Talks: 12th November 1996: Yoshio Kusaba

Key dates and information

Yoshio Kusaba, Chico State University, CA, 12th November 1996

This file contains additional dates for the construction of the three cathedrals discussed by Professor Kusaba in his talk: Winchester, Canterbury, and Salisbury.

Winchester

• 1079 - work begun by Bishop Walkelin to replace the Anglo-Saxon Old Minster.
• 1093, April 8 - construction advanced enough for the monks of St. Swithun's Priory to move from the Anglo-Saxon Minster to their new monastery.
• The parts completed by April 8, 1093 include: crypt, choir (5 straight bays, ambulatory and aisles), crossing, transept arms (four bays with aisles carried all the way round) and the eastern bays of the nave (at least 2 to 3 bays; how far west the nave was constructed is a matter of conjecture).
• Also completed by 1093 are monastic buildings, including at least the Chapter House and the east walk of the cloister.
• 1107 - collapse of the crossing tower and the subsequent repairs.
• ca. 1110 - introduction of rib vaults in the transept aisles adjacent to the crossing.
• ca. 1120 - completion of the construction, including the total of 12 bays to the nave, its aisles, massive westwork (with walls at least 10' 4" thick), the cloister, and monastic buildings (the exact extent unknown).

Canterbury

• 1067 - Saxon Cathedral destroyed by fire.
• 1070 - rebuilding undertaken by Archbishop Lanfranc (commonly referred to as Lanfranc's church).
• 1096 to ca. 1100 - choir extension by Archbishop Anselm (known as Anselm's choir and also referred to by the prior's names Ernulf, 1096-1107, and Conrad, 1108-1126.
• 1130 - dedication of the choir by Archbishop William of Corbeil.
• 1174 - Anselm's choir destroyed by fire (as described by Gervase of Canterbury).
• 1174-1179 - William of Sens's work in the choir and presbytery (i.e., the crossing and the first sexpartite bay east of it).
• 1179 - fall of William of Sens from scaffolding, and subsequent return to France.
• 1179-1184 - William the Englishman's work on the Trinity Chapel, its crypt and the Corona.

Salisbury

Salisbury Cathedral (of the Blessed Virgin Mary) (1220-ca. 1260) (in part based on information supplied by Tim Tatton-Brown, archaeological consultant to Salisbury Cathedral)

• 1079-move to Old Sarum from Sherborne (Dorset).
• 1218, March 29 - Pope Honorius III issued authorization of the formal removal of the cathedral from Old Sarum to Salisbury (as recorded by William de Wanda, precenter and dean of Salisbury in 1220, in his Historia Translationis veteris ecclesiae Beatae Mariae Sarum ad Novam).
• 1219, April 8 (Monday after Easter) - temporary wooden chapel of St. Thomas built, and cemetery dedicated on Trinity Sunday (June 2, or 8th Sunday after Easter, movable depending on the date of Easter Sunday). Cathedral plan with cloister and separate bell-tower) laid out on the ground, under Richard Poore (bishop 1217-1227), Elias de Dereham, `custos' of the fabric and Robert of Ely, master mason?
• 1219, All Saints' Day (November 1) - actual move of the cathedral clergy to Salisbury.
• 1220, April 28 - five main foundation stones laid, and many other stones added (for plinth and lowest ashlar courses?). Helias de Dereham, a canon of Salisbury was rector of the new fabric of the church for 25 years (1220-1245). Robert was the mason for 25 years, and Alice Bruer provided all the marble for his church for 12 years from Downshay Manor, Isle of Purbeck.
• 1225, September 28 - three altars consecrated by bishop Richard Poore to the Holy Trinity and All Saints (the Lady Mass was to be said here daily), St. Peter and the Apostles (north), and St. Stephen and the martyrs (south).
• 1248 - new Bishop, William of York (1246-56) allows cloister to be enlarged by one bay on south.
• 1251, June 24 - 20 oaks from four forests (5 each), Melksham, Chippenham, Doiley and Finkley given for making 20 rafters (copulas).
• 1252, April 29 - 10 oaks from Melksham and 10 oaks from Chippenham were given to Bishop William for building at his cathedral.
• 1253, May 5 - 10 good oaks and 10 oaks each from Melksham and Chippenham forests. (These oaks from 1251 to 1253 are perhaps for trusses for the nave roof.)
• 1258, September 30 - consecration of the cathedral.
• 1261, 25 January and July 13 - 18 more oaks, fit for timber for the works given to Master Ralph of York, from Clarendon and the bishop of Winchester's wood at Downton. For chapter house and cloister roofs?
• 1266, March 25 - cathedral finally said to be completed, after an expenditure of 42,000 marks (i.e., £28,000).