1. Architectural History ACT 322 Doris Kemp
Gothic Architecture
Architectural History
ACT 322
Doris Kemp

2. Topics Gothic Architecture in England Canterbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
King’s College, Cambridge
Westminster Abbey

3. Gothic Architecture in England
Although Gothic architecture originated in France, it spread throughout Europe
Became the predominant style through the 15th century
The English would soon form their own Gothic aesthetics
Within a century they had created Gothic churches that varied considerably from those in France

4. Gothic Architecture in England
Canterbury Cathedral
First Gothic style church in England
The choir was originally intended to house England’s most popular shrine
Thomas Becket
Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered by Henry VIII’s men
Became a sacred pilgrimage site
Belief that miracles were performed at the tomb of St. Thomas

5. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

6. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

7. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

8. Gothic Architecture in England
Salisbury Cathedral
Presents the rare example of an English Gothic cathedral built almost entirely in homogenous style (purely English)
Begun in 1220 and finished by 1258
Incorporates features from monastic plans into a purely English long angular building
Features a tower rising some 404-ft and a spire providing vertical emphasis

9. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

10. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

11. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

12. Gothic Architecture in England
Lincoln Cathedral
Had a more complicated building history
Originally a Norman church that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1185
The original survives only in lower portions of the western front
Rebuilding began in 1192 and was completed in 1280
The Angel Choir
Wealth of elaborate trim in the form of Purbeck marble shafts, stiff-leaf capitols, and sculpted angels

13. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

14. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

15. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

16. Gothic Architecture in England
Wells Cathedral
Widely regarded as one of the finest English cathedrals
Also one of the first English Gothic buildings
Dates back to at least 1186 and possibly a decade earlier
To strengthen the lower piers, scissor-shaped arches were built in 1338
Modest structure
Vaults are only 67-ft high

17. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

18. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

19. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

20. Gothic Architecture in England
Cathedral Chapterhouse, Southwell
Contains some of the finest carvings of the English Gothic period
Built around 1290
Plants from the surrounding countryside were used as a model for much of the decorative work

21. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

22. Gothic Architecture in England
Ely Cathedral
Large scale structure built of timber
One of the few Christian churches in existence were Christ is depicted without a beard
In 1322, due to structural problems, the tower was replaced with a wooden lantern
Increased the lighting and usable space at the heights

23. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

24. Gothic Architecture in England
King’s College, Cambridge
Began about 1446 and finished 1515
Built in a time were the sermon served as an important part of church service
Built on a simpler plan and smaller area to reduce reverberation time so that speech could be understood
Basically rectangular in plan
Features perpendicular tracery in the large windows and majestic fan vaults overhead

25. Gothic Architecture in England
King’s College, Cambridge
The ornate organ loft atop the choir divides the space into two parts
One for townspeople
One for students
Similar style to the High Renaissance Period in Northern Italy

26. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

27. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

28. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

29. Gothic Architecture in England
Westminster Abbey
Building begun in 1245
Located in London
Photo: Sullivan

30. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

31. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

32. Gothic Architecture in England
Photo: Sullivan

33. References Sullivan, Mary; http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/
Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Prehistory to Postmodernity
Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Architecture

34. Architectural History ACT 322 Doris Kemp
Gothic Architecture
Architectural History
ACT 322
Doris Kemp