Scissor bows

The crossing arches (scissor arches) of Wells Cathedral

Scissor arches, or English "scissor arches", designate an architectural element of the English Gothic . These are opposing arches that were first used around 1320 in the east crossing of Salisbury Cathedral . The best known are probably the scissor arches of Wells Cathedral , also in England, which were built around 1338 as buttress arches of the crossing .