IN NORMAN TIMES: THE CHURCHES
1. When we speak of Norman times we must bear in mind that they lasted
for over 130 years--say from 1066 to 1200. That period covers a good
many years, and consequently a good many changes took place. Now this
period is marked by a particular style of architecture known as Norman
or Twelfth Century.
2. With the coming of William the Conqueror to England began a great
period of building in this country. There was what we may almost call
a "great rage" for =founding= or establishing =religious houses= and
=churches=, and for =building castles=. All the religious houses
have gone, and nearly all the castles, but in their ruins we can see
specimens of Norman work. In a large number of old churches we can see
very good examples of this style. In Hampshire especially there is
scarcely one old church, even in the most out-of-the-way village, which
has not some Norman work to show.
3. You will expect to find that the style of building altered
somewhat during that long time. In the beginning it was very plain,
but gradually it became more ornamental. At first there were plain,
round-headed arches and heavy stone pillars, with boldly cut caps
to them. But in the time of King Henry II, and later, we find the
mouldings of the arches, and the caps of the pillars, ornamented more
and more with bold carvings. There is a vast difference between the
plain, almost ugly Norman work, in St. Alban's Cathedral, which was
begun about the year 1077, and the Norman work which can be seen in
Durham Cathedral, or the west door of Rochester Cathedral. The St.
Alban's builders had no stone at hand to speak of, but any amount of
Roman tiles from the ruins of Verulam. They could not build anything
very ornamental, but they could and did build something vast and
imposing. In most of the cathedrals there are very fine specimens of
later Norman work.
[Illustration: Cushion Capital]
[Illustration: Capital--Chapel in Tower of London]
[Illustration: Transition Norman Capital, hall of Oakham Castle]
[Illustration: Transition Norman Capital, Canterbury Cathedral]
[Illustration: Photo. S. B. Bolas & Co.
GALILEE CHAPEL, DURHAM CATHEDRAL (page 70)]
4. We see, towards the end of the period, from the way in which the
Norman arches were used to intersect each other, and form two pointed
arches within a round-headed arch, that a change in style was showing
itself. Towards the end of Norman times, in the reigns of Richard I
and John, we reach what architects call the =Transition Period=, when
the Norman style was gradually changing into the =Early English=,
or Pointed Style. The choir of Canterbury Cathedral is one of the
best-known specimens of this Transition Period. Just as changes took
place in the style of the buildings, so, too, the life of the nation
changed. All the changes were not improvements; some, indeed, were
changes for the worse.
[Illustration: Photo. Valentine
CHOIR OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL (page 70)]
=Summary.=--The Norman period lasted for 130 years, from 1066 to
about the year 1200. The round-headed style of building, called
Norman, lasted through this period. It became more ornamented
as the years went on. In the latter part of the time the style
began to change. St. Alban's Cathedral and Durham Cathedral have
examples of plain and highly ornamental Norman work. The choir of
Canterbury Cathedral gives an example of Transition work at the
end of Norman days.