ELY CATHEDRAL - THE ROMANCE OF THE ROMANESQUE
Castles Uncovered
We keep a keen eye on our architectural heritage at WOOLF and our greatest fascination are castles in Britain, Europe and North Africa. Castles hold a peculiar romantic, political and military significance in the history of architecture. There are no modern equivalents. Explore WOOLF Historic projects.
Castles have played an important military, economic and social role in Great Britain and Ireland since their introduction following the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Although a small number of castles had been built in England in the 1050s, the Normans began to build motte and bailey and ring-work castles in large numbers to control their newly occupied territories in England and the Welsh Marches.
Ely Cathedral Lantern" by diliff is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Diaper, Lady Chapel, Ely Cathedral" by profzucker is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
During the 12th century the Normans began to build more castles in stone – with characteristic square keep – that played both military and political roles. Royal castles were used to control key towns and the economically important forests, while baronial castles were used by the Norman lords to control their widespread estates. David I invited Anglo-Norman lords into Scotland in the early 12th century to help him colonise and control areas of his kingdom such as Galloway; the new lords brought castle technologies with them and wooden castles began to be established over the south of the kingdom. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 1170s, under Henry II, castles were established there too.
Ely Cathedral Arches by avail is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
The southwest transept, Ely Cathedral, England" by Spencer Means is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Romanesque Architecture
The Romanesque era is a woefully under recorded era in British history in terms of architecture and sculpture. Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque style, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 11th century, this later date being the most commonly held. In the 12th century it developed into the Gothic style, marked by pointed arches. Explore WOOLF Historic projects.
Examples of Romanesque architecture can be found across the continent, making it the first Pan-European architectural style since Imperial Roman architecture. The Romanesque style in England is traditionally referred to as Norman architecture.
Chartres Patterns" by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
"Sé do Porto,Portugal." by Terry Kearney is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Combining features of ancient Roman and Byzantine buildings and other local traditions, Romanesque architecture is known by its massive quality, thick walls, round arches, sturdy pillars, barrel vaults, large towers and decorative arcading. Each building has clearly defined forms, frequently of very regular, symmetrical plan.
The overall appearance is one of simplicity when compared with the Gothic buildings that were to follow. The style can be identified right across Europe, despite regional characteristics and different materials.
"Romanesque arch, Siena" by bongo vongo is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
National Cathedral arch" by Thomas Cizauskas is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Many castles were built during this period, but they are greatly outnumbered by churches. The most significant are the great abbey churches, many of which are still standing, more or less complete and frequently in use. The enormous quantity of churches built in the Romanesque period was succeeded by the still busier period of Gothic architecture, which partly or entirely rebuilt most Romanesque churches in prosperous areas like England and Portugal. The largest groups of Romanesque survivors are in areas that were less prosperous in subsequent periods, including parts of southern France, rural Spain and rural Italy. Survivals of unfortified Romanesque secular houses and palaces, and the domestic quarters of monasteries are far rarer, but these used and adapted the features found in church buildings, on a domestic scale. Explore WOOLF Historic projects.
Ely Castle
We think that one the most lavish and elaborate survivals of twelfth-century sculpture in England, the Romanesque Prior's Door leads from the cloister into the south aisle of the nave. Its arches and columns are richly decorated, key points of the door design have heads projecting in high relief, and the tympanum has an image of Christ in a mandorla supported by charming angels whose wings and arms are designed to fill even the upper spaces of the tympanum. The rest of the door is carved with tendrils of vine and foliage filled with blossoms, and various hidden animals. Its arches and columns are richly decorated, key points of the door design have heads projecting in Ely Castle was in the cathedral city of Ely in Cambridgeshire. Its probable site is a mound near the cathedral which is now called Cherry Hill.
Ely Cathedral" by stevecadman is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Romanesque church doorway carvings" by adactio is licensed under CC BY 2.0
There are no visible remains other than the mound. However, there was a considerable amount of evidence uncovered in 2002, after excavations on the site took place.
The dig revealed large quantities of clay items, including jugs, and bowls that would have been used in everyday Norman life. Farming and hunting tools were also found, including those made of bronze, which archaeologists suggest date from the transition from Viking to Norman settlement after 1066.
In addition, significant amounts of clay, which was often used to cover the surface of the Motte, were found in the excavations. The town council lacked funding to expand the search further, and the site was abandoned in early 2003.
Ely Castle, or Cherry Hill Castle as it is sometimes known, was originally a wooden motte-and-bailey castle. It was re-fortified during the Anarchy in the 12th Century before being finally destroyed in the mid-13th Century. In medieval times the land around Ely was quite different to the pleasant rolling farmland we see today. It was boggy marshland with very few ways in for an attacking army. It was an area that was naturally easy to defend. The town of Ely formed around the monastery that had been established in the 7th Century. By the time of the Doomsday Survey it was notable for being the second richest in England.
"Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire - View From the Tower" by JackPeasePhotography is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Ely Cathedral Presbytery" by diliff is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The first castle at Ely was built by William the Conqueror in 1070. Ely had become a refuge for English forces fighting the Norman invasion. The present Ely cathedral was begun in the 11th century and became a monastic cathedral in 1109, until the monastery was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539. The cathedral was a major pilgrimage site, housing a famous shrine (destroyed in 1539) of its founding 7th-century Anglo-Saxon saint: Etheldreda. The cathedral was expanded and adapted over hundreds of years but the nave is an important example of Romanesque architecture and sculpture.
Ely Cathedral
The present building dates back to 1083, and it was granted cathedral status in 1109. Architecturally it is outstanding both for its scale and stylistic details. Having been built in a monumental Romanesque style, the galilee porch, lady chapel and choir were rebuilt in an exuberant Decorated Gothic.
Its most notable feature is the central octagonal tower, with lantern above, which provides a unique internal space and, along with the West Tower, dominates the surrounding landscape. Watch a film on Ely Cathedral.
