User:Paulbrock/WestminsterHall

Paul

The main reference I have is from the classic study of documents "Building in England down to 1540" by LF Salzman. There are several references to the accounts of the building of the Hall.

Regarding the transport, p.200 'the order given in June 1395 for 30 strong wains to go to 'the place called the Frame by Farnham, for carriage of the timber there wrought for the King's great hall at Westminster', each wain to carry five loads during the four weeks after Trinity [Pentecost in May or June] - a time when the roads might reasonably be expected to be at their best.' The square brackets here and below are mine.

p. 218: 'The timber was worked at 'the Frame' [the framing yard] near Farnham and £19. 1a.4d. was paid 'for carriage of 26 half beams 9xxvi di' trabes' and 26 pendant postes from the Frame to Hamme on the Thames, 16 leagues, in two carts (charriett') with 16 horses making 52 journeys, at 7s. 4d. a time. Also 26 corbels; 263 cartloads of timber at 4s., 76 at 3s. 4d., and 69 at 3s. A large number of carpenters were paid, at 6d. a day, ' for working on the roof (domate) of the Hall'. He goes on to describe the payments for carvings.

Notable that one carriage journey for one half beam cost just under the amount for 15 carpenter days. Transport was very expensive.

Another good quote p.62, 'in 1395 at Westminster Hall 76lb of candles were bought 'for men working before day between All Saints [Nov 1] and the  Purification' [Nov 2]. I think that the fact that they were working all hours even on holy days go with the status of the job. No doubt the client wanted it done by Christmas.

Occasionally Salzman has to be read with care as he does make mistakes when it comes to what the terms mean, especially when it comes to timberwork (I'm a timber framer). On p. 254 he describes a piece of timber for the 'lynia' of the door of the great Hall 11 ft in length of squared oak 1 ft in breadth. He then says the 'lynia' is probably the main upright of the framing whereas I reckon both the name and the size suggest it was is for the lintel.

In Appendix B there is a the text in the original French of a 1395 sub- contract for a masonry cornice for the Hall.

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just to correct my note in the email. Trinity is the Sunday after Pentecost. Not sure what date that was in 1395!

Paul