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The Building Craftsmen of William of Wykeham and the "Patronage Society"

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The Building Craftsmen of William of Wykeham and the Proc. Hampshire Field Club Archaeol. Soc. 63, 2008, 1-8 (Hampshire Studies 2008) THE BUILDING CRAFTSMEN OF WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM AND THE 'PATRONAGE SOCIETY' By PAUL HOLDEN ABSTRACT third, the construction of two new colleges. For the latter two projects, Wykeham drew Studies in medieval architectural history often on his favourable relations with the monarch. presume the decisive role of designers and craftsmen Hence in 1383, New College, Oxford, secured rather than how patrons acquired, organised and royal protection and exemption from tolls and rewarded their builders. This paper examines this customs to all persons connected with its con­ neglected and often problematic issue with reference struction, and Winchester College received a to the architectural commissions of one of the most charter of privileges in September 1395. Royal powerful men of his age, William Wykeham, Bishop timber from Windsor was used for the tower of Winchester (1366-1404). Wykeham's extensive and cloisters at New College, Oxford between building aspirations necessitated the co-ordination 1396 and 1403. Such patronage was acknowl­ of considerable labour forces tvorking simultaneously edged through the depiction of Richard II on in geographically disparate areas of the diocese. As the external stonework and in the glass of Win­ labour was in short-supply, a result of re-occurring chester College chapel. pestilence, ongoing military campaigns and, con­ All such patrons hired specialist craftsmen sequently, widespread impressments of labour, it and labourers for their construction projects. was essential that he gathered loyal tradesmen and Apparently Wykeham's methods of securing exercised control over them. Hence, bastard feudalism and rewarding his labour force differed sig­ appears to have been a fundamental consideration nificantly from other ecclesiastical and secular in the recruitment and organisation of the bishop's patrons. His dealings with his building staff can building teams. In exchange for loyally and service be categorised as bastard feudal, that is, 'the Wykeham's indispensable builders bettered themselves set of relationships with their social inferiors through association, breaching labour legislation and that provided the English aristocracy with the perhaps even risking the stability of social order itself. manpower they required' (Hicks 1995, 1). This paper offers a discussion on the set of relation­ Such patronage is ill-documented, especially ships betiveen Wykeham and his builders. In doing insofar as recompense was often non-financial. so both short and long-term contracts loill be consid­ Wykeham's projects took place during a ered, as will the mutuality of such arrangements and, national labour shortage, the consequence of how lucrative they were to the highly skilled medieval endemic disorder following the Black Death, tradesmen. and Wykeham made best use of his privileged position in Church and State to enlist and William of Wykeham's personal wealth, derived secure the loyalty of his workforce. So concern­ from his diocese, funded a building programme ing was the state of the labour market that for on an unprecedented scale. Among the works works at Windsor, Wykeham 'impressed nearly he commissioned during his time as bishop even' mason and carpenter in England so that were first, improvements to his dilapidated hardly any good craftsmen, except deserters episcopal palaces, second, the perpendicular were available to any other people' (Malvern remodelling of Winchester Cathedral, and, n.d., 30). To ensure loyalty Wykeham extended 1 2 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL. SOCIETY the rewards of service beyond those which a the necessary manual labour by 'their men and secular patron could offer, rewarding his most tenants wherever they consider it advantageous valued men not only with fees and wages, but to the speedier and more successful execution also through less tangible spiritual means. In of this work' (Greatrex 1978, 21). order to understand his system of patronage Direct labour and materials were supplied and reward, we need first to examine the organ­ directly from the bishopric estates, as for isation of the bishop's labour force. example the timber provided for works at New Wykeham's building works were structured College Oxford in 1381/2, but the involve­ according to local resources. At New College ment of ecclesiastical staff is harder to find. Oxford, the bishop deployed a two-tier system Wykeham could effectively draw on both of craftsmen below that of his architectural laymen and clerics to forward his architectural advisors. A local skilled and unskilled secular ambitions. The