Glossary
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S
Sacristy Safe storage for the church valuables
Sanctuary Location of the church to the east of the alter rails
Sap to undermine a wall
See Ecclesiastical area under control of a bishop
Sepulche A tomb
Shaft the part between the capital and the base of a pillar but usually applied to the small columns clustered around pillars or found in the jambs of doors or windows
Shell Keep A high circular or many sided keep built on top of a motte with domestic buildings inside
Siege The blockade of a castle or town to force the surrender of the occupants.
Siege tower A timber tower sometimes with wheels that attackers used to reach the height of the castle
Slight To destroy a castle and make it useless
Solar The private living quarters of a Lord. Usually next to the great hall
Spandrel Triangular space above the haunch of an arch
Spire Conical construction on top of a tower
Stained Glass The glass is stained with metallic oxides and painted afterwards with finer details
Steeple Combined spire and tower where there is no defined join
String-course Band, sometimes projecting, of horizontal masonry
T
Tabard A tunic having no sleeves and open at the sides that is worn over the armour and decorated to show the wearer's faction
Tenant-in-chief A lord who has been given land by a king
Tracery Ornamental stonework in a window
Transepts Located to the north and south of the choir, providing extra chapels and useful for holding the central tower up
Transom Horizontal division of a window
Trebuchet Siege engine used to throw large objects
Triforium The portion of the internal wall of a cathedral above the arcade and below the clerestory that fronts the area above aisles
Tympanum Space between the lintel of a doorway and an arch above it
Turret A small tower
U
Undercroft The crypt below the church
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