Alan of Walsingham facts for kids
Alan of Walsingham (died around 1364) was a very skilled English architect. He was also known as Alan de Walsingham. We first hear about him in 1314 as a young monk at Ely. He was known for being good at working with goldsmith's materials and understanding how things worked.
He later became very interested in building design. In 1321, when he was a sub-prior (a leader) in his monastery, he designed and started building St Mary's Chapel. This chapel is now called Trinity Church and is connected to Ely Cathedral. At the same time, he worked on other projects like Prior Crauden's Chapel and a new sacristy (a room for church items). In December 1321, he was chosen as the sacristan. This meant he was fully in charge of all building work at the cathedral.
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The Great Tower Falls
On the morning of February 13, 1322, something big happened. The huge tower of Ely Cathedral suddenly fell down! This collapse destroyed the choir area and other parts of the building. It was a big problem for the cathedral.
Building the Amazing Octagon
Instead of just rebuilding the four pillars that held up the old tower, Alan had a brilliant idea. The old Norman tower was square and a weak point. Alan decided to move the supports further out. He extended them into each arm of the cross-shaped cathedral.
By doing this, he spread the tower's weight onto eight pillars instead of just four. This made the structure much stronger. It also created a magnificent central space shaped like an octagon (an eight-sided shape). He covered this space with a dome and a tall lantern on top.
The result was not only beautiful but also very original. It's believed that Alan never traveled far from his monastery. He probably didn't know much about the domed churches in other parts of the world. Even if he did, his building methods were very different. His work at Ely Cathedral remains unique among all the cathedrals in Europe.
After building the Octagon, Alan also rebuilt the parts of the choir that were ruined by the tower's fall. These new sections are considered some of the most beautiful examples of Decorated style, which is a type of English Gothic architecture.
Later Life and Recognition
In 1341, Alan of Walsingham was chosen as the Prior of Ely. Then, in 1344, he was chosen to become the Bishop of Ely. This position became open after the death of Simon de Montacute. By this time, the main building work on the cathedral was finished. Only the decorations and fittings were left for the next person to complete.
However, the Pope decided to choose someone else instead. The Pope picked Thomas L'Isle, a Dominican friar who was with him in Avignon. Alan was again chosen for a similar honor in 1361. But once more, the choice was changed. Simon Langham, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury and a Cardinal, was made Bishop of Ely instead. It is said that the monastery's wealth grew under Alan's management.
Gallery of Ely Cathedral
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The Octagon
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Vaulting of Octagon
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The Lantern of the Octagon
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Interior of the Lantern of the Octagon
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St. Mary's Chapel (The Lady Chapel)
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Vaulting, St. Mary's Chapel (The Lady Chapel)
