he Early English Gothic period lasted from the late 12th century until midway through the 13th century, according to most modern scholars. By 1175 the Gothic style had been firmly established in England with the completion of the Choir at Canterbury Cathedral by William of Sens. The most significant and characteristic development of the Early English period was the pointed arch known as the lancet. Compared with the rounded Romanesque style, the pointed arch of the Early English Gothic is aesthetically more elegant and is more efficient at distributing the weight of stonework, making it possible to span higher and wider gaps using narrower columns. It also allows for much greater variation in proportions.