Crown steeple
Encyclopedia
A crown steeple, or crown spire, is a traditional form of church steeple
in which curved stone flying buttress
es form the open shape of a rounded crown. It appeared in medieval church architecture in England
and Scotland
, and reappeared in the 19th century as part of the Gothic Revival.
, in Newcastle upon Tyne
, was erected in 1448 and is possibly the earliest example of this form of steeple. The crown spire of St. Giles' Cathedral
, Edinburgh
, was erected in 1495, and rebuilt by John Mylne
in 1648. Another medieval crown steeple was built at King's College, Aberdeen
(1500–1509), although this too was rebuilt in the 17th century, after the original blew down. The crown steeple of the Tolbooth Steeple, in Glasgow
's Merchant City
, was built in 1626-1634 by John Boyd, and at the time was the only such steeple in western Scotland. In 1698, Sir Christopher Wren
added a tower with a crown steeple to St Dunstan-in-the-East
, London.
churches. The open spire of Faversham Parish Church
, Kent was built in 1797, and a crown steeple was added to Tillington
Parish Church, Susssex, in 1807. Others include those at Tarbert, Argyll and Bute
(1886), and the Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church
, Glasgow, by John James Stevenson (1902).
A secular example tops the Wallace Monument
, near Stirling, erected in 1869 to a design by the architect John Thomas Rochead
. The north facade of the Victoria and Albert Museum
, London, is a hybrid of gothic and classical architectural forms, topped by a crown steeple. This part of the building was designed by Aston Webb
, and completed in 1909.
, where an aluminium crown spire was added in 1964. A crown steeple was proposed for the top of Westminster Abbey
, scheduled to be completed in 2013, in time for the 60th anniversary of the coronation
of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
. However, this project has now been discontinued.
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
in which curved stone flying buttress
Flying buttress
A flying buttress is a specific form of buttressing most strongly associated with Gothic church architecture. The purpose of any buttress is to resist the lateral forces pushing a wall outwards by redirecting them to the ground...
es form the open shape of a rounded crown. It appeared in medieval church architecture in England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
and Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
, and reappeared in the 19th century as part of the Gothic Revival.
Medieval crown spires
The crown steeple on Newcastle CathedralNewcastle Cathedral
St Nicholas's Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Its full title is The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas Newcastle upon Tyne...
, in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, was erected in 1448 and is possibly the earliest example of this form of steeple. The crown spire of St. Giles' Cathedral
St. Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral, more properly termed the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its distinctive crown steeple is a prominent feature of the city skyline, at about a third of the way down the Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, was erected in 1495, and rebuilt by John Mylne
John Mylne (1611-1667)
John Mylne , sometimes known as "John Mylne junior", or "the Younger", was a Scottish master mason and architect, who served as Master Mason to the Crown of Scotland. Born in Perth, he was the son of John Mylne, master mason, and Isobel Wilson.Practising as a stonemason, he also took on the role of...
in 1648. Another medieval crown steeple was built at King's College, Aberdeen
King's College, Aberdeen
King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen...
(1500–1509), although this too was rebuilt in the 17th century, after the original blew down. The crown steeple of the Tolbooth Steeple, in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
's Merchant City
Merchant City
The Merchant City is a district in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland.- History :The medieval Glasgow Cross was located on the road between High Street and Saltgait. Its modern replacement was built to the south-east of the original location to aid traffic. The town's tron was placed on the...
, was built in 1626-1634 by John Boyd, and at the time was the only such steeple in western Scotland. In 1698, Sir Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
added a tower with a crown steeple to St Dunstan-in-the-East
St Dunstan-in-the-East
St Dunstan-in-the-East was a Church of England parish church on St Dunstan's Hill, half way between London Bridge and the Tower of London in the City of London. The church was largely destroyed in the Second World War and the ruins are now a public garden....
, London.
Gothic Revival crown steeples
Crown steeples were often incorporated into Gothic RevivalGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
churches. The open spire of Faversham Parish Church
Faversham Parish Church
St Mary of Charity, Faversham Parish Church is one of the most immediately recognisable buildings in the town of Faversham in Kent. The spire dominates the town skyline and is visible for some distance....
, Kent was built in 1797, and a crown steeple was added to Tillington
Tillington, West Sussex
Tillington is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located one mile west of Petworth on the A272. The parish includes the hamlets of Upperton, River, and River Common....
Parish Church, Susssex, in 1807. Others include those at Tarbert, Argyll and Bute
Tarbert, Argyll and Bute
Tarbert is a village in Scotland. It is built around East Loch Tarbert, an inlet of Loch Fyne, and extends over the isthmus which links the peninsula of Kintyre to Knapdale and West Loch Tarbert...
(1886), and the Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church
Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church
Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church is a Church of Scotland parish church, serving part of the North Kelvinside area of Glasgow, Scotland. The church is within the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Glasgow.-Building:...
, Glasgow, by John James Stevenson (1902).
A secular example tops the Wallace Monument
Wallace Monument
The National Wallace Monument is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in Scotland. It commemorates Sir William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish hero....
, near Stirling, erected in 1869 to a design by the architect John Thomas Rochead
John Thomas Rochead
John Thomas Rochead was a British architect.He was born and raised in Edinburgh, and worked for a number of years as an apprentice of David Bryce...
. The north facade of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
, London, is a hybrid of gothic and classical architectural forms, topped by a crown steeple. This part of the building was designed by Aston Webb
Aston Webb
Sir Aston Webb, RA, FRIBA was an English architect, active in the late 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century...
, and completed in 1909.
Modern versions
One of the most recent examples is at St. Michael's Parish Church, LinlithgowSt. Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow
St. Michael's Parish Church is one of the largest burgh churches in the Church of Scotland. It is one of two parishes serving the West Lothian county town of Linlithgow, the other being St. Ninian's Craigmailen...
, where an aluminium crown spire was added in 1964. A crown steeple was proposed for the top of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, scheduled to be completed in 2013, in time for the 60th anniversary of the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. However, this project has now been discontinued.