It is characterised by lancet (long, narrow and pointed) windows which were placed singly, in pairs, or threes,
fives, etc., (as in the "Five Sisters" window at York Minster).
Dooorways have elaborate convex and concave mouldings and larger doorways are sometimes divided by a pier, above
which (as in the case of pairs of lancets) a quatrefoil is placed (the start of plate-tracery).
Carvings include the "tooth" ornament and
"stiff-leaf foliage", succeeded by the
"ball flower".
The shafts of piers are often made of black Purbeck marble (as at Salisbury Cathedral). The capitals are plain,
ball-shaped or carved with "stiff-leaf foliage". Diaper patterns appear in the spandrels.
Vaulting was advanced using the pointed arch, beginning with a plain four-ribbed vault. Flying buttresses began to appear.
Towards the end of the Early English period, plate tracery became general. Especially noteworthy are the nave and triforium arcades.
