Gloucester

Whilst the crypt at Gloucester Cathedral was probably begun after the fire of 1088, it is possible that the central vessel predates this. Its groin-vaulted design is a radical departure from that of the surrounding ambulatory, adopting an entirely different bay structure, proportional system and method for laying out the arches. It consists of simple rectangular bays with exposed groins, surrounded by a mixture of segmental arches and multicentred arches raised on haunches.

The crypt at Gloucester Cathedral was probably begun after the fire of 1088. Whilst the bays were originally covered by a groin vault, during the 1120s the supporting piers were enlarged and diagonal ribs were added. The resulting gaps between rib and webbing were filled with infilling, similar to that found at Norton Priory.

The presbytery at Gloucester Cathedral dates from c. 1337 onwards. It is covered in a complex net vault with an intricate pattern of liernes. All of the bays are rectangular in plan with the exception of the easternmost bay (C6), where the polygonal structure of the ground plan is reflected in the vault above.

The ambulatory of the presbytery dates back to the original Norman work at the east end of the cathedral church (completed by c. 1100). These bays are still covered by groin vaults with a variety of different forms, Most bays have some kind of quadrilateral plan, but towards the east end there are several with triangular plans.

The liturgical choir of Gloucester Cathedral can be found in the crossing of the church (bay C11). The vault dates from c. 1337 onwards, consisting of a more elaborate form of net vault than the earlier south transept. The crossing bay is in effect divided into two bays of vaulting along its transverse axis, each half following a design which continues into the presbytery to the east.

The north transept at Gloucester was extensively modified c. 1368-73, including the insertion of a new net vault. Though it echoes some aspects of the design of the south transept, there are several distinct differences in pattern, perhaps the most notable being the inclusion of bosses covering the intersections between the liernes.

The south transept vault at Gloucester was almost certainly in place by 1336, when the clerestorey windows below were being glazed. It consists of a net vault of crisscrossing liernes. Unusually, there are no bosses covering the points of intersection between the ribs, with the relationships between the different lines instead being articulated using multiple layers of ribs.

Though the walls of the nave at Gloucester were probably completed by the 1120s, it does not appear to have been vaulted in stone until c. 1242. The first seven bays of the nave (C12-C18) were constructed as a simple quadripartite vault with a longitudinal ridge rib. However, there is a slight difference in design for the eastern two bays (C12-C13), where the ridge rib is much thinner. The two western bays of the nave were vaulted from c. 1421-37 according to an entirely different design, featuring a complex stellar pattern of liernes.

Whereas the north nave aisle vault at Gloucester was probably constructed at the same time as the vault in the central vessel (c. 1242), the south nave aisle was vaulted considerably later (c. 1318). Though the plans of the vaults are similar, both being a mixture of quadripartite and quinquepartite vaulting, their three-dimensional structure and sculptural details are very different. The two western bays of the north and south aisles follow a simple tierceron pattern with additional liernes on the north and south sides, probably dating from c. 1421-37.

The east walk of the cloister at Gloucester was probably constructed between 1360 and 1364. It is widely considered to be one of the earliest examples of fan vaulting in the world, its surface consisting of intricately decorated panels of stonework forming conical structures that rise from the springers of the vault.

Though the main vessel of Chapter House at Gloucester date back to the early twelfth century, the vault at the east end was probably constructed c. 1368-73. It consists of a net vault of liernes and tiercerons with a polygonal ground plan.