Irish Architecture Before the 10th Century: The Timber Tradition | Irish Architecture | Briefing | Professor Roger Stalley

Early Architecture in Irreland & Romanesque Architecture in England

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Irish Architecture Before the 10th Century: The Timber Tradition | Irish Architecture in the Early Middle Ages: c. 500–1200 AD
Professor Roger Stalley

There are a variety of sources providing information for the evolution of timber construction in Irish architecture before the 10th century. Textual sources include the lives of the early saints, pictorial evidence, such as folio 202v in the Book of Kells, as mentioned above, and archaeological investigation.

A timber church of the seventh century: Kildare

The most sophisticated timber church known is that which served the double monastery of St. Brigit in Kildare, described at length by the monk Cogitosus in the 7th century. This was a spacious building 'of awesome height,' and, since the church served both monks and nuns, the main body was divided down the center by a wooden partition. The chancel was separated off by a further screen, providing three distinct spaces within the building. The church was splendidly decorated, the partitions 'painted with pictures and covered with wall hangings'. There is also a suggestion that one of the doorways was embellished with carving.

The impact of timber construction on later architecture in stone, particularly major structures such as Kildare, is evident in the survival of corner posts (antae), roof finials, pseudo shingles and carpentry joints (Labba Molaga) that betray their origins in wooden forms. Like the Doric order of the Greeks, wooden elements were evidently transformed into stone with the intention of providing permanent and supposedly indestructible versions of ancient buildings.