architecture medieval england medieval england date approximately group buildings constitute major aspect country artistic heritage significant material symbols christianity style united common function buildings serves central church administrative region diocese houses throne bishop greek cathedral serves regional centre focus regional pride affection sixteen buildings time reformation served secular monastic abbey churches secular new henry_viii following dissolution monasteries comprise monastic new foundation monastic churches survived ordinary parish churches years 19th 20th centuries medieval collegiate churches retained foundations choral worship characteristics building distinctly english marked architectural diversity individual building case medieval example large form relatively group architectural development easily traced building building points interest english way history medieval architecture demonstrated single building typically important parts constructed different centuries attempt later work match follow earlier plan reason comprehensive architectural chronology jump backwards forwards building building stylistic unity demonstrated background historical christianity carried england romans spread britain 5th century waned departure romans invasion pope gregory sent missionary rome canterbury church established run initially secular monks late saxon period present cathedral church canterbury seat archbishop_of_canterbury begun alfred great consolidated england politically unified entity earlier date european countries effects units government church state comparatively large england divided canterbury york medieval period bishops far fewer numbers france italy present england 6th century greatly extended norman invasion number remote areas destined architecture normandy replaced buildings generally larger general arrangement monastic buildings following great abbey style english form known norman architecture developed local characteristics norman conquest english richly endowed major centres norman power able acquire lands held english landowners furthermore development compulsory tax agricultural production resulted greatly increased incumbent clergy gathered donations pilgrims practice major building campaigns largely entirely funded accumulated wealth bishop chapter clergy availability finance largely determined speed construction major projects money readily available cathedral works proceed great speed winchester norman period entire cathedral unprecedented size built scratch years important aspect practice medieval christianity saints associated places particular saint relics interred tradition honoured possession relics popular saint source funds individual church faithful donations hope receive spiritual aid blessing healing presence physical remains holy person churches benefit particular abbey contained relics england christian martyr shrine founder durham built house body saints shrine magnificent shrine founder remains saints brought pilgrims churches renowned late archbishop_of_canterbury assassinated king henry_ii place pilgrimage canterbury 13th century second gothic architecture introduced france canterbury years developed england parallel influenced continental forms generally great local diversity originality 16th century reformation brought changes governance discussed existent buildings time buildings structurally damaged left incomplete dissolution monasteries large abbey churches particularly outside towns robbed burnt abandoned late 16th early 17th centuries saw repairs fabric new building stained glass new fittings period commonwealth wholesale wrought elements christian buildings england medieval stained glass smashed majority england medieval statues smashed leaving isolated examples intact medieval paintings disappeared famous style known burnt medieval communion vessels escaped dissolution melted items church plate remain restoration monarchy brought restoration churches sir new fittings new church plate elaborate memorials loss ancient paul cathedral great fire london meant entirely new cathedral present built site design baroque style sir general time reformation onwards apart necessary repairs buildings remain use internal successive generations wished commemorated little building work restoration situation lasted years fabric major suffering neglect severity problem demonstrated spectacular collapse suddenly date medieval architecture fashion growing awareness value england medieval heritage begun late 18th century leading work number architect consciousness accelerated 1840s academic groups pronounced suitable style design church gothic critic ardent advocate things medieval ideas architect designed mainly growing roman_catholic_church set recreate structural appearance medieval churches richly decorated colourful interiors entirely lost existing painted screen floors winchester canterbury intricate painted wooden ceiling victorian era saw restoration england remaining major abbey churches buildings left incomplete completed time greater existent church furniture fittings stained glass dates period architects included scope described article bristol canterbury exeter gloucester lincoln oxford rochester salisbury wells winchester worcester york reference ancient cathedral london generally known medieval buildings england roman catholic origin reformation buildings serve church_of_england result change official religion country occurred reign henry_viii fall distinct groups