You could probably argue that the mind of the architect has never dreamed up a style of building quite as romantic as the Gothic fortress. There is something about its points and precision – sharp turrets pointing towards the heavens, a room at the top perfect for a trapped princess or a fairytale character in some curious peril – that sings across the centuries. What, after all, is the Cinderella Castle – the fibreglass fantasy which adorns Disney theme parks across the planet – but a modern evocation of this grand design?