The Romanesque Screen at Canterbury Cathedral Reconsidered

A reassessment of the Romanesque sculpture found during the restoration of Christ Church Canterbury's west alley cloister challenges its long-standing association with an 1180 screen in Canterbury Cathedral. New historical and archaeological evidence suggests these sculptures, previously linked to the cathedral's screen, instead originated from a lavatorium—a ceremonial water feature—built by Prior Wibert as part of his extensive waterworks system within the great cloister. This reinterpretation hinges on a critical analysis of existing records and recent research, offering a significant revision to our understanding of medieval architectural and liturgical practices at this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

West, J. (2017). The Romanesque Screen at Canterbury Cathedral Reconsidered. Medieval Art, Architecture & Archaeology at CANTERBURY, 167–179. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315091273-10