The profane and the sacred : expressions of belief in the domestic buildings of Southern Fenland, circa 1500 to 1700 AD
Historical and cultural geographers have in the recent past argued for a more dynamic and critical geography of architecture and suggested that researchers pay greater attention to domestic architecture and the spaces within the home. My original contribution to knowledge shows how the home was employed as a vehicle for the permanent expression of private and individual belief, following the English Reformation and over and above the employment of traditional, commissioned and yet more transient decoration. There are no studies of an areaâs collective spiritual expressions as witnessed over several hundred years, perhaps due in part to the limited primary documentary evidence available. I have furthered research into various motifs, and have forwarded two new theories. I have shown that the salt niche was used for ritual storage rather than simply for foodstuffs, and that a âspiritual frequencyâ was generated within the home for protection and to enable a closer association with God. The geographical area of study has been chosen not least because of the apparent lack of attention paid to the county by vernacular architectural historians in the recent past which lies in the architectural shadow of Essex,
Duck, Jonathan
The profane and the sacred : expressions of belief in the domestic buildings of Southern Fenland, circa 1500 to 1700 AD. Historical and cultural geographers have in the recent past argued for a more dynamic and critical geography of architecture and suggested that researchers pay greater attention to domestic architecture and the spaces within the home. My original contribution to knowledge shows how the home was employed as a vehicle for the permanent expression of private and individual belief, following the English Reformation and over and above the employment of traditional, commissioned and yet more transient decoration. There are no studies of an areaâs collective spiritual expressions as witnessed over several hundred years, perhaps due in part to the limited primary documentary evidence available. I have furthered research into various motifs, and have forwarded two new theories. I have shown that the salt niche was used for ritual storage rather than simply for foodstuffs, and that a âspiritual frequencyâ was generated within the home for protection and to enable a closer association with God. The geographical area of study has been chosen not least because of the apparent lack of attention paid to the county by vernacular architectural historians in the recent past which lies in the architectural shadow of Essex,
profane sacred expression belief domestic building southern fenland circa historical cultural geographer recent_past argue dynamic critical geography architecture suggest researcher pay great attention domestic_architecture space within home original_knowledge show home employ vehicle permanent expression private_individual belief follow english_reformation employment traditional commission yet transient decoration study_area collective spiritual expression witness perhaps due part limit primary documentary_evidence available further various motif forward new theory show salt niche use ritual storage rather_simply spiritual frequency generate within home protection enable close_association god geographical_area study choose least apparent lack attention_pay county vernacular architectural historian recent_past lie architectural shadow essex