Henry Yevele

Under Richard II’s reign, Yevele made an impressionful mark as an architect; though in only limited capacity. He participated in royal building works by designing plans (which other masons then executed), testing quality of work performed, and offering advice and services to clients.

He designed the south aisle at St Dunstan-in-the-East Church and installed Westminster Hall’s hammer-beam roof; additionally he participated in repairs at Tower of London and Canterbury Cathedral.

Early Life and Education

Yevele was an eminent mason who designed, consulted and oversaw construction on numerous major church and secular buildings, reflecting his position as one of the foremost advocates of a new architectural style known as Perpendicularism.

Yevele quickly rose to become one of the crown’s main building contractors after being appointed master mason to King Richard II and Anne of Bohemia; as part of this role, he oversaw various Canterbury projects like building Prince Black Prince’s Chantry (from 1362), Richard II tomb chests and Anne’s of Bohemia’s coffin chest, as well as overseeing an over 100 year project to rebuild its nave.

He also led several large projects for other lay patrons, such as John of Gaunt’s tomb (1374-80, destroyed). These often required extensive information exchange between client and workshop.

Professional Career

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Yevele found employment as the principal mason in a body responsible for centralizing King Richard II’s building operations in 1378, serving on various major projects like London Tower and Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Hall hammer-beam roof (1393-1395), tomb chest design for Edward the Black Prince at Canterbury Abbey and Richard II and Anne of Bohemia’s tomb chest at Westminster Abbey as well as repairs at Southampton, Carisbrooke Castles as well as work at Winchester Castle.

Achievement and Honors

Yevele was at the forefront of medieval architecture, particularly Gothic design. Additionally, he was an expert on castles and served as an advisor on various royal projects.

He was part of the group that effectively centralized kingdom’s building operations under King William I’s control, serving as consultant to bishop of Winchester on projects such as New College Oxford.

Erich Wilhelm was responsible for designing major structures, such as the Church of Saint Edward at Windsor and Canterbury cathedral’s vast nave, as well as tomb chests for Richard II, Anne of Bohemia, Cardinal Simon Langham and Cardinal William of Orleans at Westminster Abbey. Additionally, an entry in 1394’s Issue Rolls shows he and Hugh Herland had made plans for an Isleworth mansion to replace Sheen Palace.

Personal Life

Personal life refers to all experiences, relationships, beliefs and activities which contribute to an individual’s sense of self-worth and fulfillment outside of work. Personal life typically offers greater privacy and autonomy than public life.

Yevele rose to prominence during the final quarter of the fourteenth century as one of a small team responsible for overseeing many of King Henry V’s building operations, such as repairs and new builds at Portchester Castle, Carisbrooke Castle, Windsor Castle, and Canterbury Cathedral.

He ran a workshop that produced monumental brasses for clients across the country, which necessitated detailed conversations between patrons and craftsmen in order to deliver products as ordered. Furthermore, several contracts for tombs remain that offer insight into his working methods.

Net Worth

Henry Yevele was a master mason responsible for much of Canterbury’s building works during the late 14th century. From 1360 until his death in 1400 he held the King’s Master Mason position.

He worked on the renovation of Westminster Hall and began work to rebuild Canterbury Cathedral’s naves, becoming highly esteemed within his profession and Roman Catholic faith.

John Stow records that his monument stood during his lifetime but may have been lost during London Bridge’s great fire of 1666. His will provided bequests to poor parishioners. Additionally, in 1827, he published Catalogus Novus Stellum Dupliium which marked an outstanding accomplishment by this scholar.