Perpendicular Period
The
Perpendicular Gothic period (or simply
Perpendicular) is the third historical division of English
Gothic architecture, and is so-called because it is characterised by an emphasis on vertical lines; it is also known as the
Rectilinear style, or
Late Gothic.
The Perpendicular style began to emerge c.
1350. It was a development of the
Decorated style of the late
13th century and early
14th century, and lasted into the mid
16th century (the terms "Perpendicular" and "Decorated" were unknown at that time; they were coined by the
antiquarian Thomas Rickman in his
Attempt to Discriminate the Style of Architecture in England (1812â€"1815) and are still widely used).
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. In the later examples of the Decorated Period the omission of the circles in the
tracery of windows had led to the employment of curves of double curvature which developed into flamboyant tracery: the introduction of the
perpendicular lines was a reaction in the contrary direction.
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Westminster Hall and its magnificent hammerbeam roof, pictured in the early 18th century |
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Fan vaulting in Bath Abbey (restored) |
This perpendicular linearity is particularly obvious in the design of windows, which became very large, sometimes of immense size, with slimmer stone
mullions than in earlier periods, allowing greater scope for
stained glass craftsmen. The mullions of the windows are carried up into the
arch moulding of the windows, and the upper portion is subdivided by additional mullions.
Buttresses and wall surfaces are likewise divided up into vertical panels. Another major development of this period was
fan vaulting.
Doorways are frequently enclosed within a square head over the arch mouldings, the
spandrels being filled with
quatrefoils or tracery. Pointed arches were still used throughout the period, but
ogee and "Tudor" arches were also introduced.
Inside the church the
triforium disappears, or its place is filled with panelling, and greater importance is given to the
clerestory windows, which are often the finest features in the
churches of this period. The mouldings are flatter and less effective than those of the earlier periods, and one of the chief characteristics is the introduction of large
elliptical hollows.
Some of the finest features of this period are the magnificent
timber roofs;
hammerbeam roofs, such as those of
Westminster Hall (
1395),
Christ Church Hall, Oxford, and Crosby Hall, appeared for the first time.
The earliest examples of the Perpendicular Period, dating from
1360, are found at
Gloucester Cathedral, where the
masons of the
cathedral would seem to have been far in advance of those in other towns; the fan-vaulting in the
cloisters is particularly fine.
Among other buildings of note are the
choir and tower of
York Minster (
1389â€"
1407); the
nave and western
transepts of
Canterbury Cathedral (
1378â€"
1411), and the tower, towards the end of the 15th century;
New College, Oxford (
1380â€"
1386); the Beauchamp Chapel,
Warwick (
1381â€"
1391); the remodelling of the nave and aisles of
Winchester Cathedral (
1399â€"
1419); the transept and tower of
Merton College, Oxford (
1424â€"
1450);
Manchester Cathedral (
1422); the central tower of
Gloucester Cathedral (
1454â€"
1457), and that of
Magdalen College, Oxford (
1475â€"
1480).
Sherborne Abbey (
1475â€"c.
1580), particularly noted for its vast fan-vaulted roof,
Bath Abbey (although restored in the 1860s) and
Henry VII's
Lady Chapel at
Westminster Abbey (
1503â€"
1519) are notable later examples of this style.
To those examples should be added the towers at St Giles' church
Wrexham,
Coventry,
Evesham, and St Mary's at
Taunton, the first being of such exceptional magnificence that it is known as one of the "
Seven Wonders of Wales". All of a kind,
Eton College Chapel, Eton,
King's College Chapel, Cambridge (
1446â€"
1515) and
Syon Abbey may also be put under this heading.
The Perpendicular style has occasionally been revived in more recent times: one fine example is Bristol University's
Wills Memorial Building (
1915â€"
1925).
*
Britain Express - Architectural Guide*
BTinternet architectural timeline*
Looking at Buildings website: Gothic Windows and Tracery
