Vaulting with Added Ribs
The simple forms of ribbed vaulting just discussed were the ones most frequently in use during the best Gothic period. But among certain builders, there was a tendency even in the thirteenth century to introduce additional ribs into the vaults, a custom which later gave rise to a vast number of complicated vaulting systems especially in England, Spain and Germany. Even to enumerate these would be almost impossible and a description of each is out of the question, hence only those combinations which were frequently employed, or which gave rise to new types, will be discussed.