depending earlier structure firstly medieval period governed body secular clergy chapter presided dean exeter lincoln london salisbury wells york built specifically serve cathedral churches secondly group monastic bishop titular abbot canterbury durham rochester winchester worcester monasteries case churches built start purely monastic churches seat bishop course construction henry_viii previously monastic governed secular like group group churches established new reformation include great medieval abbey churches established new henry_viii bristol oxford large churches later monastic foundation manchester collegiate churches consequently combine functions cathedral parish church monastery cathedral dissolution monasteries years churches associated tradition baptist church chester old paul cathedral london destroyed collegiate church chester raised cathedral status cathedral removed current building probably begun time removal paul cathedral secular chapter destroyed great fire london replaced present cathedral baroque style designed cathedral diocese bath wells large church fit cathedral tradition common king college chapel cambridge george chapel windsor abbey church cathedral diocese destroyed dissolution large parish church michael bombed world war leaving intact regarded finest england new designed sir consecrated shell ancient church places christian rituals particular bishop especially performed structured furnished purposes cathedral contains seat local bishop literally large throne bishop throne located eastern end cathedral near high altar main focus worship altar served symbolic meal bread wine memory jesus supper disciples early medieval period altar contained associated relics saint relics held separate shrine near high altar church located tombs bishops typically arranged major shrine congregation symbolically comprised body clergy diocese living dead communion patron saint seats provided significant clergy cathedral dean foremost priest cathedral priests secular clergy previously members religious order day end normally number small private devotion small groups england strong tradition chapel face east reason english longer countries second salisbury arrangement permits greater number eastward facing main interior east reserved prayers clergy english maintain traditional form church service set day responses anthem sung choir traditionally composed thirty men boys girls choir lay choir tradition building contains stalls usually east central tower extending called choir choir divided nave cathedral wide medieval screen constructed stone instances carrying large pipe organ screen traditionally separated nave clergy expected worship parish churches cathedral nave cathedral medieval times primarily western end contains font ritual washing service baptism person infant symbolically accepted church font usually stone usually oldest fitting cathedral norman reformation nave building usually open congregation general public usually nave raised pulpit dean clergy scriptures late 20th century customary hourly prayer said benefit visitors presented nave pulpit large cathedral particularly building divided screen canterbury altar set eastern end nave services held large congregations place services held rests bible general characteristics english note dimensions given cited periods style names based plan section like majority medieval england shape single including salisbury lincoln wells canterbury distinctly english characteristic unlike french project strongly cathedral monastic secular foundation clearly defined subsidiary buildings particular chapter house exceptions eastern arms single lower central space bristol height medieval choir like german nave like french number large eastern lincoln salisbury winchester wells york length nave eastern arm great length comparison medieval countries seven english canterbury durham lincoln winchester york exceeding metres feet metres milan florence salisbury worcester gloucester wells exeter metres long feet metres comparison largest notre dame paris metres length cologne germany longest spain including largest floor area medieval church metres english rochester metres feet metres reasons medieval nave remaining bays bristol built victorian era leaving oxford bays respectively smallest england ancient metres feet metres feet height contrast tendency extreme length english low compared found countries highest medieval stone vault england westminster abbey feet york height despite appearance actually stone wood majority english ranging height metres feet contrast cologne internal heights metres towers important feature english uncommon normandy large elaborate square central tower crossing larger towers range metres wells metres lincoln central tower exist single feature salisbury gloucester worcester combination paired towers west york lincoln canterbury durham wells towers central tower usually tallest western towers capped lead tall gothic central remain salisbury having rebuilt 19th century collapse salisbury feet tallest britain tallest 14th century tallest masonry germany france tallest world remains medieval period entirely rebuilt greatly surpassed height lincoln lincoln early 14th century central tower tallest world metres fell storm uniquely england medieval masonry single western towers common english parish churches medieval cathedral retains centrally placed western tower case framed lower lateral towers fallen england central feature crossing somewhat resembles