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.

190

1200

1150

73

36

170

1060s

1070s

1080s

1090s

1100s

1110s

1120s

1130s

1140s

1150s

1160s

1170s

1180s

1190s

1200s

1210s

1220s

1230s

1240s

1250s

Merovingian crypt under choir and outline remains of previous nave

Narthex foundations dug some 9 courses into the soil; the bases were 12-13 courses lower, and were raised in the C19; on average construction continued at about 8 courses per year until completion

West portals stage 2 lateral capitals and imposts; incomplete designs in upper panels indicate that the height of the lateral portals had been reduced a few centimetres after the panels had been carved; differences in levels with central portal discussed in MCS#04 "Jerome"

West portals stage 3 central capitals and imposts and start of erection of lateral archivolts; the intended height of the central portal was considerably reduced on erection as can be seen in the curtailed canopies over the upper jamb figures that had been carved earlier, as well as the adjacent right capital.

Capitals for central vaults placed with erection of the arcade arches and ghe walkway on the west wall over the central portal which would have been complete by then

Completion of aisle windows set well into the cells of the vaults and therefore constructed at the same time, and with the external frieze over the central portal; sill to the west window that may be one of the widest consgtructed to this time

Shafts and capitals on each side of the western walkway and stairs to the towers; the string courses underneath the lateral openings into the towers have different profiles and are at different levels suggesting a number of campaigns at this level

In eastern clerestory bay capitals were added under the responds; floor level of the towers in which the west walls were raised higher than the side walls, presumably to provide lateral support for the rose window.

Chapel floor level established with walls and start of rose window over western frieze

Springing for chapel ribs with impost carried around piers

Chapel openings with capitals and arches, arches for the vaults and wall around rose half way up

Choir foundations and bases, possibly begun earlier, with evidence for at least two, if not three, crews in the lowest courses

Choir crypt, capitals early in 1141 MCS #8:11

Ambulatory walls for a single passage and deep chapels; window sills and wall capitals alongside windows; evidence discussed in James "Gesta" 1989

Choir redesigned for a double ambulatory, rib shafts and higher capitals for the doubleau arches

Choir intermediate piers; capitals carved by a separate crew to the

Chapel window arches and external capitals

Choir cornice with the completion of the aisle vaults; there is no evidence that work continued above this level; as in the narthex the construciton rate was about 8 courses each year.

East tower I

North portal stage 2

Replace choir piers with drums, build transepts walls

Nave and transept dado, aisle walls and vaults

South transept door