glossary


spandrel the roughly triangular space formed by the curvatureofanarch, theverticalwallshaft andhorizontalstring course marking the arcade division.


spire pyramidal erection, generally octagonal in plan, placed on top of a tower.


splay chamfer or opening out of the jambof window, usuallyonthe interior.


stiff-leaf the roughly triangular space formed on capitals andbossesduringthe Early English period.


strapwork sixteenth andearly seventeenth centurydecoration, Flemish in origin, andconsistingof interlaced bandslike leatherstraps. Found on plaster ceilings as well as woodwork.


string course


projecting horizontal band set into walls; it does not have the relief of a cornice.


stucco plasterworkor fine-quality extrenal rendering, often painted.


swag festoonformed by a carved piece of cloth holding fruit or flowers and supported at each end.


T


termClassical sculptured figure whoselower half turns into a pedestal.


terracearow ofhouses joined together as aunified design,with the centre sometimes emphasised by a pediment. Alsoaraised space or platformin front of abuilding.


timber framing


constructionwhere basic structure is built of timber framework with thespace in between filled with brickworkorplaster; frequently thetimber work has been coveredwithplaster, brick or tiles.


tracery the intersecting stone frameworkofaGothic window. The vertical strips are know as mullions,horizontal intersecting bars, transoms. Towards thehead(top)of awindowthe tracerybreaksinto a decorativemesh of geometricalor flamboyant patterns.


22 Flat Living GUIDETO HeritageFlats


trygliphs blocks with vertical grooves separating the metopes in a Doric frieze.


turretsmall tower (square, round, or polygonal)often foundinmilitary architecture.


tympanumspace between the lintel of adoorway and thearchabove it and in Norman period often adorned with carvings of Christ,aswellas secularthemes, eg. Barfreston, Kent.


V


Vault –rib,anarchedroof usuallyofstone in whichthe blocks filling the panels or cells areheldinplace by a web or ribs.


–tunnelor continuous stoneroof either semi-circular or pointed barrel in section.


–groin; twotunnel vaults of identical shape intersecting at right angles over a square bay.


Venetianarch


window with three openings ofwhichthe centralone is larger and arched.


Verandah open gallery with roof or canopy supportedon lightpillars,often of castiron.


Villa countryhouse, usuallyasecondary andsmaller residence of a wealthy family.


Volute curved corner scroll of an Ionic capital. Also a block of stonewithserpentine curve forming one side and used as a decorativemotifin Baroque architecture.


Voussoir wedge- shaped stone used in arch construction.


W


Wainscot timber lining to walls.


Wheelwindow circular window with spoked tracery found in theNormanperiod. Sometimesalso called arosewindow, although this is really alater development inwhichtracery assumes petal shapes.


Z


Zigzag Norman decoration knownas chevron.


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