vaulted towers spain elaborate like structure known spans nave said inspired design dome paul cathedral upper parts supported hidden wooden hammer beams architectural device unique english considerable diversity consistent progression case influenced french gothic style cases regardless architectural form english façade treated decorative screen occupied statues great number toppled 17th century gallery kings remains high façade lincoln original weather worn figures remain exeter english cathedral fall basic types variations typical large paired towers western end canterbury durham wells york towers single large window york canterbury arrangement wells rose windows typical french usually doors unlike french rarely highly elaborate far emphasis placed central door entrance common use located porch nave large towers west generally turrets frame façade central nave nature large buttresses arrangement seen salisbury winchester rochester lincoln vast gothic screen similar like built cathedral incorporating norman hiding norman towers towers greatly heightened visible screen gothic screen added norman nave architectural precedent successor screen composed enormous open arches outer ones wider frames central door overwhelming composition somewhat later porch fact towers different height pop screen despite regarded supreme gothic revealing enormous diversity imagination english medieval architects eastern end eastern ends english greater diversity country built norman era high ends surrounded lower typical arrangement exists variation early english gothic east end canterbury case modified typical arrangement english gothic east end square cliff like design york lincoln projecting great diversity salisbury exeter ends canterbury projecting gothic addition norman east end canterbury known designed early english plan specifically crown skull time assassination east ends number durham gloucester modified ways fit particular model external appearance english surrounded green lawn plan usually clearly visible ground level case european closely surrounded town monastic buildings general impression english cathedral site projecting limbs horizontal projections visibly balanced strong massive towers number particularly like winchester towers particularly high impression tremendous length described resembling aircraft carriers impressive location highly significant landmarks landscape elements seen miles landscape open fields england visible sea grey rises surrounding city focus landscape painters small hill dominates rural countryside appearance times flood causes known ship known ladies exquisite tower worcester seen best lincoln vast façade towers tallest metres rises steep hill town constitutes iconic views england famous landscape painter north england durham makes spectacular view sits dramatically steep rocky peninsula half church god half castle scots internal appearance horizontal emphasis architecture english diverse inventive internal appearances differ great deal general english cathedral interiors tend impression length buildings actually long medieval architecture country horizontal direction given visual emphasis vertical particularly case wells unlike gothic buildings vertical shafts continue arcade vault strong emphasis gallery seemingly endless row narrow arches salisbury similar lack course capitals stone create strong visual cases winchester exeter horizontal effect created emphasis ridge rib elaborate complex complexity vault significant feature english range simple vault french manner increasingly elaborate forms including multi vault exeter similar vault inter connecting ribs elaborate variation winchester array unique bristol net like stellar gloucester york fan retro choir choir oxford elaborate long stone bosses suspended ceiling like elaborate forms unique england stellar occurring spain germany architectural styles saxon cases norman church entirely replaced saxon cathedral uniquely retains early saxon similar survives cathedral winchester excavated foundations 10th century cathedral built largest church northern europe marked grass cathedral close worcester new cathedral built norman style contains stonework columns saxon predecessor churches abbey church preserves masonry saxon cathedral west crossing nave crossing present late medieval abbey retains proportions previous saxon structure norman comprehensive reconstruction saxon cathedral churches england represented single largest ecclesiastical building programme medieval europe built biggest structures erected end medieval england exception salisbury wells evidence norman architecture durham remain greater norman buildings substantial parts building norman style gloucester winchester norman architecture distinguished round headed arches bold tiers arcades piers originally supported flat wooden roofs survive columns massive nave gloucester alternated piers durham cut geometric designs major decorative form particularly externally little sculpture survived notably west doors lincoln capitals canterbury west door rochester major parts century style known early english gothic defined simple like openings major example style seen eastern arms canterbury york period spectacular façade grand façade style windows subdivided dependent geometric important parts geometric style mid 13th early 14th centuries including lincoln choir chapter houses salisbury late 13th century style evolved include greater number narrow shapes adapted easily gothic openings combination circular