A Glossary of Architectural Terms for Medieval Churches

Abacus

flat slab on the top of a capital

Ambulatory

semi-circular or polygonal aisle around an apse

Apse

vaulted semi-circular or polygonal end of a chancel or chapel

Ashlar

masonry of blocks of stone cut with even faces and square edges

Aumbrey

recess or cupboard for sacred vessels for Mass

Ballflower

globular flower with three petals enclosing a ball. Popular decoration in the 1st quarter of the 14th century

Baluster

a shaped small pillar or column

Bar Tracery

window tracery consisting of bars of stone set in the window opening (compare to Plate Tracery). Bar tracery was introduced into England c. 1250

Battlement

parapet with a series of alternate indentions and raised portions (Embrasures and Merlons) also called crenelation

Beak Head

row of bird or beast heads biting the roll moulding. A Norman ornamental motif

Billet Frieze

series of short, raised rectangles at regular intervals. A Norman ornamental motif

Boss

projection covering the intersection of ribs in vaulting

Cable Moulding

moulding imitating a twisted cable. A Norman ornamental motif

Capital

top part or head of a column

Chancel

part of the east end of a church in which the altar is placed. Often used for the whole of the east end beyond the crossing

Chancel Arch

arch at the western end of the chancel

Chantry Chapel

chapel endowed for the saying of masses for the soul of an individual

Chevron

zigzag decoration used in the Norman period

Clerestory

The windows in the upper story of a church

Corbel

block of stone (sometimes sculpted) supporting some feature on its upper surface

Corbel Table

series of Corbels just below the roof. Often seen on Norman buildings

Crenelation

parapet with a series of alternate indentions and raised portions or embrasures and merlons. (Also called Battlement)

Cross Vault

vault consisting of two Tunnel Vaults intersecting at right angles. Also called Groin Vault.

Crossing

the intersection of Nave, Chancel and Transepts

Cushion Capital

Romanesque Capital formed from a cube with the bottom half rounded off to the circular shaft underneath

Dagger

tracery ornament of the Decorated style

Dogtooth

Early English decoration consisting of
a series of raised four- corner stars

Double Splayed

window openings that are wider on both the external wall face and the internal wall face, but are narrower in the middle of the wall thickness. Double Splayed windows are found in the late Anglo-Saxon Period

Embrasures

the indentations in a Battlement.
(See also Merlons.)

Escomb-fashion

The use of alternate horizontal and upright Through Stones to form the Jambs of a window

Flying Buttress

arched buttress transmitting thrust of a vault, etc. from an upper wall to an outer support or buttress

Geometrical Tracery 

Bar Tracery consisting mainly of circles or trefoils, quatrefoils, etc. Characteristic of the period c. 1250 – 1310

Groin

sharp edge of the intersection between two cells of a Groin Vault

Groin Vault

vault consisting of two Tunnel Vaults intersecting at right angles. Also called Cross Vault.

Jamb

the straight side of a doorway, window or arch

Lancet

pointed arch window in the shape of a knife blade

Lierne Rib

minor, tertiary rib – i.e. a rib that does not spring from one of the main springers or from the central Boss (hence Lierne Vault.) Introduced into England in the 14th century and continuing in use until the 16th century.

Long and Short

a form of Quoin in which long stones are alternatively set vertically and horizontal, found in the late Anglo-Saxon period

Merlons

the raised portions of a Battlement.
(See also Embrasures.)

Monolithic Head

window in which the semi-circular head is formed of a single shaped stone

Mouchette

tracery ornament of the Decorated style similar to a Dagger, but curved

Mullions

uprights, or verticals that divide a window into ‘lights’.
(See also Transoms)

Nail-head

Early English decoration consisting of a series of raised pyramids

Narthex

covered porch at the main entrance to a church

Nave

the western part of a church

Ogee Arch

arch with double curve drawn with compass from points A, B & C. Introduced into England c.1300 and popular during the 14th century

Orders

a series of concentric stages receding inwards towards the opening of an arch, doorway or window

Pilaster Buttress

rectangular thickening of the wall as a buttress

Pilaster Strip Work

decorative projecting decorative strips of stonework found on late Anglo-Saxon buildings

Piscina

small drain (usually set in a wall near the altar), used for washing Mass vessels

Plate Tracery

window tracery consisting of openings cut through the wall (compare to Bar Tracery). Plate tracery was introduced into England c. 1200.

Quadripartite Vault

rib vault where one bay is divided into four parts

Quoin

the corner stones of a building

Rib-Vault

vault with diagonal ribs running along the Groins

Ridge-Rib

rib along the longitudinal ridge of a vault. Introduced into England in the early 13th century.

Scalloped Capital

development of the Cushion Capital where the semi-circular surface is covered with a series of truncated cones

Sexpartite Vault

vault where one bay of a Quadripartite Vault is divided into two parts by a transverse rib, so that each bay of vaulting has six parts

Single Splayed

window openings that are wider on the internal wall face than on the external wall face. Single Splayed windows are found throughout the Anglo-Saxon period and in the Anglo-Norman period

Soffit

the underside of an arch or lintel, etc.

Spandrel

triangular surface between the side of an arch, the vertical line from its Springer and a horizontal line from its apex; also the surface between two arches

Springer

the start of an arch from its Springing

Springing

the level at which an arch rises from its supports

Through Stones

large stones which run right through the thickness of the wall used in window, door or arch openings. (A feature of Anglo-Saxon buildings.)

Tierceron Rib

secondary rib which issues from one of the main springers or the central boss and leads to the Ridge-Rib. Introduced into England in the early 13th century. (Hence Tierceron Vault)

Transept

transverse (north – south) part of a cruciform church

Transoms

horizontal members in a window. (See also Mullions)

Transverse Arch

arch separating one bay of a vault from the next

Triforium

arcaded wall passage or blind arcade facing the nave at the height of the aisle roof and below the Clerestory

Tunnel Vault

semi-circular vault similar in principle to a railway tunnel

Tympanum

D-shaped space between the top of a door lintel and the head of a semi-circular arch. Often carrying bass-relief sculpture

Voussoir

wedge-shaped stone that is used for the construction of an arch

Y – Tracery

tracery formed with a central Mullion which branches into two, creating a Y – shape