middle Ages, to one of middling or higher rank during the more literate and sophisticated 15th century. It was also complex and multifunctional, but fundamentally, the art of design and knowledge of craft was rooted in the practical tradition of the mason’s craft, dependent on separate skilled specialisms. As building was a collaborative and lengthy process, the individual contributions are often difficult to determine.

What to look for in a Gothic building:

  • Pointed arches and windows
  • Vaulting
  • Tracery and decorative stonework
  • Vertical Emphasis

Explore these galleries from the RIBA Collections illustrating the main features of Gothic Architecture

 

For further reading on Gothic Architecture below is a selection of books from the British Architectural Library on the subject:

  • Medieval Architecture by Nicola Coldstream. Library Reference: 72.033.4/.5(4) // COL
  • The Decorated Style: arcihtecture and ornament 1240-1360 by Nicola Coldstream. Library Reference: 72.033.4/.5(41/42) // COL
  • Masons and Sculptors by Nicola Coldstream. Library Reference: 72.033.4/.5 // COL
  • The Cathedral Builders by Jean Gimpel translated [from the French] by Teresa Waugh. Library Reference: 726.6.033.4/.5 // GIM

Style Guide written by Suzanne Waters

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Gloucester Cathedral: detail of the vaulting of the presbytery

RIBA14992
NOTES: The vault was painted between 1870 and 1895.

Tynemouth Priory, Northumberland: the choir

RIBA16103
SOURCE: William Dugdale. Monasticon anglicanum (London, 1849), vol. III, facing p. 302

Norwich Cathedral

RIBA16104
SOURCE: William Dugdale. Monasticon anglicanum (London, 1849), vol. IV, before p. 1 NOTES: Construction on the cathedral began in Romanesque style in 1096 and the body of the church was completed by c. 1145. Later Gothic embellishments were added in the fifteenth century, notably the high lierne vaults, clerestory, and the spire which was completed in 1485.

Lincoln Cathedral: the west front seen from the southwest

RIBA16758
SOURCE: John Chessell Buckler, Views of the cathedral churches of England and Wales (London, 1822), pl. [18] NOTES: Most of the cathedral dates from the 13th century when it was rebuilt in Gothic style under the leadership of St Hugh, Bishop from 1186-1200. The west front incoporates the surviving part of the first Romanesque cathedral dating from 1072. The original Norman tower was heightened between c. 1370 and 1400.

Woodlands Manor, near Mere, Wiltshire: the upper room of the 'chapel'

RIBA18162
NOTES: The chapel was converted into main living rooms in c. 1570.

Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh: ruins of the abbey church

RIBA18863
SOURCE: Patrick Gibson. Select views in Edinburgh (Edinburgh, 1818), pl. VI NOTES: This Augustinian abbey was founded in 1128 by David I of Scotland and the church was completed by 1230. It was partly rebuilt in 1544 and heavily restored in 1916.

Chester Cathedral, Cheshire: the cloister

RIBA19576
SOURCE: J. S. Prout. Antiquities of Chester (London, 1838?) NOTES: Construction on the original Benedictine monastery church was begun at the east end in Romanesque style in 1092 and was completed by the Lady Chapel in 1250. The church was rebuilt in Gothic style in 1260-1540. Spared desecration during the Dissolution, the church was elevated to the status of Cathedral in 1541. The church and monastic buildings were extensively, if controversially, restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1868-1876.

Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire: arcading of the choir

RIBA19634
SOURCE: William Dickinson Rastall. A History of the antiquities of the town and church of Southwell, in the county of Nottingham (London, 1787), facing p. 48 NOTES: Considered an outstanding example of Norman and Early English architecture, this church was built between 1120 and 1286. It became the Cathedral Church of Nottinghamshire in 1884. Extensive restoration, which included the rebuilding of the nave roof, was undertaken by Ewan Christian in 1851-1888.

Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire: entrance to the chapter house

RIBA19636
SOURCE: William Dickinson Rastall. A History of the antiquities of the town and church of Southwell, in the county of Nottingham (London, 1787), facing p. 52 NOTES: Considered an outstanding example of Norman and Early English architecture, this church was built between 1120 and 1286. It became the Cathedral Church of Nottinghamshire in 1884. Extensive restoration, which included the rebuilding of the nave roof, was undertaken by Ewan Christian in 1851-1888.

St Bartholomew, Ducklington: the east end of the north aisle

RIBA19727
SOURCE: Joseph Skelton. Skelton's engraved illustrations of the principal antiquities of Oxfordshire (Oxford, 1823-1827), Bampton Hundred pl. 4

Gothic tracery panelling from Carlisle Cathedral, Cumbria: tracing of a published illustration showing the open-carved panelling beside a simplified geometric plan

RIBA20531
NOTES: This traced drawing was made by an unidentified 19th century English draughtsman from those executed by Robert W. Billings in his book entitled 'Illustrations of Geometric Tracery from the panelling belonging to Carlisle Cathedral by Robert W. Billings, 1849'.

