Ruins to re-use : Romano-British remains in post-Conquest literary and material culture
This thesis examines the re-use of Roman material culture in England following the Norman Conquest at St Albans, Chester, and Colchester. It argues that the material legacy of Roman Britain conveyed a sense of imperial authority, antiquity and longevity and an association with the early Christian church, which were appropriated to serve transitional Norman royal, elite, monastic and parochial interests in different architectural forms. Importantly, this thesis examines literary evidence describing the Roman past, Roman buildings, and even instances of re-use, which were produced at each town as part of the intellectual expansion of the twelfth century. This thesis comprises of two introductory chapters, followed by three central case study chapters, and culminates in a comparative discussion chapter which evaluates re-use in the context of competing socio-political interests following the Norman Conquest. It expands upon previous understandings of re-use by focusing on topography, building material and hidden reuse, in addition to the re-use of portable remains and decorative emulation. The aim of this thesis is to develop an interdisciplinary methodological and theoretical approach to examine re-use, in the
Nancarrow, Jane-Heloise
Ruins to re-use : Romano-British remains in post-Conquest literary and material culture. This thesis examines the re-use of Roman material culture in England following the Norman Conquest at St Albans, Chester, and Colchester. It argues that the material legacy of Roman Britain conveyed a sense of imperial authority, antiquity and longevity and an association with the early Christian church, which were appropriated to serve transitional Norman royal, elite, monastic and parochial interests in different architectural forms. Importantly, this thesis examines literary evidence describing the Roman past, Roman buildings, and even instances of re-use, which were produced at each town as part of the intellectual expansion of the twelfth century. This thesis comprises of two introductory chapters, followed by three central case study chapters, and culminates in a comparative discussion chapter which evaluates re-use in the context of competing socio-political interests following the Norman Conquest. It expands upon previous understandings of re-use by focusing on topography, building material and hidden reuse, in addition to the re-use of portable remains and decorative emulation. The aim of this thesis is to develop an interdisciplinary methodological and theoretical approach to examine re-use, in the
re_use romano_british remain post_conquest literary material_culture examines re_use roman material_culture england follow norman conquest chester argues material legacy roman_britain convey sense imperial_authority antiquity longevity association early_christian church appropriate serve transitional norman royal elite monastic parochial interest different architectural_form importantly examines literary_evidence describe roman past roman_building even instance re_use produce town part intellectual expansion comprises introductory follow_three central case_study culminate comparative discussion evaluate re_use context compete socio_political interest follow norman_conquest expand_upon previous understanding re_use focus topography build material hidden reuse addition re_use portable remain decorative emulation aim_develop interdisciplinary methodological_theoretical examine re_use