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Architrave
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In Classical architecture, the beam resting on the columns.
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Capital
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The cap or crown to a column usually heavily decorated.
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Chancel
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Eastern part of a church containing the choir and main alter.
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Chantry Chapel
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Mediaeval chapel endowed for the celebration of masses.
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Chevron
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Zig-zag decorative moulding used in Norman architecture.
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Clerestory
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Windows near the ceiling in a high room or hall.
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Cloister
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An inner courtyard or central square closed by the four sides of a church, cathedral or monastery.
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Corbel
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A projecting bracket, sometimes carved and decorated. Used to help support weight from above.
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Crossing
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The central space at the intersection of the nave and transept of a church, usually beneath the tower.
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Crypt
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Underground room usually belo the east end of a church.
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Finial
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The top or finishing stone of a pinnacle.
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Gargoyle
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A spout usually carved in the shape of an animal or demon, sometimes a Green Man, and connected to a gutter for throwing rain water from the roof of a building.
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Grotesque
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A carving usually of a demon, dragon, or half human/half animal, serving no utilitarian purpose. Often confused with gargoyles.
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Hammer-beam roof
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A roof constructed of timber brackets (hammer-beams) that support a trussed roof. These eliminate the need for tie-beams
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Lady Chapel
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The easternmost chapel of a cathedral, intended for quiet contemplation and the occasional special service.
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Misericord
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Projection on the underside of hinged seat in choir stall, serving when seat is turned up to support person standing.
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Nave
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The main body of a church or cathedral, sometimes defined as the central aisle only. In Latin nave means ship.
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Niche
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A recess in a wall for the reception of a statue.
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Oratory
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Small chapel used for private prayer.
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Perpendicular style
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The name given to late 15c English Gothic architecture as lines became longer and more elaborate.
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Pinnacle
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A slender pointed summit placed on top of buttresses, gables etc.
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Piscina
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Perforated stone basin for carrying away water, used in rinsing of chalice etc. in religious ceremony.
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Poppy head
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Carved finial crowning end of seat. The word derives from the old French 'puppis' meaning a figure head.
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Porch
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A projecting enclosed doorway, usually a side entrance located at the north and south transepts of a cathedral.
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Quoin
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A corner stone
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Reredos
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The wall or screen behind the alter usually ornamental with painting or carving.
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Rood/Rood screen
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A cross or crucifix placed between the chancel and nave. A rood screen separates the two parts of the church and is often painted or carved.
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Sanctuary
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Most sacred part of the chapel, around the alter.
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Sedilia
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Seats for the clergy.
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Spandrel
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Triangular space between the curved parts of two adjoining arches. Also the triangular space between the underside of a staircase and the floor.
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Stalls
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Elaborate seating for the choir, situated in the chancel.
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Tie-beam
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The horizontal beam connected to the feet of rafters to prevent them from spreading out under the weight of the roof.
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Tracery
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Ornamental stonework most often seen supporting window glass in the form of trifoils and cinquefoils. Sometimes used merely as decoration on panels and mouldings and then called 'blind' tracery.
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Trancept
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In cathedral architecture the north and south projections or 'arms' of the cross.
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Trifoil
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Tracery in three foils.
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Tympanium
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A panel above the main portal or doorway, usually heavily decorated.
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Vault
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Stone ceiling formed like arches. A rib is a projecting feature of a vault and is sometimes structural or can be ornamental.
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Church Architectural Periods
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Anglo-Saxon
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Most buildings of this period were constructed from wood and few have survived. The stone built buildings have interesting decoration
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Norman
Early English
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12th century. Characteristics of this style are, round arches, barrel vaults, walls decorated with interlacing arches and arcades, highly decorated doorways and plenty of mouldings.
1189 - 1272 squat bulky buildings gave way to taller, lighter construction.
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Early mediaeval Decorated period
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13th - 14th centuries. Larger windows began to appear and much more in the way of decorative features and tracery.
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Late mediaeval
Perpendicular
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15th - 16th centuries. A more simplistic period. Buttresses were now deeper which allowed even larger windows. Fan vaulting was perfected and tracery was at it's most elegant
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Post reformation
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17th -18th centuries. Columns, cornices, pediments, architrave windows and elegant proportions.
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Victorian restoration
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19th century. This period saw architects adopt a gothic revival as well as other styles.
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