Early Four-Part Ribbed Vaults in Normandy
That the rectangular four-part system of vaulting was developed in Normandy, as well as in England and the Ile-de-France, and very possibly independently of both, is proved by the early twelfth century abbey church of Lessay (Manche) (cir. 1130).[212] If the vaults of Lessay are an independent development it is hardly possible to see in them anything else than another effort to vault a church with square nave bays and yet provide the best possible vaulting to fit above the windows. A glance at the choir[213] will show that the alternate system was here employed just as in Saint Étienne at Caen, yet the builders introduced two four-part vaults instead of one of six-part type in each bay.[214] The transverse arches are still semicircular and the vault is somewhat rudimentary. The system as a whole may be considered as a fourth method[215] of the Norman builders to preserve their clerestory intact and still vault their churches. A slight advance is shown in the vaults at Pontorson (Manche) (middle of twelfth century). This is, however, a small church without side aisles and its vaults are in almost square bays with pointed transverse arches and considerably domed up at the crown. Wall ribs are still lacking as at Durham and Lessay.