Gothic tracery panelling from Carlisle Cathedral, Cumbria: tracing of a published illustration showing the open-carved panelling with a simplified geometric plan

RIBA20533
NOTES: This traced drawing was made by an unidentified 19th century English draughtsman from those executed by Robert W. Billings in his book entitled 'Illustrations of Geometric Tracery from the panelling belonging to Carlisle Cathedral by Robert W. Billings, 1849'.

Gothic tracery panelling from Carlisle Cathedral, Cumbria: tracing of a published illustration showing the open-carved panelling beside a simplified geometric plan

RIBA20534
NOTES: This traced drawing was made by an unidentified 19th century English draughtsman from those executed by Robert W. Billings in his book entitled 'Illustrations of Geometric Tracery from the panelling belonging to Carlisle Cathedral by Robert W. Billings, 1849'.

Gothic tracery panelling from Carlisle Cathedral, Cumbria: tracing of a published illustration showing the open-carved panelling beside a simplified geometric plan

RIBA20535
NOTES: This traced drawing was made by an unidentified 19th century English draughtsman from those executed by Robert W. Billings in his book entitled 'Illustrations of Geometric Tracery from the panelling belonging to Carlisle Cathedral by Robert W. Billings, 1849'.

Carlisle Cathedral, Cumbria: a carved chapel screen featuring gothic tracery panels

RIBA20536
NOTES: This traced drawing was made by an unidentified 19th century English draughtsman from those executed by Robert W. Billings in his book entitled 'Illustrations of Geometric Tracery from the panelling belonging to Carlisle Cathedral by Robert W. Billings, 1849'.

Church of St Quiriace, Provins: elevation, plan and section of triforium arches

RIBA21796
NOTES: In addition to being a landscape and architectural painter, lithographer and archaeologist, Bouet was also appointed Inspecteur de la Societe Francaise d'Archeologie. This drawing is one of a number of topographical studies and details of French, German, Italian and Swiss medieval architecture executed by him between around 1850 and 1865.

Wells Cathedral, Somerset: perspective view of the flying buttresses on the south side of the choir

RIBA21899
NOTES: This drawing is one of a number made by Anthony Salvin Jnr, the son of Anthony Salvin, while a pupil at his father's architectural practice. Salvin Snr was responsible for supervising the extensive restoration of Wells Cathedral choir from 1847 to 1857.

Chateau de Chateaudun, Eure et Loire: a Gothic mullioned window

RIBA25526
NOTES: The castle was built between the 12th and 16th centuries.

Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire: the chancel

RIBA26735
NOTES: Construction on the Abbey, officially known as Church of St Mary the Virgin in Tewkesbury, began in 1090. It was consecrated in 1121 and completed by 1150. The church interior was renovated in the Decorated Gothic style in the 14th century when the nave roof was given lierne vaulting. The tombs and chantry chapels were added around the chancel in 1350-1450.

Pershore Priory, Worcestershire: the nave vault

RIBA26750
NOTES: This Benedictine abbey church was built in 1090-1130. The ploughshare lierne vaulting and the tower were rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style in 1290 after a fire. The abbey was dissolved in 1539 and thereafter used as a parish church. The extant church represents only a small part of the original building since it underwent many alterations, including a restoration by George Gilbert Scott in 1852. Only the south transept and tower piers survive from the Norman period.

Westminster Abbey, London: the nave vault and arcade seen from the west

RIBA26799
Yevele, Henry (d. 1400)
NOTES: A Benedictine abbey was established on this site in the 10th century and it has been the coronation church of English monarchs since 1066. Construction on the present church began in 1245. The Gothic nave was begun in 1376 under Abbot Nicholas Litlyngton (d. 1386), and completed by the master mason, Henry Yevele, in the 1390s.

Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire: the choir seen from the south

RIBA26828
NOTES: The first church for this large Cistercian monastery, founded by St Bernard of Clairvaux in 1132, was built between 1135 and 1145. The monastic buildings were extended in 1145-1167 and the chancel was rebuilt in a more elaborate style in c.1230. The abbey was dissolved in 1538.

Exeter Cathedral: the nave and north aisle seen from the crossing

RIBA26904
NOTES: The cathedral was founded in 1050 and construction began in 1112 in Norman style and was completed in Gothic style by c.1400.

Gloucester Cathedral: the fan-vaulted monks' lavatorium at the west end of the cloisters

RIBA26909
NOTES: The cathedral was built between 1089 and 1499. It was extensively restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott between 1873 and 1890, and in 1897. The cloisters, begun after 1351 in Perpendicular style and completed before c.1360, have the earliest surviving large-scale fan vaulting.
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