YEVELE, Henry - b. ~1325 Yeaveley, Derbys, d. 1400 London - WGA

YEVELE, Henry

(b. ~1325 Yeaveley, Derbys, d. 1400 London)

English architect. He is first recorded in 1353, when he was granted the freedom of the City of London. He quickly rose to prominence and c. 1357 he was appointed mason to Edward, Prince of Wales (1330-1376). The title of King’s Deviser of Masonry, which he held from 1360 to his death, indicates that he was recognized as an architect in the modern sense, with responsibility for design, erection and maintenance of all Crown works. Project include Queenborough Castle (1361-1367; destroyed 1650), Rochester Castle (repaired 1367-1368), parts of the London Charterhouse (contracted 1371), and John of Gaunt’s chantry (1374-ca. 1378; destroyed 1666) for Old St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Stylistic evidence, including characteristically Perpendicular mouldings, indicates that he was responsible for the Black Prince’s chantry (from 1363) in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. In 1371 he contracted to build the first cell and the cloister of the London Charterhouse. The Neville screen (1372-76) in Durham Cathedral has been attributed to Yevele’s London workshop. He later directed repairs at Old St. Paul’s (1381-1382) and payments were made for a new south doorway and window in 1387-88.

Yevele was probably responsible for the design of the tomb of Edward the Black Prince at Canterbury Cathedral. Although he was not recorded as in charge of rebuilding Canterbury’s city walls until 1385, stylistic evidence suggests that he was responsible from the beginning of work in 1378, notably for the Westgate. One of his most important achievements is the Perpendicular nave of Canterbury Cathedral which is attributed to him on the basis of both documentary and stylistic evidence. He may also have consulted on designs for William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, from 1381 (e.g. Oxford, New College).

Yevele was appointed master mason to Westminster Abbey in 1387, although he may have been involved with earlier projects there. He collaborated with Stephen Lote on designs for the tomb-chests of Richard II and Anne of Bohemia and Cardinal Simon Langham. In 1389 Yevele supervised work at the Tower of London and from 1390 he directed repairs of Winchester Castle. Between 1394 and 1399 he worked as architect at the new Westminster Hall and his last work was probably the vault of the north porch (1399-1400).

View of the nave

Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt from 1070 to 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the twelfth century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174. The Norman nave and transepts survived until the late fourteenth century, when they were demolished to make way for the present structures. From the late fourteenth century the nave and transepts were rebuilt, on the Norman foundations in the Perpendicular style under the direction of the noted master mason Henry Yevele.

View the ground plan of Canterbury Cathedral.

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View of the nave

View the ground plan of Canterbury Cathedral.

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Westminster Hall

Westminster Hall is the oldest building on the Parliamentary estate. It is almost the only vestige of the old royal Palace of Westminster, dated originally from Norman times.

The magnificent hammer-beam roof of Westminster Hall is the largest medieval timber roof in Northern Europe. Measuring 20.7 by 73.2 metres, the roof was commissioned in 1393 by Richard II (1377-1399), and is a masterpiece of design. Besides commissioning a new roof for Westminster Hall, King Richard II was also responsible for several other embellishments. Many of these emphasised the sacred character of his kingship.

The work on the roof was largely undertaken by the King’s chief mason Henry Yevele and the carpenter Hugh Herland. Yevele had been involved in nearly all the great building projects of the late 14th century, such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral. He also built the Jewel Tower in 1365-66.

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