The Dean and Canons' Houses of St George's Chapel, Windsor: An Architectural History

The College of St George at Windsor Castle was founded by Edward III in 1348 to support the newly created Order of the Garter. A recent refurbishment and conservation program revealed previously unknown evidence about the buildings' construction, fittings, and decoration, as well as their subsequent evolution. The archaeological evidence is supplemented by excellent survival of documentation, including the precise date of each stage of construction, the cost, and the names of the workmen involved. The post-medieval history of the buildings is also highly significant, and for this period, we have more knowledge about the deans and canons who influenced their development and a wealth of documentary evidence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2022
Publisher: Oxbow Books

The College of St George at Windsor Castle, established by Edward III in 1348, holds a remarkable historical significance. Its primary purpose remains unwavering to this day: to support the newly formed Order of the Garter. The domestic buildings, originally designed for the Warden, Canons, and Priest-Vicars, now known as the Deanery and Canons Cloister, stand as a testament to the enduring legacy of this institution. Despite undergoing numerous enlargements and alterations throughout centuries, a remarkable amount of the mid-fourteenth-century fabric remains intact. A recent program of refurbishment and conservation has unearthed a wealth of previously unknown information about the construction, fittings, and decoration of these buildings, as well as their subsequent evolution.

Throughout the refurbishment works, the author maintained a close watch, resulting in the publication of these findings for the first time. The archaeological evidence is complemented by a wealth of documentation, providing insights into the initial construction, subsequent development, and the names of the workmen involved. The post-medieval history of the buildings is equally significant, shedding light on the deans and canons who influenced their design and the abundance of documentary evidence that remains.

The College of St George at Windsor Castle stands as a testament to the enduring power of architecture and history, preserving the legacy of Edward III and the Order of the Garter for generations to come.

Dimension: 280 x 216 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789258653