A Manual of Gothic Molding - 1891
7/8/24 (updated 11/29/25)A Manual of Gothic Moldings by Frederick Apthorp Paley is a practical handbook on the forms, construction, and dating of Gothic architectural moldings, aimed at architects, students, and informed amateurs. It explains both how Gothic moldings are shaped and combined, and how their profiles can be used to identify the period and style of medieval buildings.Scope and PurposePaley’s book sets out the basic geometric and formal principles behind Gothic moldings, treating them as systematic architectural elements rather than mere ornament. It was written to give readers a clear, workable method to understand, record, and compare moldings seen in medieval churches and other Gothic structures.Structure and contentThe manual is organized into sections that cover general principles of formation, methods for copying moldings from existing buildings, and discussions of moldings in the main Gothic style phases (Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular). Later chapters treat related details such as the plans of Gothic columns, capitals, bases, hood-moldings, and string-courses, usually accompanied by measured profiles and diagrams.Method and useA key feature of the book is Paley’s step‑by‑step guidance on taking accurate sections of moldings directly from stonework, then reducing these to a common scale for study or reproduction. By comparing these recorded profiles, the reader can learn to distinguish regional or chronological variations and use moldings as evidence when dating and analyzing Gothic buildings.Historical and scholarly contextOriginally published in the mid‑19th century and reissued in later editions, the manual reflects Victorian scholarly interest in precise, “correct” understanding of medieval Gothic as part of the Gothic Revival. It has been valued as both a teaching text and a reference work, and modern reprints continue to circulate among historians, students of architectural history, and restoration practitioners.Source: Perplexity.aiCurated by G. Ly
