ABSTRACT
The cloister at Norwich Cathedral has one of the most contested construction histories in English medieval architecture. Built in 1297–1430 under a succession of patrons and master masons, the cloister’s complex building sequence has invited a wide range of interpretations by architectural historians. However, these discussions have rarely taken account of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometry of the tierceron vaults above. A key exception to this is the work of Robert Willis (1800–75). This paper uses a variety of digital surveying and analytical methods to re-examine the concept of the middle plan and its potential as a tool for comparing forms and geometries in medieval vaulting. By considering the potential implications of the observations made for the building’s construction sequence, the paper represents a comprehensive re-evaluation of the middle plan as a method for architectural study, suggesting new directions for research both for the cloister and construction history more generally.
