Beauvais (Oise, France) - Cathedral of Saint-Pierre
- Disclaimer
The dating found here is based on the work of John James, and is meant on this site to serve as a starting point. James' dating is derived from a system that uses his interpretation of the development of capitals over time as the basis for chronology, among other factors. His goal is to refine the dating to within years rather than decades. I have not fully embraced James' methodology, and will be developing this page from its current state to one which is admittedly more conservative. The relative expenditure values found in the Timeline are also based on James' work, and I believe these to be reasonably reliable. They are intended only to give a sense of the amount of work involved in each decade.
I have added the idea of the "project" as a way of separating work in buildings. In my mind, a "project" is a discrete section of work in a building that resulted from the one-time acquisition of funding. "Projects" are generally separated by at least a decade where no work was being done. It is my view that it would have been unwise to start a "project" that could not be finished and protected from the elements, and as such a "project" usually involved a wing or multiple wings of a building, from floor to roof. Rural churches, which could only secure small amounts of funding at irregular intervals, often were the result of many small projects, while the great churches, which benefitted from relatively consistent funding, may have involved only a few large projects.
I have added the idea of the "project" as a way of separating work in buildings. In my mind, a "project" is a discrete section of work in a building that resulted from the one-time acquisition of funding. "Projects" are generally separated by at least a decade where no work was being done. It is my view that it would have been unwise to start a "project" that could not be finished and protected from the elements, and as such a "project" usually involved a wing or multiple wings of a building, from floor to roof. Rural churches, which could only secure small amounts of funding at irregular intervals, often were the result of many small projects, while the great churches, which benefitted from relatively consistent funding, may have involved only a few large projects.
- Timeline with Relative Expenditure (if available, in building units)
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- Project A - 1220s - Phase 1 - chapels (b)
Foundations for chapels and their bases
- Project A - 1220s - Phase 2 - chapels (s)
Chapels to sills
- Project A - 1230s - Phase 3 - choir aisle (s)
Choir walls to sills, rooms
- Project A - 1230s - Phase 4 - choir (a-)
Choir lower capitals in aisles and sacristy
- Project A - 1240s - Phase 5 - choir (ag)
Choir piers and aisle vaults, aisle upper gallery
- Project B - Later - Phase 6 -
Continuation into aisle triforium, arcade capitals and vauts
- Primary Sources for Dating
1180 - BEAUVAIS
The town of Beauvais is burned
The town of Beauvais is burned
In said year 1180, Friday the 28th day of May, the city of Beauvais was set alight and almost entirely burned, the churches of Saint-Pierre…were burned…
1180, 1225 and 1272 - BEAUVAIS
The town of Beauvais is burned, the church is burned and the canons return to the choir
The town of Beauvais is burned, the church is burned and the canons return to the choir
In the year 1180 the town of Beauvais was nearly brought back from the ashes of a ruinous fire: another fire in the year 1225 caused great ruin, such that the canons were unable to return to the divine offices before the year 1272.
1188 - BEAUVAIS
Towns throughout France burn during a drought
Towns throughout France burn during a drought
Several historians report also that there was a very great drought in France in the year 1188, that the greater part of the towns of Tours, Chartres, Amiens, Beauvais, Auxerre, Troyes, and Provins were burned.
1188 - BEAUVAIS
Foundation of the chapel of Saint Paul
Foundation of the chapel of Saint Paul
1188 - In this year the chapel of Saint-Paul was founded in the cathedral church.
1208 - BEAUVAIS
Foundation of Chapel of St-Etienne
Foundation of Chapel of St-Etienne
Copy compiled of the foundation of a chapel at the altar of Saint-Etienne by Jean de Clermont, dean, to be named only by the dean and to be possessed by a priest at the exclusion of all else and who will not have another benefice, in 1208.
1212 - BEAUVAIS
Foundation of Chapel of St-Sepulchre
Foundation of Chapel of St-Sepulchre
Foundation by Guillaume, called The Turk, of a chapel at the altar of St-Sepulchre, for which he had given a third of the tithed of Liancourt and to the Chapter 40 sous of the income with all rights over eight houses near the church of Liancourt. Acceptance of said foundation by the Chapter in 1212.
1221 - BEAUVAIS
Foundation of Chapel of St Jean Evangelist
Foundation of Chapel of St Jean Evangelist
Foundation by lord Bernard, subcantor, of a chapel at the altar of Saint-Jean l'Evangeliste, so that from his name to that of Philippe, bishop of Beauvais, for which he gave the tithe of Auregy, and several incomes to be taken on various houses. 1221.
1222 - BEAUVAIS
Consecration of high altar.
Consecration of high altar.
The High Altar was consecrated…in the year 1222, and…the first ruin came three years later, that is around the year 1225, so in that year the repairs commenced.
1225 - BEAUVAIS
Fire and finance required for reconstruction
Fire and finance required for reconstruction
1225: Benefices collected for the repair of the church of Beauvais …with the mournful destruction brought about when our church was burned,…
1238 - BEAUVAIS
Endowment of the chapel of Saint-Denis
Endowment of the chapel of Saint-Denis
…the chapter of Saint Pierre of Beauvais to the work of the chaplaincy of Saint-Denis…