NORMAN, in architecture, the Romanesque style developed in Normandy and England during the II th and 12th centuries, up to the time of the general adoption of Gothic architecture in both countries. As it was only shortly before the Norman con quest of England that Normandy became settled and civilized enough to produce an architecture, the origin in both countries is the same, and early types extremely similar. This common early Norman differed from Romanesque in its love of geometric ornament such as zigzags, general crudeness in carving figures and leaves, and a daring originality in construction ideas, prob ably owing much to the fact that Lanfranc of Pavia (d. 1089) had introduced Lombard ideas into many Norman abbeys.
Although the English and French phases of the style were thus identical at the start, they soon became different. The French was characterized by careful, structural articulation (Abbaye-aux-Dames and Abbaye-aux-Hommes, Caen, both founded in 1062, but altered later), and elaboration of tower and spire (S. Michel de Vaucelles, Caen, 12th century). In Eng
land the chief characteristics are enormous length of church plan, the frequent use of great round columns for the nave arcade (Gloucester cathedral, 1089-1100; Tewkesbury abbey, 1123; and Durham cathedral, alternate piers, 1099-1128) and great decora tive richness (Prior's door, Ely cathedral, late 12th century; S. Mary's chapel, Glastonbury abbey, 1186; the front of Tilley church, 12th century; and the Galilee porch at Durham, c. 1175). The general Norman structural genius is most markedly shown in the ribbed vault of Durham cathedral, whose date is much de bated, being placed as early as 1133 and as late as the 13th cen tury. (See BYZANTINE AND ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE.)