Alexandrina Buchanan is an archivist and architectural historian in the Department of History at the University of Liverpool. She specialises in the study of the material past, both archival and architectural, with a particular interest in the history and historiography of medieval architecture including vaults.James Hillson is an art historian who worked as Postdoctoral Research Associate on the Tracing the Past: English Medieval Vaults project at the University of Liverpool. He specialises in the study of architectural design practices and international artistic exchange in Northwestern Europe during the twelfth to fourteenth centuries. Nicholas Webb is an architect and lecturer at the Liverpool School of Architecture. His research focuses on the application of digital tools and techniques to enhance our understanding of historic works of architecture, particularly methods enabling new information that would not have been possible in a pre-digital context.

"This work eloquently brings out the interplay between technical innovation and artistic ingenuity in the architecture of medieval English vaults. In particular, the book breaks new ground on how digital surveying techniques and three dimensional computer modelling can uncover new approaches to the study of architectural history."Professor Sambit Datta, Professor of Computational Design, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University"This innovative study contributes significantly both to the scholarly understanding of English vaults, and to the understanding of Gothic design more generally. With exemplary rigor, transparency, and methodological self-awareness, the authors show how modern techniques such as laser scanning and 3D modelling can help to reveal the complex dynamics of the medieval builders’ creative processes."Professor Robert Bork, Professor of Art History, School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa"This book is a fascinating exploration of what technology can tell us about the development of Gothic vaults. It both reveals and reinforces the complex nature of medieval vaulting, demonstrating above all the skill of those who constructed these amazing buildings."Dr Carol Cragoe, Author of How to Read Buildings"This ground-breaking study uses digital technology to investigate the conception, creation and construction of vaults in medieval England. Drawing on an impressive range of documentary evidence, this profusely illustrated book offers both a history of the vault and fresh insights into English architectural design in the Middle Ages."Dr John Goodall, Architectural Editor, Country Life Magazine

• Introduction 1. Groins and ribs Case study 1: Norton Priory Case study 2: Gloucester Cathedral Digital diary 1: surveying techniques 2. Experiments with ribs Case study 3: Lincoln Cathedral Case study 4: Chester Cathedral Case study 5: Ely Cathedral Digital diary 2: rib tracing 3. Plans Case study 6: Wells Cathedral Case study 7: Ottery St Mary Digital diary 3: orthographic representations 4. Curves Case study 8: St Mary’s, Nantwich Case study 9: Norwich Cathedral Digital diary 4: generative design tools 5. Stonecutting Case study 10: Exeter Cathedral Case study 11: Westminster Abbey Digital diary 5: detailed analysis and 3D modelling 6. Webs Case study 12: Pershore Abbey Case study 13: Tewkesbury Abbey Digital diary 6: studying webbing Conclusions Bibliography Glossary Index

Alexandrina Buchanan is an archivist and architectural historian in the Department of History at the University of Liverpool. She specialises in the study of the material past, both archival and architectural, with a particular interest in the history and historiography of medieval architecture including vaults.James Hillson is an art historian who worked as Postdoctoral Research Associate on the Tracing the Past: English Medieval Vaults project at the University of Liverpool. He specialises in the study of architectural design practices and international artistic exchange in Northwestern Europe during the twelfth to fourteenth centuries. Nicholas Webb is an architect and lecturer at the Liverpool School of Architecture. His research focuses on the application of digital tools and techniques to enhance our understanding of historic works of architecture, particularly methods enabling new information that would not have been possible in a pre-digital context.

"This work eloquently brings out the interplay between technical innovation and artistic ingenuity in the architecture of medieval English vaults. In particular, the book breaks new ground on how digital surveying techniques and three dimensional computer modelling can uncover new approaches to the study of architectural history."Professor Sambit Datta, Professor of Computational Design, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University"This innovative study contributes significantly both to the scholarly understanding of English vaults, and to the understanding of Gothic design more generally. With exemplary rigor, transparency, and methodological self-awareness, the authors show how modern techniques such as laser scanning and 3D modelling can help to reveal the complex dynamics of the medieval builders’ creative processes."Professor Robert Bork, Professor of Art History, School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa"This book is a fascinating exploration of what technology can tell us about the development of Gothic vaults. It both reveals and reinforces the complex nature of medieval vaulting, demonstrating above all the skill of those who constructed these amazing buildings."Dr Carol Cragoe, Author of How to Read Buildings"This ground-breaking study uses digital technology to investigate the conception, creation and construction of vaults in medieval England. Drawing on an impressive range of documentary evidence, this profusely illustrated book offers both a history of the vault and fresh insights into English architectural design in the Middle Ages."Dr John Goodall, Architectural Editor, Country Life Magazine

