Candidate architects and builders

The great period of building at St. Mary's is the Middle Ages, most probably between 1375 and 1475, although these dates are no more than approximations as there seems to be little written evidence from this crucial period. In general terms, it is worth noting what Cox (undated) wrote of the batches of "pressed masons and builder's labourers marshalled for the King's works in consequence of the scarcity of workmen after the Black Death. [1347-51]. They were supplied in batches by sheriffs of various counties, and learnt the ancient rules of their trade under King's Clerks, of whom William of Wykeham, the future renowned bishop, was one of the most distinguished".

Thus, I commenced with a search for any who might have been among the architects and builders. Useful sources proved to include Harvey's list of mediaeval architects among whom there are some with Nottingham connections (Harvey, 1984), and Colvin's compilation of the records of the King's Works during the period (Colvin, 1963). From those and elsewhere, including the Records of the Borough of Nottingham (RBN vols) and Beckett (1997), one can find the following who have either worked at or on St. Mary's, or may have been influenced by the building:

William of Bramcote, was master mason at Nottingham Castle in the mid-1300s. In March 1365 foundations were laid for at Nottingham Castle for a new tower - "Romylow's Tower" - and also for reconstruction of two of the castle's three chapels. The chief mason appears to have been Robert of Colston and the stone for the new tower came from Basford and Gedling. The glazier was John of Gedding, from London, and around the time a master carpenter was William of Repton. Peter the Mason, a carver, lived in St. Mary's Gate from 1362-70. and his son, John, Carver of Nottingham, was paid £200 in 1367-72 for making an alabaster reredos for St. George's Chapel, Windsor. In 1368, John of Mansfield was appointed Clerk of Works at Nottingham Castle (Colvin, 763), between April 1368 and May 1373, he spent £184 on various repairs. A carpenter named William Serle was employed. In 1368-9, Richard Dylkeston [surely this should be d'Ilkeston] was the master mason at Nottingham Castle "ordaining divers works in the castle" at 3/4d per week; Alan of Holmesfield was the master carpenter at the same rate of pay. In 1373, a new clerk, William of Elmely took over at the Castle.

All those probably predate the present building but next is a record of how, in 1388-92, the Constable, William Nevill, spent some £257 on works at the Castle. He took out a contract with William Swanlond, Mason, for £6/13/4d and another with four carpenters - Richard Wryght, John Langeton Sr., John Langeton, Jr., and John Evyngham, for £73/6/8d. In a court case of 1401, Richard de Linby complained of Richard Mason of owing him 10d for work to the fabric of the church. In 1442 there was a court action for the value of work done at the church, 2s of work done by Hugh Bladesmith, due to have been paid by Nicholas Plumptre.

Moving on in time, in 1437-1441 there were extensive works at the Castle by Geoffrey Knyveton, as deputy to John Arderne, Clerk of the King's Works. Just after, Edward IV, king in 1461-70 and 1471-83, had much building done making the castle "a place full royal". John Nottingham, is a mason known from 1457-67 as doing buttresses at Corpus Christi College, Oxford and working on the south range of the Schools of Cambridge.

Edward IV's brother, Richard III, who ruled in 1483-85 after ousting (murdering?) his young nephew, Edward V, employed William Turner (mentioned by above, as Tournor) as "the King's maister mason" in charge of works at Nottingham Castle. Turner had been Mason at Westminster Abbey in 1484 under Robert Stowell (then master mason). He was still living in Nottingham in the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509) and sold a messuage in Castlegate in 1488. No known connection with Nottingham, except perhaps with William Turnour, is Henry Yeaveley who did the porches at Westminster Abbey which are very fine Perpendicular. Nicholas Hill of ? was an "imager" or carver around 1491.

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Compiled by Brian Taylor, published September 2000     

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