Fletcher, Banister; Fletcher, Banister: A history of architecture for the student, craftsman, and amateur: being a comparative view of the historical styles from the earliest period (London, 1896)

ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE. 145

insecurity against lawless vagabonds, every city was more
or less fortified.

The undeveloped state of the towns is accountable for
the absence of town halls, in contrast with France and
Belgium, especially rich in these buildings.

In towns the dwellings often consisted of a shop on the
ground floor, in which the trade of the owner was carried
on, lighted by a wide arch giving on to the street. Behind
the shop was the kitchen and living-room. An external
door led to a staircase, which gave access to the sleeping-
rooms on the first floor. The architecture was more or less
developed, in proportion to the condition of the owner, the
materials at hand, and other local causes.

In this respect we may remark the passage way on the
first floor to the houses at Chester. Houses of half timber
and brick with overhanging upper storeys abounded, while
the Jew’s house at Lincoln is a fine example of an early
stone residence.

REVIEW OF EACH PERIOD SEPARATELY.
PREFATORY NOTE.

The architecture of England during the Middle Ages can
be divided into centuries corresponding to the principal
developments, which have their specially defined charac-
teristics.

Thus Saxon architecture is generally taken to last from the
departure of the Romans in a.d. 449 to the Conquest in 1066.

Norman architecture 1066-1189, or to the end of the
twelfth century.

Early English, 11891307, or during the thirteenth century.

Decorated, 1307-1377, or during the fourteenth century.

Perpendicular, 1377-1547, or during the fifteenth and
part of the sixteenth century.

Other methods of formulating the different periods have
been adopted, but the above seems the simplest and the
most easily remembered.

Although we have defined the periods when each style

L