Tudor Arch: Design, History & Examples

Both the Tudor and Gothic arch have a distinctively pointed apex, so the difference between them is really in that relationship between the rise and span. In a Gothic arch, the rise is greater or equal to the span. Remember that the Tudor arch has a greater span than rise. What this basically means is that the Gothic arch is tall and narrow, while the Tudor arch is short and wide.

Gothic arches are, therefore, more likely to be found in tall and narrow spaces. That's the best way to tell them apart. It's worth noting that Tudor arches are often set within a square frame as well, which complements the shallow slope of the arch.

Both arches were part of English Gothic architecture, and each were rejuvenated as part of the Gothic Revival and Tudor Revival styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By this time, architecture had changed enough that arches weren't really needed for structural support, so a Tudor Revival arch is often purely decorative. It doesn't have any structural function, but it still looks fancy and awesome. After all, that's what being a Tudor is all about.

The arch is a product of the English Gothic style of medieval architecture, popular under the Tudor Dynasty (1485-1603). However, the Tudor arch is different than the Gothic arch, which was tall and narrow with a greater rise than span. The Tudor arch is steadfast, distinctive, and aesthetically intriguing.