William Wynford
Encyclopedia
William Wynford was one of the most successful English master masons of the 14th century, using the new Perpendicular Gothic style. He is first mentioned in 1360 when at work at Windsor Castle
as warden of masons' work. He became master mason at Wells Cathedral
on 1st February 1365 where he is believed to have designed the South West tower, it was probably here that he met William of Wykeham
who was then a provost of the cathedral. He was made master of the works at Windsor Castle in 1364 under Wykeham, in 1372 Edward III granted Wynford a pension of £10 per annum. In 1375-6 he was at work at Abingdon Abbey
and working for the crown at Corfe Castle
in 1377-78 making new rooms in the keep
. In 1378 Wynford was working with Henry Yevele
at Southampton
.
With the death of Edward III the new king Richard II of England
favoured Wykeham, with new found wealth he founded in 1379 New College, Oxford
which was designed by Wynford, who also designed Winchester College
founded by Wykeham in 1382. There is a portrait of Wynford in the stained glass in the east window of Winchester College, this shows an old man with thinning hair, a long nose and dropping moustache and forked beard with the words 'Willms Wynfort lathomus' below. In 1389-90 he was repairing Winchester Castle
, from 1392 he designed Wardour Castle
, and in the 1390s he commenced his last major work, the remodelling of the Norman nave of Winchester Cathedral
in the latest Perpendicular Gothic style.
Wynford used a distinctive plan of placing the chapel and great hall end to end, this occurred at Windsor Castle (the chapel and Hall were united as a single Hall by Sir Jeffry Wyatville for George IV
), and at Winchester and New Colleges'. The two colleges also have cloisters that are next to rather than surrounded by the main college buildings, which form a separate courtyard consisting of as well as the Great Hall and Chapel, an entrance gate with tower above, sets of rooms for scholars and fellows opening off staircases, a Library, accommodation for the Warden. The Kitchen, bakery and other service buildings are in a separate wing at New College, but surround a second courtyard at Winchester College. New college also has a bell tower next to the cloister. These were the very first educational buildings in England to be designed as a complete entity, as such they influenced later college buildings such as King's College, Cambridge
, Eton College
& Magdalen College, Oxford
.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
as warden of masons' work. He became master mason at Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
on 1st February 1365 where he is believed to have designed the South West tower, it was probably here that he met William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham was Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England, founder of Winchester College, New College, Oxford, New College School, Oxford, and builder of a large part of Windsor Castle.-Life:...
who was then a provost of the cathedral. He was made master of the works at Windsor Castle in 1364 under Wykeham, in 1372 Edward III granted Wynford a pension of £10 per annum. In 1375-6 he was at work at Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
and working for the crown at Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle is a village and civil parish in the English county of Dorset. It is the site of a ruined castle of the same name. The village and castle stand over a gap in the Purbeck Hills on the route between Wareham and Swanage. The village lies in the gap below the castle, and is some eight...
in 1377-78 making new rooms in the keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
. In 1378 Wynford was working with Henry Yevele
Henry Yevele
Henry Yevele was the most prolific and successful master mason active in late medieval England. The first document relating to him is dated 3 December 1353, when he purchased the freedom of London...
at Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
.
With the death of Edward III the new king Richard II of England
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
favoured Wykeham, with new found wealth he founded in 1379 New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
which was designed by Wynford, who also designed Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
founded by Wykeham in 1382. There is a portrait of Wynford in the stained glass in the east window of Winchester College, this shows an old man with thinning hair, a long nose and dropping moustache and forked beard with the words 'Willms Wynfort lathomus' below. In 1389-90 he was repairing Winchester Castle
Winchester Castle
Winchester Castle is a medieval building in Hampshire, England. It was founded in 1067. Only the Great Hall exists now; it houses a museum of the history of Winchester.-Great Hall:...
, from 1392 he designed Wardour Castle
Wardour Castle
Wardour Castle is located at Wardour, near Tisbury in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Salisbury. The original castle was partially destroyed during the Civil War...
, and in the 1390s he commenced his last major work, the remodelling of the Norman nave of Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
in the latest Perpendicular Gothic style.
Wynford used a distinctive plan of placing the chapel and great hall end to end, this occurred at Windsor Castle (the chapel and Hall were united as a single Hall by Sir Jeffry Wyatville for George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
), and at Winchester and New Colleges'. The two colleges also have cloisters that are next to rather than surrounded by the main college buildings, which form a separate courtyard consisting of as well as the Great Hall and Chapel, an entrance gate with tower above, sets of rooms for scholars and fellows opening off staircases, a Library, accommodation for the Warden. The Kitchen, bakery and other service buildings are in a separate wing at New College, but surround a second courtyard at Winchester College. New college also has a bell tower next to the cloister. These were the very first educational buildings in England to be designed as a complete entity, as such they influenced later college buildings such as King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
& Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
.