construction of Winchester workforce provided the manpower and a College was quite separate from the priory. small group of specialist migrant craftsmen Simon Membury, a secular cleric later inden­ provided expertise, these latter being tempo­ tured as treasurer of Wolvesey (Rogers 1921, rarily accommodated within the city (Gee 1952, 306-7), administered the project. Similarly at 63). The Winchester situation was significantly Windsor Castle the king's master mason John different. In absence of accounts of the resident Sponlee worked alongside the administra­ cuslos operum at the Benedictine cathedral tor Canon Robert Burnham (Roberts 1947, priory, surviving rolls from other monastic 77-8). officials indicate somewhat surprisingly that If Wykeham deployed both ecclesiastical and neither craft lodges nor guilds existed during secular administrative staff, then how did he Wykeham's time as bishop in spite of the scale secure the services of skilled craftsmen? The of his building operations and the contrary working arrangements of the king's master experience in other large-scale projects as, for mason William Wynford (fl. 1360-1404) provide example, at Exeter and York (Erskine 1983, some answers to this question. Wykeham influ­ xxiv; Swanson 1983). Wykeham's advisors enced Wynford's early rise to prominence, and supervisory staff were largely drawn from while Wynford in turn has been credited as either the cathedral priory or the bishop's own being the foremost architectural influence on household. Hence, between 1393 and 1406, his patron's buildings. This attribution is not representing the convent's interests at Winches­ as straightforward as previous historians have ter Cathedral as master of works (custos novorum suggested. In 1364 Wykeham as provost of operum) was Brother John Wayte (BL Harley 328 Wells employed Wynford as master mason at f.24v; see also TNAE 101/479/24). In 1408 the Wells Cathedral (Harvey 1984, 352-3). By 1376 former almoner, and later sacrist, John Hurst at least, it would appear that the master mason managed labour, which at this time comprised was retained within Wykeham's household. At of eight monastic permanent staff; unfortu­ this time, when Wykeham's temporary fall from nately, their status within the priory is not political grace caused him to 'brake [sic] up his recorded (Harwood 1998, 36). Two examples household', the bishop reputedly 'scattered record their organisational responsibilities. In his men and dismissed them for he could no 1398 the cathedral obedientary accounts and longer govern or maintain them' (Thompson the Winchester College compotus rolls record 1874, 107). It was probably to support himself the removal of 112 loads of flint by cart from outside of the household that Wynford imme­ the cathedral as per contract [with the priory] diately forged a close association with the king's valued at 9s 4d (HRO Eccles 2/159388; Kitchin master mason Henry Yeveley (fl. 1353-1400) 1892, 207, 422, 425; Kirby 1892, 148). In 1404 and, by 1383, the king's master carpenter Hugh the prior and convent agreed to supply 'gratis' Herland (c.l330-c.l411). This association is not all scaffolding, digging and carting building known prior to Wykeham's eclipse. materials from their own quarries and to provide Unlike several of his contemporaries, docu- HOLDEN: THE BUILDING CRAFTSMEN OF WILLIAM OF WYKEI-IAM AND THE 'PATRONAGE SOCIETY 3 mentary records relating to Wynford's status as bishop, or on Winchester Castle, between 1387 a builder or evidence of his business interests, and 1394. Furthermore the close personal private land or property ownership, remu­ relationships that built up between the bishop neration or subinfeudation, are few and far and Yeveley and, later, Herland, in particular between suggesting that Wynford, unlike other the financial rewards that Wykeham bestowed high status craftsmen of the period, had fewer upon his carpenter, are significant. Between aspirations and little intention of diversify­ May and September 1386 Yeveley dined nine ing in order to profit beyond his wages. That times with Wykeham at Southwark and between Wynford surrendered an annuity of £10 in May and September 1392. Herland dined with 1383 and next year broke his association with him nine times at Winchester College (WCM Yeveley regarding works outside Winchester 1). Such prestige and benefits from association suggests that Wynford returned to Wykeham's were important. There is no corresponding household sometime before the laying of Win­ evidence to suggest that Wynford enjoyed the chester College's foundation stone in 1387 same level of access to Wykeham or ever dined (CCR 1381-5, 333). Other thought-provoking with the bishop without a senior architect as evidence indicates that Wynford recurrently Yeveley or Herland also being present. Could worked with senior advisors. these circumstances go some way in
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