Fan vault

A fan vault is a form of vault used in the Gothic style, in which the ribs are all of the same curve and spaced equidistantly, in a manner resembling a fan. The initiation and propagation of this design element is strongly associated with England.

The earliest example, dating from about the year 1351,^[1] may be seen in the cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral.^[2] The largest fan vault in the world can be found in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.

The fan vault is peculiar to England. The lierne vault of the cathedral of Barbastro in northern Spain closely resembles a fan vault, but it does not form a perfect conoid. John Harvey (1978) suggests Catherine of Aragon as a possible source of English influence in Aragon.^[3]

^ "Britannia: Architecture of Gloucester Cathedral". Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2006.
^ "Pevsner Architectural Guides fan vault design". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2006.
^ Cite error: The named reference harvey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] "Britannia: Architecture of Gloucester Cathedral". Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2006.

[2] "Pevsner Architectural Guides fan vault design". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2006.

[harvey-3] Cite error: The named reference harvey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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