The Gothic, or Pointed, style of architecture reached its final stage
(the Perpendicular) in the early part of this period. The first
examples of it have already been mentioned at the close of the
preceding period (S324). After the close of Henry VII's reign no
attempts were made to build any grand church edifices until St. Paul's
Cathedral was rebuilt by Wren, in the seventeenth century, in the
Italian, or classical, style.
In the latter part of the Tudor period many stately country houses[1]
and grand city mansions were built, ornamented with carved woodwork
and bay windows. Castles were no longer constructed, and, as the
country was at peace, many of those which had been built were
abandoned, though a few castellated mansions like Thornbury,
Gloucestershire, were built in Henry VIII's time. The streets of
London still continued to be very narrow, and the houses, with their
projecting stories, were so near together at the top that neighbors
living on opposite sides of the street might almost shake hands from
the upper windows.
[1] Such as Hatfield House, Knowle Hall, Hardwick Hall, and part of
Haddon Hall; and, in London, Crosby Hall and other noble mansions.