Suffolk Medieval Church Arcades
by Birkin
Haward
Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History 1993
A4 size, 480 pages, 336 figures, 24 monochrome plates
Hardback ISBN 0 9521390 0 6
Suffolk is renowned for the wealth and variety of its medieval
churches, but it is only in recent years that they have been
studied with the attention to detail and scientific method which
they deserve. In this work Birkin Haward provides the first
definitive study of the masonry arcades in Suffolk churches and
demonstrates how they were an important element in medieval church
design.
The core of the study is the author's measured drawings of all
the arcades in the county with moulded piers, a total of 112,
together with 24 major arcades from the neighbouring counties of
Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk. The arcades drawings are
accompanied by ground plans of the churches and notes on their
building history.
Detailed drawings of the arcade pier forms are analysed and
presented for the first time to show positive links between the
works of known master masons such as John Wastell, Simon Clerk,
William Layer, John Melford and Hawes of Occold, as well as groups
of work by unnamed masons. The arcades are also related to the
changing forms of the churches over the centuries, culminating in
the impressive 'Hall' churches of East Anglia, as at Blythburgh,
Southwold, Denston and Long Melford.
Price: Hardback £10 (+£7 p&p within the UK). Cheques made
payable to 'Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History'.
Available from:
Bookshops,
Suffolk Institute of
Archaeology, or in person from:
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service
9-10 Churchyard
Shire Hall
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 1RX
Telephone: 01284 741230
Email:
archaeology@suffolk.gov.uk