Proceedings of the Twenty-ninth Annual Meeting,Wolverhampton, 1872

Abstract

This paper takes as its starting point the relatively unusual form taken by Lincoln's gatehouse-cum-guildhall, which was rebuilt in 1520. It is argued that the Stonebow's elevation bears a superficial similarity to the contemporary royal palace at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. The local political background may suggest that the two buildings are, indeed, connected — through the city council's efforts to renegotiate the terms of their fee-farm with their feudal lords. The new building, and its simple Annunciation iconography, were intended to be understood at several levels of symbolic meaning, all of which referred to the city's relationship with its various lords. Consequently, the Stonebow's simplicity is deceptive; it is, in fact, a multi-faceted political statement, summing up the city's own view of its place in contemporary politics and, as such, it is a good example of the complexity sometimes achieved in early Renaissance architectural iconography.     

Proceedings at the Meeting of the Archaeological InstituteAnnual Meeting, 1855

Salisbury Cathedral was first built with a low, insubstantial stone lantern, perhaps with a timber superstructure, over the central crossing. In the fourteenth century the lantern became the foundation for the tower. Both it, and the steeple on top, were reinforced with networks of iron bars at their interface. There is also a complex iron framework in the lantern to prevent the collapse of its walls. The origin, purpose, and technology of iron reinforcement of medieval buildings is discussed. In time, because of corrosion, these reinforcements became less effective and even damaging to the fabric. Wren was the first of a succession of architects and engineers in the last 350 years who have initiated additional schemes of reinforcement at Salisbury.     

Annual Meeting at Colchester, 1876

The evidence for the reconstruction of building C12 at Cowdery's Down is reconsidered and an alternative structure proposed. In this, the massive inset slots by the doorways are identified as holding door jambs. A common-rafter roof is proposed, and it is suggested that any floor boarding would have been set directly on the ground and not suspended.     

Proceedings at the Meetings of the Archaeological InstituteAnnual Meeting, 1856, Held at Edinburgh

Focusing upon the restructuring over many years of a mid nineteenth-century ‘blackhouse’ in the crofting township of Callanish, on the Outer Hebridean Isle of Lewis in northwestern Scotland, this paper explores the manner in which a number of interests repeatedly rewove the fabric of the building over time as a means of expressing often competing views of society and community. In an attempt to make sense of and legitimize the present and project a desired future, various groups literally built strategic, contradictory and conditional pasts, infusing the material fabric of everyday life with a political dynamic. The paper concludes with observations on the implications for the practice of ‘cultural resource management’ as strategic negotiation of the politics of past and present.