Courmelles, Saint-Georges
COURMELL

Building Data for Courmelles, Saint-Georges

  •  
  • Type: Abbey
  • Affiliation: Benedictine
  •  
  • Region: Picardie
  • Department: Aisne
  • Coords: 49.344, 3.3125
  •  
  • Surveyed: 1977, 1980-83, 2003, 2015

Map

Virtual Tour

Timeline and building units for Courmelles, Saint-Georges 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 88
1150		 50
1160		 gray 48
1190		 gray 15
1240		 gray
1050 1150s 1160s 1190s 1240s 1250

Phases for Courmelles, Saint-Georges 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 - church


There was an earlier church that was still in place while building the apse, and was in the way of laying the bases and shafts for the crossing.
1150

Phase 2 - 1150 [1157] - east walls - 88 Units


All external walls for the apse and transepts erected around the outside of the older apse, with the start for the all the vaults and a nib for intended nave arcade; same plan as Berzy-le-Sec.
1160

Phase 3 - 1160 [1160] - crossing - 35 Units


Demolition of the older structure and erection of the crossing and its vaults, and those to the apses
1160

Phase 4 - 1160 - tower II - 15 Units


Tower
1190

Phase 5 - 1190 - nave - 48 Units


Nave with narrower aisles than previewed in the west walls of the transepts, west wall and staircase entry to the vaults.
1240

Phase 6 - 1240 - w crossing (c) - 15 Units


Rebuilding work in the western crossing with new capitals; as spandrel over west crossing arch is bonded into nave clerestory and this is bonded into western wall and rose only the capitals and associated stonework was altered.
Later

Phase 7 - Later - transept (v)


Transept vaults and diagonal external buttresses.