William of Sens

Timeline

1. c. 1164–1174Sens · BurgundyWilliam was known as a mason of Sens; Gervase wrote that he was 'most skilled in both wood and stone'. Sens Cathedral is one of the earliest Gothic cathedrals in France, and he must have known its rib vaults, clustered piers, and three-story elevation, which became his technical capital when hired in England.
2. 1174–1175Canterbury · KentIn September 1174 the choir of Canterbury Cathedral was destroyed by fire. The monk Gervase recorded that the chapter convened English and French masons for consultation and ultimately retained William. He was responsible for demolishing dangerous walls, importing stone from overseas, and devising ingenious devices for loading ships and vertical transport.
3. 1175–1178Canterbury Cathedral · KentFrom 1175 he extended a new choir eastward from the surviving Romanesque foundations, introducing sexpartite vaults, colored marble columns, and clerestory proportions, creating England's first important early Gothic interior. The work also served the pilgrimage needs following the translation of Becket's relics.
4. 1178–1180Canterbury Cathedral · KentAround 1178 he fell from the scaffolding and was seriously injured, which Gervase recorded as 'God's punishment or the malice of the devil'. He directed work from his bed for a time but eventually returned to France, dying on 11 August 1180. The work was continued by William the Englishman according to his overall design and completed in 1184.