Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T08:34:57.783Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An observation on the fan vault of Henry VII Chapel, Westminster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Jacques Heyman
Jacques Heyman
Affiliation:
3 Banham's CloseCambridge CB4 1HXUnited Kingdom
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A close inspection was made of the vault of Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey, when it was scaffolded for repair and maintenance in 1994–95. Defects were seen which appear to be peculiar to fan vaults, and this paper attempts to explain these defects. The discussion involves an understanding of the behaviour of masonry, from the simplest arch form to barrel vaults, rib vaults and the complex fan structure, with an examination of the ‘pathology’ of these forms.

Type
Structure
Information
arq: Architectural Research Quarterly , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , December 2000 , pp. 357 - 372
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abraham, P. (1934). Viollet-le-Duc et le rationalisme médiéval, Paris.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colvin, H. M. (1975). The History of the King's Works, vol. 3, 1485–1660 (Part I), London (HMSO).Google Scholar
Fitchen, .J. (1961). The Construction of Gothic Cathedrals, Oxford.Google Scholar
Gregory, D. (1697). ‘Catenaria’, Phil. Trans. no.231, 637.Google Scholar
Heyman, J. (1971). Plastic Design of Frames, vol. 2, Applications, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heyman, J. (1995). The Stone Skeleton, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hooke, R. (1676). A Description of Helioscopes, and some other Instruments, LondonGoogle Scholar
see Gunther, R. T. (1931). Early Science in Oxford, 8, 119–52.Google Scholar
Howard, F. E. (1911). ‘Fan-vaults’, Archaeological Journal, 68, 1–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, T. G. (1915). Gothic Architecture in France, England, and Italy, 2 vols, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Leedy, W. C. (1980). Fan Vaulting: A Study of form, Technology and Meaning, London (Scolar Press).Google Scholar
Leedy, W. C. (1975). ‘The design of the vaulting of Henry VII's chapel, Westminster: a reappraisal’, Architectural History, 18, 5–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mackenzie, F. (1840). Observations on the Construction of the Roof of King's College Chapel, Cambridge, London.Google Scholar
Parsons, W. B. (1939). Engineers and Engineering in the Renaissance, New York. (Reprinted 1968, M.I.T. Press.)Google Scholar
Poleni, G. (1748). Memorie istoriche della gran cupola del Tempio Vaticano, Padova.Google Scholar
Sabouret, V. (1928). ‘Les voütes d'arÍtes nervurées’, Le génie civil, 3 March.Google Scholar
Villard de, Honnecourt (c.1235). Lodge Book see (1) Willis R. (1859) (translated and edited by), Vilars de Honecourt, Facsimile of the sketch-book of, with commentaries by J. B. A. Lassus and J. Quicherat. T. H. and J. Parker (2) Hahnloser H. R. (1935). Villard de Honnecourt, Vienna (2nd edition 1972, Graz).Google Scholar
Viollet-le-Duc, E. E. (1858–1868). Dictionnaire Raisonné de l'Architecture FranÁaise du XIe au XVIe Siècle, 10 vols, Paris.Google Scholar
Willis, R. (1861). ‘On the Construction of the Vaults of the Middle Ages’, Trans. RIBA, part II, 1–69.Google Scholar
Willis, R. and Clark, J. W. (1886). The Architectural History of the University of Cambridge, 4 vols, Cambridge.Google Scholar