Provins, Saint-Ayoul
PROVI-A

Building Data for Provins, Saint-Ayoul

  •  
  • Type: Abbey
  • Affiliation: Benedictine
  •  
  • Region: Ile-de-France
  • Department: Seine-et-Marne
  • Coords: 48.560, 3.3032
  •  
  • Surveyed: 1972-74, 1977, 1980-83, 2012, 2015

Map

Virtual Tour

Timeline and building units for Provins, Saint-Ayoul 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 45
1120		 45
1130		 gray 140
1190		 15
1200		 133
1210		 161
1220		 gray
1050 1120s 1130s 1190s 1200s 1210s 1220s 1250

Phases for Provins, Saint-Ayoul 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 - crossing


Crossing and tower, south chapel 1-3 that was reconstructed later.
1120

Phase 2 - 1120 [1129] - w portals 1 - 45 Units


West portals phase 1 to a setback at course 9.
1130

Phase 3 - 1130 [1130] - w portals 2 - 45 Units


West portals phase 2 to a setback at course 17 just below lintels.
1190

Phase 4 - 1190 - nave (a) 1 - 140 Units


There were at least four campaigns in setting out the nave piers, and with five different heights to the aisle capitals, while the north arcade has a varied history with bases and capitals at different heights, pilier cantonnee from different periods, and round arches; the north side of pier 6 has 1190 capitals, piers 2 and 5 are replacements, but because the arcade arches are round with the same profiles the changes to intermediate piers happened after the arcade was finished; there used to be aisles to the north, just inside the second row of replacement drums in line with the En1 shaft; there is also a change of levels in the floor, and a row of stones over where the wall may have been; at one time the capitals over aisle piers were 4 or 5 courses lower, and were later raised to their present height.
Load More...
1200

Phase 5 - 1200 - nave (a) 2 - 15 Units


Pillier cantonnee N4 has square imposts.
1210

Phase 6 - 1210 - west (t) - 133 Units


South nave piers and against west wall; in WN7 capital height reduced to suit heights in the rest of the north arcade, while the work was taken to capitals with pointed arcade arches; the capitals of pilier cantonnee WN3 have chamfered imposts as on the south.
1220

Phase 7 - 1220 - west (c) - 75 Units


Nave south aisle triplet shafts added onto earlier piers to same import height, but different profiles. In S6-7 the wall capitals were placed lower, with an inclined stringcourse; arches added to inside of arcade arches to support triforium passage over the aisle vaults.
1220

Phase 8 - 1220 - east (c) - 86 Units


Triforium and clerestory capitals at the same level, with round arches to triforium completed over 4 or 5 campaigns to the same elevation; there used to be a passage on the north as on south and with it the upper section of west front.
Later

Phase 9 - Later


High vaults