Gothic Geometry in Two Hawksmoor Churches

Abstract

Nicholas Hawksmoor’s Christ Church, Spitalfields (1714–29), and St Mary Woolnoth (1716–27) in London, England, are outstanding examples of the late English Baroque. They combine classical elements with forms and ornamentation taken from a range of architectural styles, most particularly the Gothic of medieval English churches. While Hawksmoor was clearly adept with the Gothic ‘manner’, it remains uncertain to what extent he was familiar with the underlying design formulas used by the medieval masons. In this study, a new survey using laser-assisted measurement was undertaken at both churches. Measurements were taken of the most significant dimensions in the church interiors, and the proportional ratios between the dimensions were calculated. These structural ratios were then compared with the rational and irrational ratios commonly found in medieval design, including the ratios 1:√2 and 1:√3. A total of 34 close matches were found across the two churches. These matches fall within an acceptable range of discrepancy, which was estimated following a calculation of the level of construction tolerance found in both churches. The large number of correlations found in this study, and the accuracy of the matches, provides significant evidence that Hawksmoor was making conscious and deliberate use in these churches of the design formulas that he is likely to have considered Gothic in origin. The sequence of proportional ratios found in each church makes it possible to reconstruct the steps by which Hawksmoor may have developed his designs for the two churches.