Cheesden Home

Just to let those that are interested in my Cheesden Valley Project I have set up a separate blog which will act as a conduit for all my Cheesden information. I will carry on posting about this remarkable valley here but also post it on this site so that the information is all together in one place.

The above picture is of the remains of Deeply Vale Mill which is one of 15 sites in the Cheesden Valley.

ARCHIPEDIA - E is for.....

C13th Early English window St Mary Magdalene Woodstock

Early English - Period of English Gothic ecclesiastical architectural history roughly dating from 1250 to 1350 AD. The term was coined by Thomas Rickman in the early C19th after he discovered that there was a common pattern and phasing to ecclesiastical architecture. The use of the lancet window, plate tracery (see photo above), stiff leaf mould and the pointed arch are all common factors in the Early English movement. Perhaps the best and most complete example of Early English architecture is Salisbury Cathedral

Above are some of the opening pages of my battered 1825 version of Rickman . It is hard to believe that his book is the original source for most of the terms we know today - When reading it he sounds to innocent but we mustn't forget that he was one of the very first people to notice differences in ecclesiastical architecture. For instance on Early English he states " distinguished by pointed arches, and long narrow windows without mullions; and a peculiar ornament, which from its resemblance to the teeth of a shark, we shall hereafter call the toothed ornament"

Toothed ornament found at Holy Trinity Micklegate York Yorkshire UK

For more of my Early English images go here

Lavenham Archi-Map

My medieval google earth map of Lavenham is now almost complete you can get it here. You need to have Google Earth installed to view which you can access from the link above also.

Lavenham is a remarkable survival of a medieval town with primarily timber framed buildings dominating and a beautiful Perpendicular style church. It has over 300 listed buildings. In the map I have tried to show some interesting medieval features of timber framed houses.

On the map I have marked an interesting series of lumps and bumps which look like the archeaological remains of some dwellings to the west of Saint Peter and Saint Paul's church. I noticed them when I was compiling the map. I'm sure that there is some information about them out there - please comment if you know any more information. Great site for a dig!

Gruesome Find

Another trip into Cheesden today and found the carcass of a deer at the back of Washwheel Mill. I didn't know we had deer in the Cheesden Valley.

The light was dull and morbid today much in keeping with my gruesome find, but the day nevertheless was invigorating. I spent much time taking photo's of parts of the industrial remains of a site called Deeply Vale. There was no sun, so I took photo's of parts that the sun never reaches - like under the packhorse bridge which leads onto the damhead of the lodge.

Getting into the Cheesden Valley isn't easy. Take the Elbut Lane and you have to walk around a mile uphill and then take a steep traverse into the valley before getting close to the first mill. I like this reverential space around the valley - it keeps it special. It reminds me of the Greek and Roman classical temples which have a hierarchy of space which imbues them with mystique and spirituality. The valley is just like this and I can't wait to get back there as soon as possible.

Medieval Lavenham

As an architectural enthusiast a pilgrimage to Lavenham UK has always been on the cards and I spent a heady day there in the summer trying to get to grips with the cacophony of crown posts and cavetto's.

Lavenham is quite simply a dream of a place for me. It has one of the largest intact groupings of medieval timber framed structures as well as a church which is a jewel in the Perpendicular crown.

I have started to put together an archi-map of the place which currently extends to about 10 properties and interesting features. I have some more work to do and I envisage the maps completion over the next week or so. You can get the map here which needs Google Earth to view.