The 13th Century - 1751 Words

Alexa Townsley English 1473 Mrs. Flynn October 27, 2014 Exemplum of the 13th Century Ever thought of visiting England? A surely magnificent sight to observe would be the Wells Cathedral, the first gothic cathedral that lies in the undersized town of Somerset. In about 705 A.D. the first chapel was built on the sight but was reconstructed at the end of the 12th century from a man by the name of Bishop Reginald de Bohun, bringing the French architectural style to England. The old cathedral was replaced with the new, reasonably sized cathedral found in smallest city adjacent to the city of Bath, Wells, with approximately 4,000 residents. The construction took almost the entire 13th century. Wells Cathedral was almost like a little town with†¦show more content†¦During the Medieval times, 1100-1200’s, building skills were very restricted. Castles were made of stone and very basic- very little light, bleak, and muggy. Roofs were not very common because most structures could not support the weight; so many places were damp and musty. If there were windows at all, they would be tiny because the force of the walls could cause them to collapse into themselves. The old stone buildings were depressing, not the kind of building an individual would want to live in or worship in. As an attempt to change the unpleasant buildings, a new style called â€Å"gothic† began to emerge to England from northern France. The gothic style changed the bland exterior to a now charming, luminous, and airy oasis. One characteristic of the gothic style would be the grand, tall designs because early medieval architects had a very hard time spreading the heavy stonewalls so towers were short and buildings were thin. â€Å"This meant that all gothic buildings could, quite literally, scale new heights. It allowed them to reach up to the heavens- perfect for cathedrals and churches†(The Seven Characteristics of Gothic Architecture). The Wells Cathedral was built immense compared to the others of the time because it was the first gothic style cathedra l in this part of England. The interior of the nave was gigantic. The pointed arch is another common trait among the gothic style that is not only embellishing, but also