Stairway to heaven : the functions of Medieval upper spaces / Toby Huitson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Huitson, Toby, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Church architecture--Details.

Church architecture.

Architecture, Medieval.

Space (Architecture).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (602 p.)

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; Philadelphia : Oxbow Books, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Medieval stairs, galleries and upper chambers in cathedrals, abbeys, and parish churches have been an enduring source of fascination to historians and archaeologists since the eighteenth century, but their practical purposes have long been shrouded in mystery and speculation. From libraries to lights, clocks to dovecotes, from secret games of skittles played over the vaults to the daring exploits of the twelfth-century Flying Monk, Toby Huitson explores the lofty spaces, nooks and crannies of medieval upper spaces though the interrogation of a wide range of documentary, visual and archaeologic

Contents:

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgements; List of Figures; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; Chapter 1: The Architecture of Medieval Upper Spaces; Part 1: Stairs; Part 2: Upper Spaces; Chapter 2: Devotional Spaces; Holy Spaces; Sacred Sights; Chapter 3: Performing the Liturgy; Lights; Sound; Drama; Chapter 4: Supporting the Liturgy; Organising the Liturgy; Intellectual Life; Chapter 5: Behind the Scenes; Accommodating the Community; The Building Fabric; Hidden Assets; Chapter 6: Beyond the Everyday; Dangerous Men; Experiment and Entertainment

Chapter 7: Forms and FunctionsConventional Approaches and Problems; Re-thinking Functional Attribution; New Interpretations of Medieval Buildings; Chapter 8: Conclusions; Appendices; Appendix 1: Principal functions associated with medieval ecclesiastical upper space; Appendix 2: A high-level Liturgical year; Appendix 3: Measuring the step angles of spiral stairs; Reference section; Notes to text; Bibliography

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781842178638

1842178636

9781842178614

184217861X