Beverley Minster in Its 13th-Century Context

Abstract

Beverley Minster includes some of the finest and most interesting early Gothic architecture in the north of England, but the building has received surprisingly little scholarly attention. This article analyzes the design of the early-13th-century choir and transepts of Beverley in the context of contemporary buildings and attempts to show that while separate elements of the design have parallels in some of these buildings, they always undergo a significant transformation, either in their individual form or in their relationship to one another in the overall design. The resulting elevation of Beverley combines northern English characteristics such as the clustered pier with the Purbeck marble shafting of Lincoln and southern England. On the other hand, the proportions of the elevation suggest some knowledge of contemporary French buildings, but there are no specific French motifs at Beverley. In spite of the variety of its sources, the Beverley design is coherent and consistent and well illustrates the originality possible within the context of the Early English Gothic style.