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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
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim: the arcade in the octagon showing varied traceries
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NOTES: Construction on this cathedral began in Romanesque style in c.1070 and was completed in Gothic style in c.1300. Ravaged by fire several times, major rebuilding and restoration work on the building began in 1869 under the direction of Heinrich Ernst Schirmer and was only completed in 1969.
Peterborough Cathedral: the west front
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NOTES: Originally an abbey church, construction began in 1182. The western end of the nave and the central tower were completed by 1193. The western transept and great west front portico were completed by 1238, the year of consecration. The older Norman tower was rebuilt in 1350-1380. It became the Cathedral of the new Diocese of Peterborough in 1541.
Capelas Imperfeitas, Monastery of Batalha: detail of the vaulting
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NOTES: The Capelas Imperfeitas form a separate octagonal structure tacked onto the choir of the monastery. Completed in 1533, they were built as a mausoleum for King Edward of Portugal and his descendents.
Bristol Cathedral: detail of vaulting in the south aisle
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NOTES: Founded in 1140, this former Augustinian abbey church was elevated to cathedral status in 1542. The nave was rebuilt by George Edmund Street in 1868-1877. The chapter house was built c. 1150-1170.
Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire: the entrance to the chapter house
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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.
Wells Cathedral, Somerset: the chapter house
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NOTES: Construction on the original cathedral began in 1180 and was completed by the Lady Chapel in 1326. The nave was completed in 1220-1229. The scissor-arches (inverted strainer arches) were built c. 1338-1348 to support the tower when the foundations of the two western piers sank into the ground. The Chapter House steps were built from 1286 and the upper flight in 1459-1460.
Norwich Cathedral: the south cloister with its decorated curvilnear tracery
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NOTES: Construction on the cathedral began in 1096 in the Romanesque style, and the body of the church was completed by c. 1145. But later additions were in the Gothic style. The nave and chancel with its ribbed stone vault was added from c. 1472-1499 under Bishop Goldwell (replacing an original timber roof). The clerestory was added at the same time and the spire was completed in 1485. The cloister was rebuilt between 1300-1400, but retains its original dimensions of 56.5 metres by 56.5 metres and was the largest Romanesque cloister in England. There are three styles of tracery in the cloister: the geometric work in the east (1299-1314), the decorated curvilinear tracery of the south and west (1314-1356), and the perpendicular style of the north (1382-c. 1400).
Norwich Cathedral: the north cloister with its perpendicular tracery
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NOTES: Construction on the cathedral began in 1096 in the Romanesque style, and the body of the church was completed by c. 1145. But later additions were in the Gothic style. The nave and chancel with its ribbed stone vault was added from c. 1472-1499 under Bishop Goldwell (replacing an original timber roof). The clerestory was added at the same time and the spire was completed in 1485. The cloister was rebuilt between 1300-1400, but retains its original dimensions of 56.5 metres by 56.5 metres and was the largest Romanesque cloister in England. There are three styles of tracery in the cloister: the geometric work in the east (1299-1314), the decorated curvilinear tracery of the south and west (1314-1356), and the perpendicular style of the north (1382-c. 1400).
Norwich Cathedral: the north cloister
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NOTES: Construction on the cathedral began in 1096 in the Romanesque style, and the body of the church was completed by c. 1145. But later additions were in the Gothic style. The nave and chancel with its ribbed stone vault was added from c. 1472-1499 under Bishop Goldwell (replacing an original timber roof). The clerestory was added at the same time and the spire was completed in 1485. The cloister was rebuilt between 1300-1400, but retains its original dimensions of 56.5 metres by 56.5 metres and was the largest Romanesque cloister in England. There are three styles of tracery in the cloister: the geometric work in the east (1299-1314), the decorated curvilinear tracery of the south and west (1314-1356), and the perpendicular style of the north (1382-c. 1400).
Norwich Cathedral: nave vaulting seen from below
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NOTES: Construction on the cathedral began in 1096 in the Romanesque style, and the body of the church was completed by c. 1145. But later additions were in the Gothic style. The nave and chancel with its ribbed stone vault was added from c. 1472-1499 under Bishop Goldwell (replacing an original timber roof). The clerestory was added at the same time and the spire was completed in 1485.
Santa Maria dei Servi, Bologna: the nave looking east
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NOTES: The church was begun in 1346 and enlarged after 1386.
