Five English cathedrals

Aims 

This course aims to:   

• explore the rich diversity of England’s medieval cathedrals  
   
• understand the development of art and architectural styles of the period  
   
• understand the technical problems of the time, some unique to England 

Content 

England’s Cathedrals are very varied and sometimes distinctly odd. We examine each of the five in detail, progressing through the changing architectural styles. Many have fine painting, sculpture, and stained glass and all have their own individual history (including a catalogue of catastrophies!). 

Each of the five cathedrals chosen displays different aspects of the development of England’s rich medieval architecture. Each was built or rebuilt following the Norman Conquest of 1066 and all, except Salisbury, have Norman cores and structures. Salisbury is the exception, being started in 1220 on an entirely new site, with a planned city attached to it. Exeter is almost entirely of the late 13th and early 14th century, demonstrating the rapid development of England’s most exciting style, the Decorated. Winchester displays a wide variety of architectural styles, seemingly cobbled together with that apparent sense of abandon so typical of English medieval buildings. All form part of a complex of ecclesiastical buildings - some secular, some monastic - and include a well-preserved Bishop’s Palace (Chichester), important monastic structures (Winchester) and a spectacular Chapter House (Salisbury). 

Course sessions will examine some of the most significant examples painting, sculpture and stained glass in Europe. At Winchester, we shall see rare examples of sculpture from the lost Anglo-Saxon period, and at Winchester and Exeter, carvings from the late Middle Ages. We will review the medieval painting which survives at Peterborough, Winchester and Chichester, and the late medieval stained glass at Exeter. 

By examining each cathedral individually, we shall progress through the centuries and reveal the rich and imaginative creations unique to England. In doing so, our explorations will also reveal terrible structural problems and some quite spectacular architectural collapses! 

Presentation of the course  

The presentation is via PowerPoint and class discussion.  

Course sessions 

1. Chichester and the impact of the Normans  
    
2. Peterborough: the last great Romanesque project  
    
3. Salisbury: the ideal of English early Gothic   
    
4. Exeter and the development of the Decorated style  
    
5. Winchester: the most complex and rewarding of the group  

Learning outcomes 

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course.  

The learning outcomes for this course are to:  

• gain an appreciation of the variety of England’s medieval cathedrals  
   
• grasp the development of architectural styles over the period  
   
• realise the impact of political events, fire and structural weaknesses 

Required reading 

There is no required reading for this course. 

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.