Beauvais, Saint-Étienne
construction history in phases
BEAUV-E

Building Data for Beauvais, Saint-Étienne

  •  
  • Type: Parish
  • Affiliation:
  •  
  • Region: Picardie
  • Department: Oise
  • Coords: 49.428, 2.0806
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  • Surveyed: 1977, 1980-83, 2003, 2011, 2015

Map

Virtual Tour

Studies These draft studies have been written as if all carvings were by an individual whereas they can equally be analysed as template modes employed by a number of carvers. The more personal approach was necessitated by the complexity of the data. The drafts will be reconsidered after I have added the rib vault material to the database.
X

These draft studies have been written as if all carvings were by an individual whereas they can equally be analysed as template modes employed by a number of carvers. The more personal approach was necessitated by the complexity of the data. The drafts will be reconsidered after I have added the rib vault material to the database.

Timeline and building units for Beauvais, Saint-Étienne A 'building unit' is an arbitrary unit of work based on bulk billing techniques used by quantity surveyors. The unit is small enough to provide realistic figures in the small churches without becoming too huge in the large. Six units would pay for one small vaulted bay in an aisle about 3 metres square, or a small first-floor gallery. Such a bay would consist of an external wall with a small window, half of two columns about 3 meters tall, the floor and footings under them and the vault and roof overhead.
X

A 'building unit' is an arbitrary unit of work based on bulk billing techniques used by quantity surveyors. The unit is small enough to provide realistic figures in the small churches without becoming too huge in the large. Six units would pay for one small vaulted bay in an aisle about 3 metres square, or a small first-floor gallery. Such a bay would consist of an external wall with a small window, half of two columns about 3 meters tall, the floor and footings under them and the vault and roof overhead.

info

gray gray 121
1110		 40
1120		 160
1130		 gray 93
1160		 gray 12
1180		 25
1190		 35
1200		 35
1210		 gray 115
1230		 gray
1050 1110s 1120s 1130s 1160s 1180s 1190s 1200s 1210s 1230s 1250

Phases for Beauvais, Saint-Étienne The building sequence is based on my on-site analysis of the construction history, using the techniques developed on the cathedral of Chartres called toichology, and described in a number of publications. The analysis of some of the smaller churches are more approximate than I would like, and need further analysis. <p>I have used 'phase' rather than 'campaign' to to identify a contiguous zone with similar elements. A campaign would be defined by recognisable breaks and construction joints in the fabric: there may be a number of phases within a campaign. One benefit is that separate programs by subcontractors, such as carvers, may be isolated, which is particularly useful in complex sections, such as portals. <p>Every phase has been assigned to a decade, so there may be more than one phase in a decade. <p>While this is certainly imperfect, it will allow us to explore all the data, including costs, across time. This is an on-going process, so as the data continues to be analyzed, the chronology and costing analysis will be further refined, and the synopsis updated. <p>Clicking on any of the decade graphics will display all buildings that had work being done during that decade.
X

The building sequence is based on my on-site analysis of the construction history, using the techniques developed on the cathedral of Chartres called toichology, and described in a number of publications. The analysis of some of the smaller churches are more approximate than I would like, and need further analysis.

I have used 'phase' rather than 'campaign' to to identify a contiguous zone with similar elements. A campaign would be defined by recognisable breaks and construction joints in the fabric: there may be a number of phases within a campaign. One benefit is that separate programs by subcontractors, such as carvers, may be isolated, which is particularly useful in complex sections, such as portals.

Every phase has been assigned to a decade, so there may be more than one phase in a decade.

While this is certainly imperfect, it will allow us to explore all the data, including costs, across time. This is an on-going process, so as the data continues to be analyzed, the chronology and costing analysis will be further refined, and the synopsis updated.

Clicking on any of the decade graphics will display all buildings that had work being done during that decade.

Short version of history

Earlier

Phase 1 - Earlier


Choir, now replaced, the lower courses of east and north walls of transepts built with choir, with south ahead of north
1110

Phase 2 - 1110 [1110] - trans nave (b) - 65 Units


First nave bases together as first bays and west wall of transepts have keel shafts that start above the clerestory corbels, showing joint with earlier work in the choir; the detailing of corbels may be compared with Bury and Cambronne.
1110

Phase 3 - 1110 [1112] - nave walls - 20 Units


North nave aisle interior coursing shows that the first bay of the nave aisle was built with the bases of the north door in WN2-n aisles, though not with the capitals nor the other sculpture, and even if only the jambs had been in place, the doorway would have given access into the nave, if under a lean-to roof.
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1110

Phase 4 - 1110 [1110] - e nave (a) - 36 Units


Nave first bay arcade and capitals
1110

Phase 5 - 1110 [1118] - s transept (c)


South transept walls and capitals though many courses higher than the adjacent nave aisle the similarity and unadorned carving suggest may have been carved and built by the monks themsleves; from here on outside professionals were used
1120

Phase 6 - 1120 [1122] - n portal - 30 Units


North door to arches, which were just below aisle capitals and a 9-course joint to west of door down to lower courses of pier
1120

Phase 7 - 1120 [1123] - n nave 3-5(a) - 10 Units


North aisle capitals, start of vaults
1130

Phase 8 - 1130 [1133] - n transept (c) - 40 Units


North transept clerestory and into first bay of nave.
1130

Phase 9 - 1130 [1136] - nave 3-5 (a) - 80 Units


Nave aisle 3-5 with vaults 2-4 was followed by transept upper walls and vaults.
1130

Phase 10 - 1130 [1138] - n rose - 40 Units


North rose after transept clerestory string, though there is uncertainty as there has been considerable adjustment around the NE3 clerestory capital; on the other hand the underside of the rose seems level with nave clerestory and there is nothing in the stonework around the rose that would indicate that it had been inserted; I suggest it was built with the N2 vault that is supported over its encasing arch.
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1160

Phase 11 - 1160 - e nave (g,c) - 60 Units


Nave gallery and clerestory 2-5 though north a little ahead of south.
1160

Phase 12 - 1160 - n trans corbels - 33 Units


Transept corbels for rib vaults, bosses
1180

Phase 13 - 1180 [1180] - w nave (a) - 12 Units


Base nave south aisle bay 6 to west and w.s door up to left capital.
1190

Phase 14 - 1190 - s nave (a) - 25 Units


South nave 6-7 capitals and right side w.s door, with these aisle vaults.
1200

Phase 15 - 1200 - n nave (a) - 35 Units


North nave 6-7
1210

Phase 16 - 1210 - w nave (g,c) - 35 Units


West nave gallery and clerestory
1230

Phase 17 - 1230 - west portal - 35 Units


West central portal
1230

Phase 18 - 1230 - nave 1-4(v) - 80 Units


Nave high vaults 1-4