What we know today as Gothic architecture, is known to have taken root in northern France, somewhere around 1140 CE. Gothic architecture developed as a style which, though similar to its predecessor, the Romanesque architecture in many respects, still had its own distinctive features. While the Romanesque focused mainly on robust structures, rooted mainly to the ground, the Gothic structures seemed to break all the earthly bondages, and soar high towards the sky. The Gothic edifices were unique, in that they were not only high-rising structures bearing pointed arches and ribbed ceilings, but they also had a set of their own distinguishing features, such as highly embellished, stained glass windows that added to the decorative ambiance of the structures, and of course, the external flying buttresses, which were added to strengthen the buildings. Gradually, with the development of Gothic architectural forms, the design of the flying buttress also underwent a considerable change. In some of the later Gothic buildings, we find flyers, often decorated with crockets (stylized carvings in the form of curled leaves, buds, and flowers). Moreover, in many instances, the buttresses also bore deep-set niches having figural sculptures. During the Renaissance era, thick wall architecture, like the one in the Romanesque style became popular again. Owing to this, the flying buttress seemed to lose its prominence, but only for a short while. In the 20th century, a Canadian architect, William P. Anderson, built a number of lighthouses across Canada. He used a series of flying buttresses to strengthen these structures, thus, proving once again that the member that was used in the 12th century architectural style is useful and feasible even for modern-day structures.