> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.digest.andymarshall.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Rabbit Hole: Romanesque - URL: https://www.digest.andymarshall.co/the-rabbit-hole-romanesque-3/ - Published: 2026-03-01T08:53:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-24T20:41:42.000Z - Author: Andy Marshall - Tags: The Rabbit Hole, romanesque [Skip to the story](#glr-story) ![Romanesque stone architecture opening the journey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_1333-1.JPG) Andy Marshall's Genius Loci Digest # The Rabbit Hole: Romanesque Architecture I have a particular fondness for the Romanesque, for as a young architecture detective, I found this particular style to be the easiest to spot. Surviving Romanesque architecture in Britain was largely built by the Normans, but both Anglo-Saxon and Norman architecture in Britain hold echoes of the Roman tradition. The arcading on the window at the Anglo-Saxon tower at Earls Barton has a Roman influence. ![Arcaded window on the Anglo-Saxon tower at Earls Barton](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/HANwAixWMAAdOvC.jpeg) Musée de Cluny, Paris ## Jamb-shafts Norman Romanesque developed its own distinctive style, influenced by Norman precursors such as these jamb-shafts I saw in the Cluny in Paris. ![Carved Romanesque jamb-shafts at the Musée de Cluny in Paris](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/92FA02B1-A7BD-450C-B07D-78B09265BE76_1_105_c.jpeg) **Musée de Cluny**Paris ![Jamb-shafts on the west front of Lincoln Cathedral](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Gg1dvfpWcAAbdmh.jpeg) **Lincoln Cathedral** Compare them with the shafts on the west front at Lincoln Cathedral. Durham Cathedral ## A first pilgrimage In Britain, Romanesque architecture dates broadly from the late 11th century to the late 12th century, approximately 1066–1190\. Durham Cathedral is a beautiful example of the Romanesque style of architecture and was one of the first buildings I sought out when starting out on my career. ![Durham Cathedral, a Romanesque architectural landmark](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2622.jpeg) **Durham Cathedral**1066–1190 ![Romanesque interior at Durham Cathedral](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2627.jpeg) ![Massive piers and round arches at Durham Cathedral](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2628_jpg.jpeg) ![Carved Romanesque detail at Durham Cathedral](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2634.jpeg) ![Romanesque stonework inside Durham Cathedral](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2631.jpeg) St Mary's, Iffley ## Chevron One common feature found throughout is chevron, or zigzag, decoration as here at St Mary's in Iffley. ![Chevron decoration at St Mary's, Iffley](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Ew0u6LSUYAAPrja.jpeg) **St Mary's, Iffley**Chevron St John the Baptist, Burford And here at St John the Baptist in Burford. ![Chevron stone carving at St John the Baptist, Burford](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/F0VGh6KWcAADJmh.jpeg) **St John the Baptist, Burford**Zigzag A Romanesque vocabulary ## Orders, shafts & creatures Romanesque architecture is also defined by its thick masonry walls and massive piers, round-headed arches—as opposed to pointed Gothic arches—deeply recessed doorways with stepped orders and shafts, and lively geometric decoration incorporating foliage, animals, monsters and biblical figures. ![Decorated Romanesque interior at St George, Hampnett](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/FpO9GEsWAAAo7Dn.jpeg) **St George, Hampnett**Later Victorian speculative decoration ![Romanesque doorway at St John the Evangelist, Elkstone](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/E5gpS3KX0AIDuUw.jpeg) **St John the Evangelist**Elkstone ![Deeply recessed Romanesque doorway at Malmesbury Abbey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/F_cIfX7WAAAnvjr.jpeg) **Malmesbury Abbey** ![Andy's watercolour of St Andrew's, Bolam](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/GcPqmHVWkAEiJy1.jpeg) **St Andrew's, Bolam**Watercolour, my own The Norman door at St Andrew's, Bolam ![Four views of the Norman door at St Andrew's, Bolam, with the photographer's shadow](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Gj5FsEAXYAAV1o-.jpeg) St Mary and St David's, Kilpeck ## A place between ![St Mary and St David's Church at Kilpeck](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Kilpeck-5-2--1-.jpg) **St Mary and St David's**Kilpeck ![Romanesque carvings at Kilpeck](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_7746-1.jpeg) ![Carved doorway detail at Kilpeck](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_7712-1.jpeg) ![Horizontal band of Romanesque carving at Kilpeck](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_7714-1-1.jpeg) ![Creature carving at Kilpeck](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_7738-1.jpeg) ![Foliage and animal stone carving at Kilpeck](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_7739.jpg) ![Romanesque carved figure at Kilpeck](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_7759.jpg) St Mary, Iffley ## Beakheads Norman architecture in Britain is also known for its distinctive beakheads—small, creature-like heads that appear to bite down upon the mouldings around doors and windows. ![Beakheads around a doorway at St Mary, Iffley](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/HLo0Cp3WUAAWt_C.jpeg) **St Mary, Iffley**Beakheads ![Close view of a creature-like beakhead biting a moulding at Iffley](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/GvZOGaoWQAArLFv--1-.jpeg) ![Row of Romanesque beakheads at St Mary, Iffley](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/GUMkasRXcAAo24m.jpeg) St Mary, Lastingham ## Beneath the church The Normans’ Scandinavian ancestry—their name derives from “Norsemen”—may help explain the unmistakably Nordic character of some Norman ornament. The crypt at St Mary, Lastingham. ![The Romanesque crypt at St Mary, Lastingham](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Lastingham-1.jpg) **St Mary, Lastingham**The crypt ![Stone columns and vaults in Lastingham crypt](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Lastingham-Original-4-x5-1-3-1.jpg) ![Low stone vaulting in the crypt at Lastingham](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/4C7CB3AB-3085-4012-AC8E-5499C079B3FB_1_105_c.jpeg) ![Atmospheric view through Lastingham's Romanesque crypt](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Lastingham-35.jpg) ![Final view of the arches in St Mary's crypt, Lastingham](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Lastingham-12.jpg) ## Continue down the rabbit hole Three buildings. Three encounters with the Romanesque. Choose the next threshold. [![Newport Romanesque architecture](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/02/EDBB77C8-4D97-42E6-B34E-3CEE2DA14189_1_201_a-2.jpeg)Newport · fragments into coherenceA building that remembers.Each generation refusing to discard what came before, instead incorporating, re-carving, re-expressing, and carrying it forward.**Enter Newport ↗**](https://www.digest.andymarshall.co/in-pursuit-of-spring-day-eight/) [![Kilpeck church and its Romanesque carvings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/Kilpeck-5-2.jpg)Kilpeck · a place betweenAn oddity in the English landscape.That such an exotic thing with Angkor Watt curves can be hidden within the ballast of a grim winter’s day is quite remarkable.**Follow the carvings ↗**](https://www.digest.andymarshall.co/field-notes-from-my-camper-van-camino-kilpeck-in-herefordshire/) [![Romanesque porch at Malmesbury Abbey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2e/b6/2eb6d776-18dd-41f1-a2d1-b76fa2d605be/content/images/2026/08/IMG_6953-Photoroom-1.png)Malmesbury · the observer entersA porch becomes a time machine.The light is storyboarding the building and unravelling the beliefs, hopes and fears of the medieval mind.**Step into the porch ↗**](https://www.digest.andymarshall.co/loci-time-portal-the-porch-at-malmesbury-abbey/) Andy Marshall’s Genius Loci Digest Email address Join the weekly journey – it’s free ↗ Joining… Free. 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