Crossing vaulting, Malvern Priory

The point at which the nave and chancel of a church cross the transepts is called "the crossing". When, as is the case here, at Malvern Priory, Worcestershire, the crossing has a tower above it, the crossing has vaulting, much of which directs some of the tower's weight outwards to the main arches and the vertical walls. In the vaulting above some of the ribs do not do this "spreading" work. These are the short "lierne" ribs that give this style of vaulting its name.The period of the crossing at Malvern is Perpendicular i.e. broadly of the c15. It is a particularly fine example of crossing vaulting, one I've photographed quite a few times over the years.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Cathedral crossing

Most medieval cathedrals in Britain have a ground plan that is essentially a Latin cross. There are additions to this basic shape in the form of cloisters, chapter house etc, but in essence the footprint of the building is a Latin cross with the shorter head (the chancel) at the east, the longer nave at the west, and the north and south transepts making the two "arms". The point where the transepts meet is called the crossing and above this point (usually) is the cathedral's biggest tower - the crossing tower. Such is the plan at Hereford. Today's photograph shows the view from the north transept looking across the crossing to the south transept.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300