• AD 1066-1190 (+/- 25 years)
• Inspired by Roman architecture
• Massive and solid construction
• Semi-circular arches
• Church shaped like a cross
• Zig-zag mouldings
• Apsidal east end constructions
• Durham Cathedral nave, choir and transepts
• Norwich Cathedral nave and central tower

English Romanesque or Norman style of design is attributed to those churches and castles built by the Normans shortly before their Conquest of Britain in 1066 until the end of the twelfth century. This style was first introduced into England during the reign of Edward the Confessor. The king himself founded the Abbey at Westminster and many other churches. The Abbey was not completed at the time of his death in January 1066 but enough had been built for it to be consecrated on December 28th 1065. The Conquest of England and the influx of barons and ecclesiatics from Normandy brought a revolution in society and in architecture. In most instances it can be seen that each great church was rebuilt from its foundations by the first Norman bishop who took over. Some were moved to more favourable settings or even moved to new towns. At Winchester the new church was built alongside the old and the old was finally demolished once the religious relics had been transferred.

Although the workmanship of the Normans was superior to that of the Saxons it was still not up to the quality that can be seen in later styles. Many of the towers that were built at this early time collapsed or had to be strengthened later on. It is possible that much of the work was still done by Saxon workers as there was so much work to do. The Saxon workers may have worked under instruction from Norman masters or worked alone, copying what they had seen of the new building techniques.

By the end of William the Conqueror's reign in 1087 many of the major churches and cathedrals had been rebuilt or were being rebuilt. It is possible that 7,000 churches were built within a century after the Norman Conquest**.

Influence

The influence for the Romanesque design came from Roman architecture. The Roman fashion of building included massive arches as seen in aquaducts and amphitheatres.

Characteristics

Romanesque architecture is characterised by massiveness, round arches, small windows, heavy vaulting and simple cushion shaped capitals cut from a single cube of stone. Piers are simple cylinders as at Gloucester Cathedral, or more commonly moulded with geometric patterns as at Durham Cathedral. The arches and doorways usually have zig-zag or chevron patterns around them.

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