The Principles of Gothic Ecclesiastical Architecture, Elucidated by Question and Answer, 4th ed.

ECTURE; ITS ORIGIN, AND THE

by the term "Goth

om the Antique, those peculiar modes or styles in which most of our ecclesiastical and many of our domestic edifices of the middle ages have been built. In a more confined sen

igin of this kind of

n the fifth century, left many of their temples and public edifices remaining, together with some Christian churches, it was in rude imitation of the Roman structures of the fourth cent

tyles may English ecclesiast

several styles, in which all the writers on the subject agree: but they may be divided into sev

from the mission of Augustine, at the close of t

evailed generally from the middle of the eleve

which appears to have prevailed during

r general style of t

or general style of t

, the style of the fifteenth, and e

and early part of the seventeenth century, towards the middle of which G

es the difference

no means an invariable criterion of any particular style; by the size and shape of the windows, and the manner in which they are subdivided or not by transoms, mullions, and trace

ecclesiastical buildings

ibit an uniformity of design; and many churches have details about them of almost every style. There are, however, numerous exceptions, wher

nstructed on an

es the design also comprehended other chapels. On the north or south side was the chapter house, in early times quadrangular, but afterwards octagonal in plan; and on the same side, in most instances, though not always, were the cloisters, which communicated immediately with the church, and surrounded a quadrangular court. The chapter house and cloisters we still find remaining as adjuncts to most cathedral churches, though the conventual buildings of a domestic nature, with which the cloisters formerly als

Leicester, cir