Cerseuil, Saint-Pierre
CERSEUIL

Building Data for Cerseuil, Saint-Pierre

  •  
  • Type: Abbey
  • Affiliation: Premontre
  •  
  • Region: Picardie
  • Department: Aisne
  • Coords: 49.325, 3.5179
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  • Surveyed: 1977, 1980-83, 2003, 2014

Map

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Virtual Tour

Timeline and building units for Cerseuil, Saint-Pierre 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 40
1120		 gray 9
1190		 9
1200		 20
1210		 gray 25
1230		 12
1240		 gray
1050 1120s 1190s 1200s 1210s 1230s 1240s 1250

Phases for Cerseuil, Saint-Pierre 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.
Earlier

Phase 1 - Earlier


There may have been a small church with a round east end, as the new building appears to have been constructed around an existing structure;
1120

Phase 2 - 1120 [1120] - w nave (a) - 20 Units


The nave was constructed, starting with the west front, probably to the west of an earlier entrance; the new nave was built around the earlier nave, and was intended to have aisles; these were never completed.
1120

Phase 3 - 1120 [1125] - nave (c) - 15 Units


The upper part of the nave with windows. Junctions on the east and west show the crossing and the west wall were out of step with the nave clerestory, though maybe by only a course or two.
1120

Phase 4 - 1120 [1125] - west crossing - 5 Units


The west crossing piers were inserted between the new nave and the older east end, with capitals and archway and competing the west window; once the nave was roofed over, the earlier nave was likely dismantled.
1190

Phase 5 - 1190 - south - 9 Units


The south transept was added and vaulted; its design indicates that it did not meet up with the earlier building; its vault was also much lower than the later crossing, and the connection between the two is unorthodox;
1200

Phase 6 - 1200 - north - 6 Units


The north transept was begun to the level of the sills; the opening from the crossing was created. This work may have begun with the shafts against the crossing, with the rest to follow. Evidence in the crossing piers suggests that the original apse was still in place.
1210

Phase 7 - 1210 [1210] - east - 20 Units

Subphase Link
The east end was constructed and both it and the north were vaulted, connecting the north and south transepts; once complete, the original apse was removed so that the crossing could be constructed along with the tower;
1230

Phase 8 - 1230 - crossing (c) - 25 Units

Subphase Link
The crossing piers were completed on all four corners, and the north transept was raised to its full height; both the north transept and crossing were vaulted; after this the room above the crossing was completed;
1240

Phase 9 - 1240 - tower II - 12 Units


The upper levels of the tower were constructed;