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Perpendicular Style

the third period of Pointed Architecture. It originated at the end of the 11th century, and continued till the close of the 16th, when it was succeeded by the Revived, or Debased Classic, known as the Elizabethan. It is also known as the Florid, from the multiplicity, profusion, and minuteness of ornamental detail, and its more general name, Perpendicular, is derived from the mullions of the windows and the divisions of ornamental panel work running in straight or pependicular lines, which was not the case in any earlier style. The pointed arches are constructed from almost every radius.

The most common doorway is the depressed four-centered arch (almost peculiar to this style) within a square head, having generally a hood molding over, the spandrels being filled with quatrefoils, paneling, roses, foliage, small shields, or other sculptured ornaments.

Fan-shaped roofs, ornamented with dependent pendants resembling stalactites, are also peculiar to the Perpendicular style. Richly decorated roof trusses, which are left clearly visible, are also of frequent occurrence. In these roofs the spaces between the highly ornamented and molded beam are filled with rich tracery.