SAXON CHURCHES OF ESSEX 47
the E-W shadow depends upon the latitude, and for Essex it is approximately
1.69 times the height. As one travels northwards, i.e. to higher latitudes, the
shadow length increases giving a greater E/W ratio. Conversely towards the
south it is less.
Thus, my explanation of the proportion of length to width of pre-conquest
churches lies in an interpretation of pagan ritual and sun-worship, and is
quite independent of actual measurements. It obviously requires an accurate
E.W alignment to work on, and should for any reason this line deviate from
the true E.W direction, then the shadow will fall upon it either earlier or
later, and will in consequence be shorter or longer respectively. This would
show up in the measurements of pre-conquest naves in relation to the
actual orientation of the south wall. I have examined this factor in a few
cases, as follows:—
(The declination of the south wall is given
in degrees to the north or to the south,
as one looks towards the east.)
TABLE 1.
Church Declination L/W
Beauchamp Boding 18 deg. N 1.6
E. Horndon 11 deg. N 1.75
Bulphan 12 deg. N 1.6
Abbess Boding 2 deg. S 1.8
Greensted 15 deg. S. 1.7
White Boding 12 deg. S 1.72
Aythorpe Boding 10 deg. S 1.7
Knowlton (Dorset) E-W 1.69
The exception of E. Horndon may be due to the fact that this church has
been entirely rebuilt in Tudor brick. In all other cases so far examined the
rule holds.
The effect of latitude should add confirmation to the theory, and I intend
to collect as complete data as possible to calculate a statistical scatter over
a wide area. This will, of course, depend upon the basic assumption that
the Saxon builders in other parts of Britain employed the same method.
Table 2 shows the effect of latitude, together with a few church data at
present available.
A. W. Clapham, in his 'English Romanesque Architecture' recognises two
types of pre-Conquest churches—the Kentish and the Northumbrian—making
no reference to the Essex group. The nave dimensions of the Kent examples
are:—
SS. Peter and Paul, Canterbury 40 ft. x 27 ft. 1.5
St. Pancras, Canterbury 421/2 ft. x 261/2 ft. 1.6
St. Andrew, Rochester 52 ft. x 28 ft. 1.85
St. Mary, Lyminge 32 ft. x 18 ft. 1.77
St. Mary, Reculver 371/2 ft. x 24 ft. 1.57
St. Peter, Bradwell, Essex 491/2 ft. x 211/2 ft. 2.3
The Northumbrian group is listed as follows :—
Jarrow 411/2 ft. x 153/4 ft. 2.65
Escomb, Durham 431/2 ft. x 141/2 ft. 3.
Corbridge 48 ft. x 171/2 ft. 2.8
Neither group falls into line with the supposed method of planning used in.
the Essex churches, and this tends to the conclusion that the Essex plan was
largely local in its application, and therefore the effect of latitude cannot be