Laon, Saint-Martin
LAON-M

Building Data for Laon, Saint-Martin

  •  
  • Type: Abbey
  • Affiliation: Premontre
  •  
  • Region: Picardie
  • Department: Aisne
  • Coords: 49.562, 3.6122
  •  
  • Surveyed: 1972-74, 1980-83, 2003, 2011, 2015

Map

Virtual Tour

Timeline and building units for Laon, Saint-Martin 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 10
1130		 240
1140		 300
1150		 833
1160		 466
1170		 235
1180		 608
1190		 48
1200		 gray
1050 1130s 1140s 1150s 1160s 1170s 1180s 1190s 1200s 1250

Phases for Laon, Saint-Martin 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.
1130

Phase 1 - 1130 [1136] - W.n9 door - 10 Units


W9 to north door
1140

Phase 2 - 1140 - nave (a-) - 90 Units


Crossing and eastern nave lower aisle
1140

Phase 3 - 1140 - choir walls (aw) - 150 Units


The apse arches to the side windows mark a junction as the capitals are frozen in design as in the Bishops chapel.
1150

Phase 4 - 1150 [1156] - choir, chapels (v) - 50 Units


Choir eastern chapels, capitals covered but the vault is clearly visible; and first two bays of nave; there would have been a campaign over the chapel vaults, probably just below the corbels for the cross arches; bases for crossing piers not designed for ribs, had to be fitted over one of the respond shafts later, showing an intention for a wooden roof
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1150

Phase 5 - 1150 [1158] - choir (c) - 150 Units


Choir upper widows, and clerestory vaults; the capitals probably included the vaults and the windows though this joint in the north steps down under the corbels to NE2 and lower on the north to where the corner shaft gets thinner and then to the tower base; on the south to 1c below SE1-e window sill (setback on edge of jamb) and down to below corbel SE2, but maintains height because capitals show includes the start of the vault over Ws1 and extension of wall into Ws2.
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1150

Phase 6 - 1150 - east nave - 50 Units


W2 aisle bay vaulted, showing this side ahead of n under the towers.
1150

Phase 7 - 1150 - towers I - 50 Units


Towers I
1160

Phase 8 - 1160 - crossing raised - 200 Units


Crossing caps extended upwards for taller interior and rib shafts added for crossing.
1160

Phase 9 - 1160 - transepts (g) - 633 Units


Transepts gallery, W1-2aisles caps and vault, rib shafts are en delit with rings and possibly an afterthought
1170

Phase 10 - 1170 - tower II - 233 Units


Tower II
1170

Phase 11 - 1170 - nave (a) 2-9 - 233 Units


Complete W1-3aisles to vaults, nave aisles 4-9
1180

Phase 12 - 1180 - nave (c) - 235 Units


Nave clerestory
1190

Phase 13 - 1190 - trans roses, flyers - 304 Units


Transept rose windows, flyers
1190

Phase 14 - 1190 - nave (v) - 304 Units


Nave vaults
1200

Phase 15 - 1200 - trans (v) - 48 Units


Trans vaults