Look upwards in Westminster Hall, and you will see a beautiful set of curved beams on the ceiling. These have a connection with Upchurch as royal carpenter Hugh Herland of Upchurch designed them and organised the work to lift and hang the beams into place.
Hugh Herland lived in Upchurch with his wife Joan from 1378 to 1391. His carpentry work became so well known that King Richard II made him the royal carpenter. He also worked on projects at the Tower of London, Rochester Castle, Queenborough Castle and many others.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lying in state below the hammer-beam roof at Westminster Hall.
Work to construct the roof at Westminster Hall began in 1393 and finished in 1399 and was supervised by Hugh Herland and stone mason Henri Yevele. The hall's timber beams and arches were framed in Farnham, Surrey and then transported on barges and wagons to Westminster. The arches were joined at the apex with a span of 60 feet. These held the weight of the roof. The arches themselves were supported by buttressed walls. When completed, it became the largest hammer-beam roof in the world and is still considered an architectural masterpiece.
Because of the height, constructing the roof with the buttressed walls proved challenging and highly dangerous. The beams had to be lifted 92 feet and fitted into position by men working on very tall ladders. The result of the project involving many craftsmen is a large hall not obstructed with pillars that became the largest in Northern Europe and one of the great masterpieces of the medieval period.
When you are viewing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, look above to the ceiling where you will see the great work of Hugh Herland from Upchurch.
David Wood
