Norman architecture

Sunday, and driving out in the countryside I passed an old church with a hand-made sign saying “Open every day”. It looked an interesting building so I stopped to have a closer look. Now an out-of-the-way place, the village must have been quite important a thousand years ago, judging by the evidence of Norman architecture.


Most impressive is the south arcade, where these tremendous round arches (with Norman zigzag pattern) carry the weight of the chancel roof. The floor must have been lower than it currently is, as the pillars are so short and do not proceed from any defined base. The bulk and presence of Norman architecture seems to convey visually the military strength of the Norman regime.