The Cosmatesque Mosaics of Westminster Abbey

The Pavements and Royal Tombs: History, Archaeology, Architecture and Conservation

Warwick Rodwell, David S. Neal

• Publisher: Oxbow Books
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781789252354
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: European Medieval History
• Index: History

Westminster Abbey contains the only surviving medieval Cosmatesque mosaics outside Italy. They comprise: the 'Great Pavement' in the sanctuary; the pavement around the shrine of Edward the Confessor; the saint's tomb and shrine; Henry III's tomb; the tomb of a royal child, and some other pieces. Surprisingly, the mosaics have never before received detailed recording and analysis, either individually or as an assemblage. The proposed publication, in two volumes, will present a holistic study of this outstanding group of monuments in their historical architectural and archaeological context. The shrine of St Edward is a remarkable survival, having been dismantled at the Dissolution and re-erected (incorrectly) in 1557 under Queen Mary. Large areas of missing mosaic were replaced with plaster on to which mosaic designs were carefully painted. This 16th-century fictive mosaic is unique in Britain. Conservation of the sanctuary pavement was accompanied by full archaeological recording with every piece of mosaic decoration drawn and colored by David Neal, phase plans have been prepared, and stone-by-stone examination undertaken, petrologically identifying and recording the locations of all the materials present. It has revealed that both the pavements and tombs include a range of exotic stone types. The Cosmati study has shed fresh light on every aspect of the unique series of monuments in Westminster Abbey; this work will fill a major lacuna in our knowledge of 13th-century English art of the first rank, and will command international interest.

THE COSMATESQUE MOSAICS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY

The Pavements and Royal Tombs: History, Archaeology, Architecture and Conservation

VOLUME 1

THE PAVEMENTS

by

Warwick Rodwell and David S Neal

with contributions by

Pul Drury, Ian Freestone, Kevin Hayward, Lisa Monnas, Matthew Payne, Ruth Siddall, Vanessa Simeoni and Erica Carrick Utsi

computerized illustrations by

Thomas Clark

Foreword by

The Dean of Westminster

Published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by

OXBOW BOOKS

The Old Music Hall, 106–108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JE

and in the United States by

OXBOW BOOKS

1950 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083

Copyright © Warwick Rodwell and David S Neal 2019

Hardcover Edition: ISBN 978-1-78925-234-7

Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-78925-235-4 (epub)

Kindle Edition: ISBN 978-1-78925-236-1 (mobi)

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019939193

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher in writing.

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Front cover: Head of King Henry III, from the effigy on his tomb (Dean and Chapter of Westminster)

Mosaic-decorated tomb-cover set into the sanctuary pavement (Painting by David S Neal)

Lombardic font taken from the sanctuary pavement inscriptions

Half-title page: Aerial view of Westminster Abbey from the south-west (© Historic England Archive)

Note regarding plans: Unless otherwise stated in the caption, or indicated by a compass-point, all plans and vertical photographic views have north towards the top of the page.

Dedicated to
Her Majesty The Queen,
by gracious permission,
to commemorate the 750th anniversary
of the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey
and the re-dedication of the Shrine
of St Edward the Confessor
by King Henry III on
13th October, 1269

CONTENTS

Foreword by The Dean of Westminster

Preface

Acknowledgements

Summary

VOLUME 1

The Pavements

1 The cosmatesque pavements and monuments: introduction and context

Historical and architectural context

The mosaic assemblage

2 Historiography and the antiquarian record

Early references, 1269–c. 1700

Descriptions and illustrations of the pavements and monuments, 1707–1925

Descriptions

Illustrations

The pavements and monuments in recent scholarship

3 The sanctuary and high altar pavements: past interventions, damage and repair

Paving the sanctuary: an historical overview

The cosmatesque sanctuary pavement

Impact of the Civil War, 1643

Repairs, c. 1660

Installation of the Whitehall altarpiece, 1706–07

Sir George Gilbert Scott’s restoration of the sanctuary, 1859–71

Sanctuary pavement

High altar pavement and its underlying archaeology

4 Description of the sanctuary pavement

Purbeck marble matrix

Detailed description of the decoration

Panels 1–8: the central quincunx

Panels 9–16: background to the quincunx

Panels 17–20: large medallions (rotae)

