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glossary

Palmette, Anthemion
an artistic motif based on the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree.
Panelling
wood covering for vaults or ceilings.
Parlour
small room in an abbey.
Pediment
in classical architecture, the low-pitched gable above the entablature, usually filled with sculpture.
Pendentives
Horizontal triangular constructions at the top of a square or rectangular building that allow a dome to be set centrally above.
Pepperpot tower
masonry sentry box thus named because of its round shape and conical roof

Phylactery
banderol shown on sculptures or frescoes for bearing text
Pier
an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge.
pilaster
a projection of the foundation wall used to support a floor girder or stiffen the wall.
Pilaster strips
slightly projecting strips or lesenes connected by small arches.
Pilaster strips
the flat version of a column, consisting of a slim rectangle projecting from a wall; used also of plain piers or pilasters without classical orders which are more correctly termed pilaster strips.
Pointed equilateral arch

Porch
raised structure made of wood or stone in front of a church doorway
Portcullis
a grating dropped vertically from grooves to block passage or gate in castle; of wood, metal or a combination of the two.
Postern
small concealed door used for escaping or letting in reinforcements unbeknownst to besiegers
Pre-Roman
era preceding the Roman period and the style of said era (10th century)
Priory
monastery dependant on an abbey and directed by a prior
Priory church
church in a priory
Quadrant-vault
a vault shaped as a quarter of a circle, sometimes used for vaulting the aisles or tribunes.