Early English architecture was the first of the pointed or Gothic styles of architecture that prevailed in England. It succeeded the Norman in the reign of Richard I (1189), and continued to the end of the reign of Henry II in 1272, a period of 123 years when it gradually merged into the Decorated style - some argue that the early English style continued until 1307.
One of the leading peculiarities in this style is the form of the windows, which are narrow in proportion to their height, and terminate in a pointed arch, resembling the blade of a lancet. Throughout the early period of the style they are very plain, particularly in small churches;
but in cathedrals and other large buildings the windows, frequently combined two or more together, are carried to a great height, are richly and deeply moulded, and the jambs ornamented with slender shafts. On the eastern and western fronts of small churches the windows are often combined in this manner, with a circular window above and a richly moulded door below; but in large buildings there is often more than one range of windows, and the combinations are very various. Though
separated on the outside, these lancets are in the interior combined into one design, thus giving the first idea of a compound window.
The doorways are in general pointed, and in rich buildings sometimes double; they are usually moulded, and enriched with the tooth-ornament. The buttresses are often very bold and prominent, and are frequently carried up to the top of the building with but little diminution, and terminate in acutely-pointed pediments, which, when raised above the parapet, produce in some degree the effect of pinnacles. In this style, likewise, flying-buttresses were first introduced, and the buttresses themselves much increased in projection owing to the comparative lightness of the walls, which required some counter-support to resist the outward pressure of the vaulting.
The roof in the Early English style appears always to have been high pitched, and the towers surmounted by lofty pointed spires, as at Salisbury Cathedral. In the interior the arches are usually lancet-shaped, and the pillars often reduced to very slender proportions. As if to give still greater lightness of appearance, they are frequently made up of a centre pillar, surrounded by slight detached shafts, only connected with the pillar by their capitals and bases, and bands of metal placed at intervals. These shafts are generally of Purbeckmarble, the pillar itself being of stone, and from their extreme slenderness they sometimes appear as if quite inadequate to support the weight above them. Some of the best examples are to be seen in SalisburyCathedral.
The architects of this style carried their ideas of lightness to the utmost limits of prudence, and their successors have been afraid to imitate their example. The abacus of the capitals is generally made up of two bold round mouldings, with a deep hollow between. The foliage is peculiar, generally very gracefully drawn, and thrown into elegant curves; it is usually termed stiff-leaved, from the circumstance of its rising with a stiff stem from the neck-mould of the capital. The trefoil is commonly imitated, and is very characteristic of the style. The mouldings of this style have great boldness, and produce a striking effect of light and shade. They consist chiefly of rounds separated by deep hollows, in which a peculiar ornament, called the dog's-tooth, is used, whenever ornament can be introduced. This ornament is as characteristic of the Early English as the zigzag is of the Norman. Research Early English
Earth-house is a name generally given throughout Scotland to underground buildings, also known as 'Picts' houses' or 'Picts' dwellings.' The earth-house in its simplest form consists of a single irregular-shaped chamber, formed of unhewn stones, the side walls gradually converging towards the top until they can be roofed by stones of 4 or 5 feet in width, all covered in by a mound of earth rising slightly above the level of the surrounding district. In the more advanced form of these structures two or three chambers are found. Earth-houses are frequent in the north-east of Scotland, occasionally thirty or forty being found in the same locality. Querns, bones, deers' antlers, earthen vessels, cups and implements of bone, stone celts, bronze swords, and the like, are occasionally found in connection with them. Very similar structures, known as beehive-houses, occur also in Ireland. Research Earth-House
In architecture, the eaves are the edges or lower borders of the roof of a building, which overhang the walls, and cast off the water that falls on the roof. Research Eaves
In architecture, an eaves board is an arris fillet, or a thick board with a feather edge, nailed across the rafters at the eaves of a building, to raise the lower course of slates a little, or to receive the lowest course of tiles. Research Eaves Board
In architecture, echinus refers to the rounded moulding forming the bell of the capital of the Grecian Doric style, which is of a peculiar elasticcurve. The term is also applied to the quarter- round moulding (ovolo) of the Roman Doric style and sometimes to the egg and anchor or egg and dartmoulding, because that ornament is often identified with the Roman Doric capital. Research Echinus
The Edinburgh pot is a Scottish style of clay chimney pot resembling a beaded pot but with two, parallel horizontal beads around the upper part of the body. Research Edinburgh Pot