shapes seen windows chapter house york west window exeter development included repetition flame like forms occur great number windows notably retro choir wells nave exeter cathedral type seen combination ribs extreme projection rich seen chapter house wells vault exeter stretches central tower metres longest medieval vault world stage expressed varied highly complex forms largest famous windows england date style include south rose window known bishop eye lincoln heart yorkshire window west end york famous light east window smaller architectural works include lady chapel widest vault england screen lincoln richly decorated rochester characteristic period gothic elaborate main ribs connected intermediate ribs spring wall major structural members bristol famous examples style seen york perpendicular gothic architects europe embracing flamboyant style english architecture moved away flowing decorated entirely different sober direction reconstruction highly form choir norman abbey cathedral gloucester perpendicular style relies network intersecting diversity richly carved forms effect gives overall impression great unity structure vast windows east end integrated arcades vault style proved continued variations canterbury winchester choir york 15th century england finest towers built extended perpendicular style including durham canterbury design church interiors went final stage lasted 16th century development fan gloucester early 15th century elaborate form stone roof norman choir oxford great chapel westminster abbey time italy embraced renaissance architectural diversity plan reproduced architectural histories purpose comparing english gothic architecture france italy countries features paper typical plan example closely resembles salisbury large central tower large porch north nave south opens chapter house internally strong visual similarities simple windows east end contrasting marble shafts histories buildings different took years complete foundations massive worcester took years norman chapel memory prince arthur history worcester representative history england medieval salisbury building earlier cathedral located hill near ancient fort early 13th century decided location cathedral plain new building designed gothic style known early english gothic nicholas begun starting eastern end rising westward complete façade central tower façade huge chapter house constructed completed later work employing geometric decorated openings windows arcades years major undertaking tower commenced architect details intricate elaborate earlier work entire cathedral complete subsequent inclusion note reinforcement arches tower piers developed bend building program spanning years year gap middle shortest diverse makes salisbury far building unlike salisbury important parts building dating century 11th 16th earliest building worcester multi norman capitals remaining original monastic church begun norman period circular chapter house octagonal outside walls reinforced 14th century nave built rebuilt different styles different architects period years bays unique decorative transition norman gothic dates east end rebuilt norman coinciding similar early english style greater salisbury finished nave built vault west north porch eastern range strengthened norman chapter house added buttresses changed vault masterpiece central tower originally supporting timber lead covered gone unknown architect added north south ranges eventually closed western range important addition prince arthur chapel right south choir aisle famous features note dates given begun completed fame lies unique 14th century choir choir different designs according point view spatial imagination superior england founded cathedral earliest parts completed north west tower canterbury biggest england seat archbishop_of_canterbury famous norman capitals east end william 13th century stained glass beautiful perpendicular nave fan vault tower tomb black prince site murder founded completed early 15th century england smallest demolition nave significant feature light flowing decorated east window containing medieval glass upper sections forming glorious termination choir regarded having finest england built includes set medieval choir stalls dating exquisite carving unusual feature large south early english composition retains substantial monastic buildings including large built early 15th century unusual features transitional retro choir pair early norman relief carvings 15th century rebuilt collapse seen english channel built exception upper parts towers eastern extension known chapel large west window entirely norman regarded masterpiece architecture interior overwhelmingly impressive western known unique norman building different style cathedral view cathedral south west particularly famous setting steep wrote stands today vast impressive massive strength present building dating significant norman nave choir important features unique western tower central describes wonders english cathedral architecture unique large free standing wide vault carved stone arcades exeter cathedral dating major example cathedral built mainly later decorated gothic style 14th century impressive vault longest medieval vault world runs norman towers placed uniquely exeter details including figures west dating norman nave massive masonry piers fine 15th century perpendicular tower main feature eastern end reconstructed 14th century early example largest medieval window world area tennis court earliest example