Strainer arch

[3][4] The typical construction of Romanesque and Gothic churches includes east-to-west arcades, where each arch is buttressed by its neighbours.

In a large church a similar problem occurs at the crossing, where the arcades of the nave and choir have to terminate.

A "spectacular" solution for the crossing buttressing issue at Wells Cathedral was found by William Joy (1338, 17 years after completion).

[5] A similar arrangement was added to both crossings of Salisbury Cathedral more than 100 years after the completion of most of the building, but shortly after the addition of a tower (1380).

[7] In Bristol Cathedral the strainer arches are used to carry the thrust from the central vault over the aisles, as in this hall church building the width of the aisles is half that of the nave, therefore the transverse forces cannot be balanced in an arcade-like fashion.