• Introduction 1. Groins and ribs Case study 1: Norton Priory Case study 2: Gloucester Cathedral Digital diary 1: surveying techniques 2. Experiments with ribs Case study 3: Lincoln Cathedral Case study 4: Chester Cathedral Case study 5: Ely Cathedral Digital diary 2: rib tracing 3. Plans Case study 6: Wells Cathedral Case study 7: Ottery St Mary Digital diary 3: orthographic representations 4. Curves Case study 8: St Mary’s, Nantwich Case study 9: Norwich Cathedral Digital diary 4: generative design tools 5. Stonecutting Case study 10: Exeter Cathedral Case study 11: Westminster Abbey Digital diary 5: detailed analysis and 3D modelling 6. Webs Case study 12: Pershore Abbey Case study 13: Tewkesbury Abbey Digital diary 6: studying webbing Conclusions Bibliography Glossary Index

Alexandrina Buchanan is an archivist and architectural historian in the Department of History at the University of Liverpool. She specialises in the study of the material past, both archival and architectural, with a particular interest in the history and historiography of medieval architecture including vaults.James Hillson is an art historian who worked as Postdoctoral Research Associate on the Tracing the Past: English Medieval Vaults project at the University of Liverpool. He specialises in the study of architectural design practices and international artistic exchange in Northwestern Europe during the twelfth to fourteenth centuries. Nicholas Webb is an architect and lecturer at the Liverpool School of Architecture. His research focuses on the application of digital tools and techniques to enhance our understanding of historic works of architecture, particularly methods enabling new information that would not have been possible in a pre-digital context.

"This work eloquently brings out the interplay between technical innovation and artistic ingenuity in the architecture of medieval English vaults. In particular, the book breaks new ground on how digital surveying techniques and three dimensional computer modelling can uncover new approaches to the study of architectural history."Professor Sambit Datta, Professor of Computational Design, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University"This innovative study contributes significantly both to the scholarly understanding of English vaults, and to the understanding of Gothic design more generally. With exemplary rigor, transparency, and methodological self-awareness, the authors show how modern techniques such as laser scanning and 3D modelling can help to reveal the complex dynamics of the medieval builders’ creative processes."Professor Robert Bork, Professor of Art History, School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa"This book is a fascinating exploration of what technology can tell us about the development of Gothic vaults. It both reveals and reinforces the complex nature of medieval vaulting, demonstrating above all the skill of those who constructed these amazing buildings."Dr Carol Cragoe, Author of How to Read Buildings"This ground-breaking study uses digital technology to investigate the conception, creation and construction of vaults in medieval England. Drawing on an impressive range of documentary evidence, this profusely illustrated book offers both a history of the vault and fresh insights into English architectural design in the Middle Ages."Dr John Goodall, Architectural Editor, Country Life Magazine

• Introduction 1. Groins and ribs Case study 1: Norton Priory Case study 2: Gloucester Cathedral Digital diary 1: surveying techniques 2. Experiments with ribs Case study 3: Lincoln Cathedral Case study 4: Chester Cathedral Case study 5: Ely Cathedral Digital diary 2: rib tracing 3. Plans Case study 6: Wells Cathedral Case study 7: Ottery St Mary Digital diary 3: orthographic representations 4. Curves Case study 8: St Mary’s, Nantwich Case study 9: Norwich Cathedral Digital diary 4: generative design tools 5. Stonecutting Case study 10: Exeter Cathedral Case study 11: Westminster Abbey Digital diary 5: detailed analysis and 3D modelling 6. Webs Case study 12: Pershore Abbey Case study 13: Tewkesbury Abbey Digital diary 6: studying webbing Conclusions Bibliography Glossary Index