medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> does anyone here happen to know the details of this jubé, what the supposéd
> 1133 date is based on and, particularly, if there are any *contemporary*
> accounts which refer to it and, if so, what word is used to describe it?
Christopher,
From Aymer Vallance, Greater English Church Screens (London, 1947), pp. 41-2:
Although he principally refers to the it as the pulpitum, he also uses the term, "the
Rood", and cites an entry in the sacrist's rolls of 1359-60, where it is called the
Black Rood, "le blackerode". The pulpitum occupied the whole of the first bay of the
nave below the octagon. Its west face, therefore, was at the first pair of piers west
of the octagon, "where niches in the opposite columns still mark the place",
according to George Millers, _A Description of the Cathedral Church of Ely_ (1808).
It was built of stone, 12th-century work, all except the parapet, which seems to have
been later, and may possibly have been of the early part of the 13th century. The
pulpitum was not solid, but consisted of parallel walls, floored over to make a loft or
gallery at the top. St John Hope suggests that this screen was set up, most
probably by about 1150, i.e. in the early years of the episcopate of Bishop Nigellus,
which began in 1133. If the eastern part of the pulpitum was overthrown by the
collapse of the central tower in Feb. 1321-2, the western wall stood, as represented
in the plan in Browne Willis's _Survey_ in 1730, until 1770, when it was demolished.
This plan shows two newel-staircases to reach the top of the pulpitum, both behind
the west wall of the screen and somewhat nearer to the two westernmost piers of
the octagon. The architect, James Essex, made several rough sketches of the
pulpitum, with dimensions marked, which enabled St John Hope, in _Archaeologia_,
vol. lxviii (1917), to produce a complete drawing of it. The sketches survive in the
British Library, Add. MS 6768, pp. 122, 123, 124, for details entitled "The Old
Roodloft at Ely" and 6772, bottom corner of verso opposite p. 195, a rough
unnamed pencil sketch of the greater part of the elevation.
Vallance gives more of Essex's description, as well, but this explains the 1133 date,
and for more, St John Hope's article seems to be the place to go.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag.
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|