Modern+architecture

The Kings College Chapel is finally done
25 of July 1515

The Kings College Chapel in Cambridge is finally done. Today it’s 70 years since the first stone of the Kings College Chapel was laid in the dusty sand on the riverbank in Cambridge on 25 of July 1446. The last task remaining is to get the windows installed, the architects say that this is going to be one of the most difficult operations.

The stone comes from quarries near Cambridge, and was transported by boat on the river Cam. The stone comes from quarries near Cambridge.

The building of the chapel can be divided into two different phases. The planning and beginning. And the second, the main building period and completing the chapel.

=The beginning of the chapel=

It was King Henry VI himself who ordered the building of the chapel. His royal highness only wanted the best to plan and draw this magnificent chapel. He employed Sir Reginald of Ely to be his royal architect. Sir Reginald of Ely started drawing the first sketches in 1444 and was in charge of the construction from 1446 until 1461. He quit his job in 1461, because King Henry VI hadn’t paid him for the last two years. Sir Reginald of Ely died ten years later. When king Henry VI lost his power to Edward IV, when Edward became king, the workers didn’t get paid so the building stopped.

=Completing the chapel=

When Edward IV became king, he did not give any money to continue the chapel. At this time, the chapel was no way near completed. The first bays and the eastern towers had reached about 70 feet., 20 feet short of the plan. In 1477 Edward IV saw the half completed chapel and decided to give enough money to complete the building. Now, John Wolrich was in charge of the building, but he only kept his position for a year. In 1478 he was replaced by Simon Clerk. In 1483, RichardIII came to the throne, he gave even more money to complete the chapel. RichardIII was killed in 1485. Simon Clerk had now almost completed the chapel. The new king was HenryVII. The building once again stopped. King HenryVII visited Cambridge in 1506 and saw the unfinished chapel. Two years later, king HenryVII gave enough funds to complete the ceiling and towers. And finally, today we can see the impressive stone construction in its full glory.

The windows are not yet finished, but the artist have sketched all the 108 glass paintings. The most difficult thing will be to get them into their window frames. Some of them are nearly 90 feet off ground. We have also found out that king HenryVII has given 5 000£ to purchase inventory for the chapel.