Romanesque

Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe, characterized by semi-circular arches, and evolving into the Gothic style, characterised by pointed arches, beginning in the 12th century. Although there is no consensus for the beginning date of the style, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th centuries, examples can be found across the continent, making Romanesque architecture the first pan-European architectural style since Imperial Roman Architecture. The Romanesque style in England is more traditionally referred to as Norman architecture.

Typical Romanesque features:

1. Built on a Basilica plan ie central nave, separated from aisles by columns, which support walls above. Three sections to nave - arcade, gallery and clearstorey.

2. East end straight, not apsidal

3. Round arches.

4. Decoration consisting of abstract motifs, such as chevron, billet and beakhead. No figure sculptures.

5. Wooden roof (not visible)

Untypical features:

1. Pillar design - alternating compound piers and fat cylindrical pillars.

2. Originally high rib vaulting in choir.

3. Some slightly pointed arches.

4. Sutton says it also prefigured flying buttresses by the use of half arches beneath gallery roof to support vault (not visible)

A query on terminology: piers and pillars

In the glossary, Sutton defines a pier as a free-standing masonry support, usually for an arch.( I believe the term pier would also be applied to, eg, the vertical post between the balusters of a balustrade). On p.61, Sutton describes Durham as having compound piers alternating with fat cylindrical pillars. Both seem to fit the definition of pier - are the terms synonymous?