 | Anglo-Saxon architecture: Encyclopedia - Anglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066.
There are few remains of Anglo-Saxon architecture, with no secular work remaining above ground. At least fifty churches are of Anglo-Saxon origin, with many more claiming to be, although in some cases the Anglo-Saxon part is small and much-altered.
Distinctive features of Anglo-Saxon architecture include rough brickwork, extremely thick walls and mostly arch windows, with a few square- or triangular-headed windows. Particularly in earlier examples, reused Roman work is common. The vast majority of buildings were wooden, but only a single example survives.
Anglo-Saxon architecture - Seventh century
The earliest surviving Anglo-Saxon architecture dates from the 7th century. Church designs at the time differed between the north, part of the Celtic Church, and the south, controlled by the Roman Catholic Church.
- St Peter and St Paul Church, Canterbury, Kent (c. 600)
- St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex (654)
- Ripon Cathedral crypt (circa 670)
- All Saints' Church, Brixworth, Northamptonshire (c. 675)
- Jarrow church, Northumberland (c. 675)
- St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth (c. 675)
- Escomb church, County Durham (c. 680)
- All Saints' Church, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire
- St Laurence's Church, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Anglo-Saxon architecture - Eighth ninth and tenth centuries
Very little survives from the 8th and 9th centuries, due to the regular Viking raids.
- St Wystan's church, Repton, Derbyshire (crypt c. 750, chancel walls ninth century)
- St Oswald's Priory Church, Gloucester, Gloucestershire (c. 890)
- St Mary's Priory Church, Deerhurst, Gloucestershire (c. 930)
- St Mary & St Aethelflaed's Abbey Church, Romsey, Hampshire (c. 1000)
Anglo-Saxon architecture - Eleventh century
The 11th century saw the first appearance of the Romanesque style appear in Britain. Many cathedrals were constructed, including Westminster Abbey, although all these were demolished and rebuilt by the Normans after 1066.
- Greensted Church, Essex (1013, the oldest wooden church in the world)
- Stow Church, Lincolnshire (c. 1040 with a small part surviving from 975)
- St Mary's Church, Sompting, West Sussex (c. 1050, with a unique Rhenish helm spire)
- Odda's Chapel, Deerhurst, Gloucestershire (1056)
Anglo-Saxon architecture - External link
- Anglo-Saxon architecture on Britain Express
Categories: Anglo-Saxon England | Architectural history | British architecture
Other related archives1000, 1013, 1040, 1050, 1056, 1066, 11th century, 5th century, 600, 654, 670, 675, 680, 7th century, 890, 8th, 930, 975, 9th centuries, Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Saxon England, Architectural history, British architecture, Canterbury, Celtic Church, County Durham, Deerhurst, Derbyshire, England, Essex, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, Greensted Church, Hampshire, Jarrow, Kent, Lincolnshire, Monkwearmouth, Norman Conquest, Normans, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Repton, Ripon Cathedral, Roman Catholic Church, Roman work, Romanesque style, Romsey, St Peter's Church, St Peter-on-the-Wall, Viking, Wales, West Sussex, Westminster Abbey, Wiltshire, cathedrals, chancel, history of architecture, spire
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Anglo-Saxon architecture", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
