Lincoln Cathedral (Part Three)

Text and Pictures from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 

unless otherwise accredited

Lincoln Cathedral
(Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons. 

Picture taken December 2010.

Author: Paul Stainthorp)

The Lincoln Imp

One of the stone carvings within the Cathedral is the Lincoln Imp. There are several variations of the legend surrounding the figure. 

According to 14th-Century legend, two mischievous imps were sent by Satan to do evil work on Earth. After causing mayhem, elsewhere in Northern England, the two imps headed to Lincoln Cathedral, where they smashed tables and chairs and tripped up the Bishop. An angel appeared in the Angel Choir and ordered them to stop. One of the imps sat atop a stone pillar and started throwing rocks at the angel whilst the other cowered under the broken tables and chairs. The angel turned the first imp to stone, allowing the second imp to escape. The imp that turned to stone can still be found sitting atop his stone column in the Angel Choir.

Wren library 

The Wren Library houses a rare collection of over 277 manuscripts, including the text of the Venerable Bede.

The Lincoln Imp

Rose windows

Lincoln Cathedral features two major rose windows, which are a highly uncommon feature among mediaeval architecture in England. On the North side of the Cathedral, there is the “Dean’s Eye”, which survives from the original structure of the building, and on the South side there is the “Bishop’s Eye”, which was most likely rebuilt circa 1325-1350. 

This South window is one of the largest examples of curvilinear tracery seen in mediaeval architecture. Curvilinear tracery is a form of tracery where the patterns are continuous curves. This form was often done within pointed arches and squared windows because those are the easiest shapes, so the circular space of the window was a unique challenge to the designers. 

A solution was created that called for the circle to be divided down into smaller shapes that would make it simpler to design and create. Curves were drawn within the window which created four distinct areas of the circle. This made the spaces within the circle where the tracery would go much smaller, and easier to work with.

Lincoln Cathedral (view from the Central Tower)

(Picture taken from Wikimedia Commons. 

Author: LysNanna)

This window is also interesting and unique in that the focus of the tracery was shifted away from the centre of the circle and instead placed in other sections. The glazing of the window was equally as difficult as the tracery, for many of the same reasons; therefore, the designers made a decision to cut back on the amount of iconography within the window. Most Cathedral windows during this time displayed many colourful images of the bible; however, at Lincoln, there are very few images. Some of those images that can be seen within the window include Saints Paul, Andrew, and James.

Wooden trusses

Wooden trusses offer a solid and reliable source of support for building, because, through their joints, they are able to resist damage and remain strong. 

Triangles are the strongest shape, because, no matter where the force is being placed on them, they are able to use their three joints to their fullest extent in order to withstand it. Making trusses with triangles inside larger triangles adds even more strength, as seen in Lincoln’s choir. 

Lincoln Cathedral (South-East Door), known as The Judgement Porch. 

Engraving by E. Challis, after a picture by T Allom. Published 1837.

(Not the main door of Lincoln Cathedral, which is at the North Front)

(Picture taken from Wikimedia Commons.)

The design of all wooden trusses is a tedious task as there are many different things that need to be considered while building these supports. 

There are many different ways that the trusses can fail if they are not designed or built properly; it is therefore crucial to design trusses that suit a specific building with specific needs in mind. The simplest form of a truss is an A frame; however, the great amount of outward thrust generated here often causes the truss to fail. The addition of a tie beam creates a triangular shape, although this beam can sometimes sag if the overall truss is too large. 

Neither one of these examples would have been suitable for Lincoln, owing to the sheer size of the roof. They would have failed to support the building, so collar beams and queen posts were added to the design in order to help prevent sagging. 

To protect against wind damage, braces were added. Secondary rafters were also added to the design to ensure that the weight was equally distributed. Saint Hugh’s Choir has a total of thirty six trusses keeping the roof in place, and it is held up entirely by means of its own weight and forces.

PART FOUR FOLLOWS