Panels 21–32: background to the large medallions

Panels 33–52: medallions in the outer border

Panels 53–56: rectangles in the outer border

Panels 57–88: curvilinear bands

Panels 89–116: outer border spandrels

Panels 117–136: miscellaneous small compartments

The frame inscriptions

Inscription A. Central roundel of quincunx

Inscription B. Outer lobes of quincunx

Inscription C. Great square

Inscription D. Northern tomb-cover

Phasing: construction, alteration and repair

Summary of proposed phasing

Notes on the characteristics of each phase

Early repairs to the Cosmati pavement by Paul Drury

Phase 2: repairs in sympathy with the primary mosaic work

Phase 2–3: various interventions, probably between Phases 2 and 3

Phase 3: introduction of new designs and more stone types, probably c. 1660–62

Phase 4: interventions related to reordering the sanctuary, 1706–07

5 Surveying, analyzing and evaluating the sanctuary and high altar pavements

Preparatory studies

Ground-penetrating radar surveys, 2004–05 by Erica Carrick Utsi

Some GPR basics

Planning the survey

The high frequency survey

The low frequency survey

Conclusions

Condition and conservation trials, 1993–98 by Vanessa Simeoni

Condition in 1993–94

Condition in 1997

The archaeology beneath the pavements: a brief assessment

6 Conservation and repair of the sanctuary pavement by Vanessa Simeoni

Introduction

Recording and the sanctuary pavement archive

Photogrammetric survey

Photographic record

Video documentary

Reports and other written records

Materials in the pavement

Cleaning

Solvent cleaning, 2008

Relative humidity and temperature

Laser cleaning

Equipment, settings and mechanism

Cleaning the tomb-covers

Removal of cement patching

Emergency stabilization and temporary repairs

Removal methods and techniques

Laser removal of cement

Case studies

Purbeck marble: deterioration and treatment

Bed type and deterioration patterns

Conservation treatment

Purbeck marble matrix replacement

Sub-structure delamination

Stone tesserae: damage and treatment

Stone types

Cocciopesto mortar

Condition of stone tesserae

Treatment programme

Mosaic reintroduction

Repairing historic restorations

George Gilbert Scott’s restoration

Glass tesserae

Opaque glass

Translucent glass

Survey of remaining glass inlays, 2005

Deterioration and condition

Treatment

Restoration of the western border panel

Treatment

Method of tessera production

Case study: the central medallion

Repairs to the central stone

Surface finish

Conclusions and post-conservation care

7 St Edward the Confessor’s chapel pavement

Past interventions and damage

Present condition of the pavement

The Purbeck marble matrix

Paving zones

Setting out the design

Detailed description of the pavement

Designs in the medallions

Small roundels

Curvilinear bands

Concave-sided triangles

Discussion

Ground-penetrating radar surveys of the high altar and St Edward’s chapel pavements, 2005 by Erica Carrick Utsi

High altar pavement and steps

St Edward’s chapel

Conclusions

The archaeology beneath the chapel floor

8 Materials employed in the pavements and monuments

Antiquarian petrology

The stone types by Kevin Hayward

Introduction

Primary materials

Restoration materials, Phases 2–5

Glass: analysis of samples from the sanctuary pavement by Ian Freestone

Opaque glass

Translucent glass

Metals employed in the pavements and monuments

Wrought iron

Latten (brass)

Analysis of ‘mastic’ resin on the sanctuary pavement by Ruth Siddall

Sampling and analytical details

Discussion and conclusions

Analysis of the paste-inlaid tesserae by Ruth Siddall

Sample preparation and analytical techniques

Composition of the tesserae

Composition of the pigment

Conclusions

Mortars used in the sanctuary pavement by Ruth Siddall

Recording and sampling the mortars

Construction mortars

Restoration mortars

Cement repairs

Discussion

Notes to chapters 1 to 8

Plans 1 and 2 (fold-outs at end of volume)

* * *

VOLUME 2

The Royal Tombs

9 St Edward’s chapel and the context of the shrine

Introduction

Chronology of St Edward’s enshrinement

Evolving topography of St Edward’s chapel

Elevating the shrine

Pilgrim access

Proliferation of royal tombs and its consequences

Monuments in the chapel: post-medieval interventions and antiquarian investigations

Impact of pilgrims and tourists on the chapel and its monuments

10 The shrine-tomb of St Edward the Confessor, I: description and primary fabric

Introduction

General description of the shrine-tomb

Detailed descriptions of the components

Plinth

Cornice

South elevation

East elevation

North elevation

West elevation (incorporating the altar retable)

Niches

Columns and colonnettes

Reconstructing the original form of the shrine-tomb

Location, steps and plinth

Lower stage of the pedestal and niches

Upper panelled zone and chest

De...