ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE in

THE BRITISH ISLES AND SCANDINAVIA

1st to 12th Century

INFLUENCES: GEOGRAPHICAL

In Northern Europe (remote from Rome) development depended largely on sea and river routes

Skill in navigation during the early middle ages led to the Nordic colonization of Iceland and Greenland and to cultural and commercial contact with Ireland and Britain

INFLUENCES: GEOGRAPHICAL

Natural resources in Scandinavia were:

Agrarian products from the South and East

Forestry and Fur-trading from the North

The export of copper iron ores led to strong mercantile connections.

INFLUENCES: GEOLOGICAL

The geological formation of Great Britain was varied.

English Hardwood forests = Roof-framing materials for important buildings and lesser buildings were timber-framed

**Indigenous building stones = Early development of masonry

INFLUENCES: CLIMATIC

Generally low northern light = large or multiple openings in walls

Severe northern climate = massive construction and steeply-pitched roofs

In Scandinavia, however, roof pitches were often reduced in order that it should assist in retaining heat within buildings.

INFLUENCES: HISTORICAL, SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:

1. BASILICAN PLAN

2. USE OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL TOWERS

3. DISTINCTIVE DECORATIVE AND CONSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES

4. CUSHION CAPITAL AND RIB VAULT

“Basilican”-A public building of ancient Rome having a central nave with an apse at one or both ends and two side aisles formed by rows of columns, which was used as a courtroom or assembly hall.-A Christian church building of a similar design, having a nave with a semicircular apse, two or four side aisles, a narthex, and a clerestory.

ROMAN PERIODANGLO-SAXON

PERIOD

ARCH’L CHARACTER: BASILICAN PLAN

It had a western apse and a triumphal arch derived directly from Roman precedent as a sanctuary screen.

It had a series of porticoes rather than aisles. The western tower was originally only two storeys with a tribune. There is a rectangular choir space which was separated from the nave by a screen, a reconstructed apse and an outer crypt.

“apse” -a projecting part of a building (as a church) that is usually semicircular in plan and vaulted.

“porticoes”-a colonnade or covered ambulatory often at the entrance of a building.

“crypt”-an underground vault or chamber, especially one beneath a church that is used as a burial place.

SILCHESTER: BRITAIN CHURCH PLAN

ROMAN BASILICAN PLAN

APSE

TRIUMPHAL ARCHS

BRIXWORTH: NORTHANTS CHURCH PLAN

ANGLO-SAXON BASILICAN PLAN

PORTICO

ARCH’L CHARACTER: USE OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN TOWERS,DISTINCTIVE DECORATIVE AND CONSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES

LONG-AND-SHORT QUIONING

STRIPWORK (narrow pilasters forming decorative patterns)

TWIN OPENINGS (sometimes with triangular heads, supported on mid-wall shafts)

BOLD MOULDINGS

SIMPLE RECTANGULAR SECTION

BULBOUS, MORE COMPLEX FORM

MEGALITHIC CONSTRUCTION

DOUBLE-SPLAYED WINDOWS“pilaster” a shallow rectangular feature projecting from a wall, having a capital and base and usually imitating the form of a column.

EARL’S BARTON: TOWER

LONG-AND-SHORT QUIONING

STRIPWORK

TWIN OPENINGS

ARCH’L CHARACTER: CUSHION CAPITAL AND RIB VAULT

RIB VAULT