Unsung Heroes
Having been brought up in a restaurant family, it would be logical to assume that my path into hospitality was a given. But in fact I revolted and studied History of Art, Design and Marketing. So, not exactly Che Guevara, just a quiet rebellion against the quotidian. I mention this only because what I’m about to say comes from a place of learning, critical thinking and observation: Gothic architecture is a bit of a mess.
The great medieval cathedrals of Europe are widely regarded as masterpieces but does that make them aesthetically pleasing? These buildings are quite extraordinary on many levels. Their sheer scale for a start, has to be admired; the materials, the design, the workmanship, the level of detail, the ambition, all undeniable.
Last month, Imogen Corrigan returned to the Second Wednesday Society. In her light, humorous and deeply knowledgeable way, she regaled us with tales of the unsung heroes behind these buildings.
Popular wisdom lurches violently between “We did things better in the old days” and “I don’t know how anything ever got done before computers”. As usual the truth lies somewhere in between.
The master masons, the subjects of her talk, were the medieval building stars who created the landscape of Christian Europe and therefore the vernacular of our culture. Part craftsman, designer, draughtsman and architect; part manager, logistician and diplomat, they were the corporate giants of their day, complete with similar political sway and trappings.
They travelled extensively, garnering knowledge and pitching for contracts. Once engaged, they brought their workforce with them, to the anger of local people and as the costs spiralled out of control, looked for ways to make savings by automating the process. Sound familiar? They didn’t invent the wheel, but spearheaded the use of a brand new, vastly more efficient and cost effective piece of kit which is still in use today, the wheel barrow.
And this is why all these buildings are so disparate, random and unfinished. They are products of hubris, spiralling costs, many lives and lifetimes of work, changing tastes, exhaustion of funds and materials and architectural experimentation. On this side of the Channel, Salisbury is the only officially finished cathedral we have; in Milan, the Duomo was only declared complete 15 years ago. These extraordinary men left their mark if not their name.
Unsung heroes are the re-occurring theme of April’s Second Wednesday talk. Again we welcome back a popular speaker, our friend and neighbour, Richard Feast. If Sir Hugh Dowding, isn’t a well known name to you already, he will be after the 10th. He’s been portrayed on screen several time, once by Laurence Olivier in Battle of Britain. Starting to ring bells? If I give him his full title, you’ll realise how important he was in our history and why it might be interesting to come and find out more: Air Chief Marshall of Royal Air Force Fighter Command.
Once again you’ll be amazed by what you learn, particularly as a good deal will be locally relevant, not just nationally. So come and join us in the New Hall, to enjoy the talk, the tea, the cake and the company. Winchelsea really is quite wonderful.
Image Credits: PD-BRITISHGOV/Wikimedia Commons Public Domain , Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC-BY-SA http://Wikimedia%20Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en.