The Eiffel tower is a structure named after its builder and is one of the most iconic sights of Paris. At the time of its construction it was by far the loftiest structure in existence, surpassing the WashingtonObelisk, the next highest by 430 feet. It cost about 260,000 pounds to build, and was erected partly at the cost of the state, partly by funds provided by Eiffel himself, who formed a company for the purpose - the company drawing funds through the fees which visitors had to pay. The top may be reached by stairs and lifts. The first stage or platform is at the height of 189 feet, and forms a quadrilateral 213 feet square, fitted up as a restaurant. The next platform is at the height of about 380 feet, and is 98 feet square. The third platform is at the height of 906 feet, and is large enough to accommodate a good number of persons, affording a magnificent view. The lantern higher up is supplied with powerful electric search-lights, and on the very summit is a small area utilized chiefly for scientific observations. The tower has been utilized for various scientific purposes (the fall of bodies, vibration of the pendulum, pressure of the air, etc). Research Eiffel Tower
In architecture, the term elbow describes a sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or other woodwork; the upright sides which flank any panelled work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back. Research Elbow
Elizabethan Architecture is a style of architecture which prevailed in England during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. It succeeded to the Tudor style, properly so called, with which it is sometimes confounded. The Elizabethan is a mixture of inferior Gothic and debased Italian, producing a singular heterogeneousness in detail, with, however, wonderful picturesqueness in general effect, and domestic accommodation more in accordance with the wants of an advancing civilization than was afforded by the styles which preceded it. The chief characteristics of Elizabethan architecture are: windows of great size both in the plane of the wall and deeply embayed, ceilings very richly decorated in relief, galleries of great length, very tall and highly-decorated chimneys, as well as a profuse use of ornamental strap-work in the parapets, window-heads, etc. The Elizabethan style is the last stage of the Tudor or Perpendicular, and from its corresponding in point of period with the Renaissance of the Continent has sometimes been called the English Renaissance. The epithet Jacobean has sometimes been given to the very latest stage of the Elizabethan, differing from the Elizabethan proper in showing a greater admixture of debased Italian forms. The princely houses which arose during the reign of Elizabeth were numerous, and some even yet remain to attest the splendour of the time. Research Elizabethan Architecture
Emplection is a kind of masonry in which the outer faces of the wall are ashlar, the space between being filled with broken stone and mortar. Cross layers of stone are interlaid as binders. Research Emplecton
In architecture, an encarpus is an ornament on a frieze or capital, consisting of festoons of fruit, flowers, leaves, etc. The encarpus is sometimes composed of an imitation of drapery similarly disposed, and sometimes of an assemblage of musical instruments, implements of war or of the chase. Research Encarpus
Encaustic tiles are ornamental paving-tiles of baked pottery, much used during the middle ages in the pavements of churches and other ecclesiastical edifices. The encaustic tile, strictly so-called, was decorated with patterns formed by different coloured clays inlaid in the tile and fired with it. The art appears to have originated in the latter part of the 12th century, to have attained its highest perfection during the 13th, and to have sunk into disuse in the 15th. During the whole of this period it was principally carried on in England and Normandy. After a long lapse the art was revived in England in 1830 by Wright, a Sheltonpotter. In 19th century manufacture two methods were employed, the 'plastic' and the 'semi-dry' or 'dust' method. The first is, in all essentials, that used in the middle ages, except, perhaps, in the perfection of later moulding appliances; the second consisted in ramming pulverized clay with a minimum of moisture into metal dies, the subsequent firing of tiles thus consolidated being attended with less risk from shrinkage. Research Encaustic Tiles
English bond is a brick pattern consisting of alternate courses of headers and stretchers, forming a strong bond which is easy to lay. Research English Bond
In architecture, the entablature is that part of a structure which is immediately above the column; also the distinguishing feature of the Greek styles. There are five distinct orders of entablature - Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite. The entablature is composed of three parts - the architrave, a stone or marble slab, the prototype of which was the square timber beam of the primitive structure; the frieze or middle member, subdivided into its minor parts; and the cornice, which, with its mouldings and ornaments, is the superior projection of the structure. Research Entablature
In architecture, an entasis is a slight convex swelling of the shaft of a column. Entasis is deliberately introduced into columns to correct the optical illusion whereby the columns appear to be concave. Entasis is to be found in almost all the Grecian examples. Research Entasis
In architecture an entresol is a low story between two higher ones, usually between the ground floor and the first story, like a mezzanine. Research Entresol
An excubitorium is a gallery or loft in a church where watch was kept at night on the eve of any great festival, and from which the great shrines were observed. Research Excubitorium
In architecture an exedra is the projection of any part of a building in a rounded form or any out- of-door seat in stone, large enough for several persons; especially one of a curved form. Research Exedra
Abbreviations
Architecture
Research Early English