fan built 19th century west norman nave large central tower important features unusual style north north porch 13th century greatly extended 16th early english considered beautiful thirteenth century dating interior presents appearance having undergone extensive restoration 19th century nave fine lady chapel tall windows giving french impression retained dating largest england claimed worth described human works retains portions massive arches norman west heavily restored sculpture central portal central tower tallest england visible miles rises spectacular fashion high hill huge flying buttresses chapter house england interior finest considered century angel choir gorgeous layers enriched carved angels rose windows dean eye north dating retaining original glass flowing decorated bishop eye south filled salvaged medieval fragments began parish church founded religious college structure designed different style earlier great churches listed anglican parish church double widest nave english cathedral feet richest set late medieval choir stalls country built norman form retaining greater original stone structure vaulted spectacular manner hundreds carved painted bosses finest norman tower england 15th century large bosses dating early 16th century small cathedral smaller destruction nave 16th century stone oldest england contributes tradition city dreaming unusual feature century vault norman chancel built remarkable altered norman famous early english west later porch perpendicular rebuilding eastern different styles wrote west magnificent entrance sacred building imagined long wooden roof nave original retained painting cathedral dating 7th century preserves original church built west composition early english gothic choir retained richly carved 14th century stalls famous lively figures carvings dating norman nave early english choir remarkable feature rare carved norman portal unfortunately suffered damage cathedral built cathedral unique including large norman tower built bricks salvaged roman town internally externally tower significant feature retains medieval wall paintings painted wooden roof late 13th century built additional structural reinforcement century ideal stylistic unity makes far typical fame lies proportions particularly exterior horizontal parts contrast vertical famous architectural compositions medieval period canon wrote peaceful english countryside eternal truths christian faith expressed stone built nave demolished rebuilt late 19th century fine early english tower choir retains elaborate 16th century fitted statues replacing destroyed 17th century built norman façade intact large window perpendicular style light norman nave particular fame century chapter house contains famous medieval floral carvings england described life built described poetic structure early english style greatly enriched deeply nature carved capitals style known stiff leaf eastern end retained original glass rare england exterior finest early english façade large central tower built unusual architectural history exterior apart modified windows gives impression massive norman building longest medieval church world west perpendicular huge window filled fragments medieval glass inside retained norman appearance spectacular perpendicular nave tall arcade arches strong vertical emphasis literally carved original norman interior wrote visitor enters west door winchester famous carved wooden fittings different periods worcester cathedral built represents medieval style norman perpendicular famous norman circular chapter house model derives series uniquely british chapter houses notable series unusual transitional gothic bays fine central tower large particularly fine proportions york built biggest gothic churches world simple plan square eastern western ends single dividing building equal parts architectural building remains norman indicate older building massive ornamental architecture durham early english famous south having complex arrangements rose window making entrance façade north windows called feet wide feet tall interior york west paired towers arrangement late decorated period large central window fine flowing decorated called heart yorkshire large eastern window perpendicular style rare feature important windows retained medieval glass respectively architects uncovered names english medieval architects tracing stylistic characteristics proved possible track careers building leading architects highly paid especially employed king works identified regular payments cathedral accounts architectural drawings survive english cathedral earlier engineer design proposed new water supply canterbury cathedral exists 12th century plan architectural details window designs executed scale drawings size large flat tracing floor examples survive york construction seasonal work site undertaken spring summer light good weather reliable autumn exposed surfaces covered frost damage architects worked winter tracing house york fireplace prepare designs season campaign translated designs sets oak cross given stone construction major churches invariably started eastern arm proceeded westwards towers erected abbey william canterbury choir william englishman canterbury choir salisbury michael canterbury canterbury nave architect old chapter house richard salisbury tower worcester nave tower west canterbury nave winchester nave canterbury tower wells architect oxford canterbury tower manchester
Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England