English Mediaeval Architecture

400 Pages·1985·63.861 MB·English

by  Hugh Braun

ENGLISH
MEDIAEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
Hugh
Braun,
F.S.A., .R.I.B.A.
I
NEl
( )l all hei national treasures, the m< liaeval
cathedrals ofEngland are undoubtedlythe
most universally prized. The statelinessof
incoln, thegrandeurofDurham, the piled
I
gloriesofEl) - these evoke sensations of
wonderand awe in allwhogaze upon them.
Even by modern standards, theirscale is
enormous, theirheight overpowering. Yet
theywere all built more than six hundred
yearsago by (raftsmen,without theaidof
modern materials, powertools orscientific
alculation.
(
The methods, techniquesand styles of
mediaeval building-from cathedrals to
private houses-areclearlyand authorita-
tivelydescribed in this superblyillustrated
bookbyanauthorwith theexperteyeofan
architect.
# HistoricalArchitecture-theinternational
evolutionofbuildings,from prehistoric
wooden andmud-brickconstruction, to
the increasingly sophisticatedand
ambitiousconstructionsoftheEgyptians,
Greeksand Romans
# EnglandintheMiddleAges-the flowering
ofAnglo-Saxon England, thecomingof
the Normansand thereligiousorders,
andtheconstructionofcastles,
monasteriesand manorhouses
# MediaevalBuilders-the 'wrights', the
carpenters, thejoinersandthemasons:
theirroles, toolsand methods
# TheDevelopmentofDesign-lightingand
windows, the stylesofbuttresses,parapets
andarches
# Churches-thedevelopmentof
theChristian temple,and theinternal
arrangementofchancel, naveandapse
# GreaterChurches-abbeys, monasteries
andcathedralsand thecomplexmaster-
piecesofmediaeval architecture
# TheHall-the mostimportantsecular
buildingofthe MiddleAges
# PrivateHouses-theirevolution from
timberstructures to town houses, innsand
palaces
# MonasticHouses-the Benedictine
influence, the remoteCistercian
monasteries; practicallyallwere
destroyed byHenryVIII-'the greatest
architectural tragedyofthiscountry'
# Castles- the most durableofmediaeval
buildings and only renderedobsoletein
the sixteenth centurywith the intro-
duction o( cannon
Continuedon hack /f<i/>
With morethan 250 photographs,line
drawingsand plans
I -eril•lu'sotvreatrioinl:luSsttroaktieosna:yBCaatsttlleeA;bcboeuyr;tecsoyurStteespyheA.nA.
Evans
|S|',\ I 'IM W2 4 £16.00

ENGLISH MEDIAEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
A mason ofWestminster at work in his lodge
ENGLISH
MEDIAEVAL
ARCHITECTURE
Hugh Braun
F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
Bracken Books
LONDON
First published 1951
by Faberand Faber Limited
asAnIntroduction toEnglishMediaevalArchitecture
This edition published 1985 by Bracken Books
adivision ofBestsellerPublications Limited,
Brent House, 24 Friern Park, North Finchley,
London NT2 9DA
©
andcopyright Bracken Books 1985.
All rights reserved. This publication may not
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form orby any means
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
orotherwise, without the priorpermission
ofthe publishers.
ISBN 94649542 4
Printedand bound by R.J. Acford,
Chichester, England.
Preface to Second Edition
1951, when this book was first published, the professional archaeo-
In
logist had almost lost interest in the study of mediaeval buildings
and was becoming more and more involved in Romano-British and
prehistoric sites. The archaeological 'dig' had become a popular way of
spendingasummerholiday.
The excavation of mediaeval sites was being left for the most part to
the Minister of Works in whose care so many great memorials of the
Middle Ages are now vested. More recently, however, archaeological
departments of universities have begun to transfer their interest away
from the prehistoric towards the mediaeval. But although one's knowl-
edge of individual buildings such as Cirencester Abbey or Ludgershall
Castle has been expanded, few important fresh discoveries of general
significance have been added. Exceptions are Mr. Philip Rahtz's work
on the Saxon palace at Cheddar and Mr. Martin Biddle's exploration of
the badly-robbedfoundationsofthe OldMinsteratWinchester.
Literature has benefited by the publication of Margaret Wood's
monumental work on The English Mediaeval House (1965) and docu-
mentation has been elaborately dealt with in Salzmann's Building in
England (1952) and in their contribution to the History of the King's
Works by R. A. Brown, H. M. Colvin, and A. J. Taylor. Two valuable
papers on mediaeval priests' houses by W. A. Pantin appeared in
Volumes I and III of the Journal of the Society for Mediaeval Archaeo-
logy, founded in 1957.
With the aid of these and other published sources, and by the con-
tinuation of his own researches, the author has revised the text of his
book and added an appendix in extension of this. In doing so he has
been assisted by the commentsofMr. John Harvey.
All superior numbers in the text refer to the numbered notes in the
Appendix beginningon page 286.