Church of St Peter, Great Walsingham, Norfolk: looking across to the side aisle
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NOTES: The church is mainly 14th century with some later additions. The original chancel was demolished some time in the 16th century, but fragments remain. The porch was added in the 15th century and the interior fittings also date from then.
Church of St Mary, Snettisham, Norfolk: the nave looking east
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NOTES: The church is 14th century, with some late 19th century restoration. The spire was rebuilt in 1895 and at 175 feet is one of the tallest in the county. The original chancel was 40 feet long, but was demolished in the late 16th century.
Church of St Mary, Snettisham, Norfolk: the west front with its large window displaying reticulated tracery
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NOTES: The church is 14th century, with some late 19th century restoration. The spire was rebuilt in 1895 and at 175 feet is one of the tallest in the county. The original chancel was 40 feet long, but was demolished in the late 16th century. The window in the west front seen here is considered the best example of the Decorated style of Gothic architecture in Norfolk
Church of St Mary, Snettisham, Norfolk: detail of the west front with its large window displaying reticulated tracery
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NOTES: The church is 14th century, with some late 19th century restoration. The spire was rebuilt in 1895 and at 175 feet is one of the tallest in the county. The original chancel was 40 feet long, but was demolished in the late 16th century. The window in the west front seen here is considered the best example of the Decorated style of Gothic architecture in Norfolk
Church of St Mary, Snettisham, Norfolk: detail of the west front with its large window displaying reticulated tracery
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NOTES: The church is 14th century, with some late 19th century restoration. The spire was rebuilt in 1895 and at 175 feet is one of the tallest in the county. The original chancel was 40 feet long, but was demolished in the late 16th century. The window in the west front seen here is considered the best example of the Decorated style of Gothic architecture in Norfolk
Ely Cathedral: detail of the tracery in the lady chapel window
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NOTES: The lower two thirds of the west tower is 12th century while the upper third was added c. 1400. The transept dates from the third quarter of the 12th century.
Ely Cathedral: detail of the tracery and carved ogee curved niches above
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NOTES: The lower two thirds of the west tower is 12th century while the upper third was added c. 1400. The transept dates from the third quarter of the 12th century.
Ely Cathedral: detail of window tracery
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NOTES: The lower two thirds of the west tower is 12th century while the upper third was added c. 1400. The transept dates from the third quarter of the 12th century.
Ely Cathedral: detail of blind arcading
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NOTES: The lower two thirds of the west tower is 12th century while the upper third was added c. 1400. The transept dates from the third quarter of the 12th century.
Ely Cathedral: the lady chapel window at dusk
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NOTES: The lower two thirds of the west tower is 12th century while the upper third was added c. 1400. The transept dates from the third quarter of the 12th century.
Ely Cathedral: the lady chapel window at dusk
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NOTES: The lower two thirds of the west tower is 12th century while the upper third was added c. 1400. The transept dates from the third quarter of the 12th century.
All Saints Church, Icklingham, Suffolk: the side aisle looking east
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A thatched church with a Norman nave, the rest is 13th and 14th century. The church was restored by W.M. Fawcett in 1903.
St Andrew and St Mary, Grantchester, Cambridgeshire: the east window with flowing tracery
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NOTES: The church is of Saxon/Norman origin and there are fragments of that date, which were placed here by A.W. Blomfield in 1877. The majority of the present church dates from 1340-1350 (chancel) with a tower of 1388-1426.
St Andrew and St Mary, Grantchester, Cambridgeshire: detail of the altar
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NOTES: The church is of Saxon/Norman origin and there are fragments of that date, which were placed here by A.W. Blomfield in 1877. The majority of the present church dates from 1340-1350 (chancel) with a tower of 1388-1426.
St Mary Magdalene, Ickleton, Cambridgeshire: looking towards the 14th century rood screen
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NOTES: The church is a mixture of periods, 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. The interior is largely Norman with reused Roman columns in the nave. The nave was heightened in the 14th century. The chancel was rebuilt in 1882-1883. The church also has a distinctive lead broach spire.
St Mary Magdalene, Ickleton, Cambridgeshire: detail of vaulting in the porch roof
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NOTES: The church is a mixture of periods, 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. The interior is largely Norman with reused Roman columns in the nave. The nave was heightened in the 14th century. The chancel was rebuilt in 1882-1883. The church also has a distinctive lead broach spire.