P - Q

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.