Crypt
|
A crypt (from the Greek ‘krypto’, which means hidden or concealed) is a vaulted room frequently made of stone and located beneath a building, usually a church or cathedral. Crypts can also be found in cemeteries, mausolea and chapels, as well as public buildings.
A crypt may be entirely or partly below ground. Occasionally, a crypt may be located at ground level, which would result in the entire building being raised.
Crypts may also be referred to as crofts or undercrofts, however, a croft under a house is not usually called a crypt, which over the centuries has taken more of a religious significance.
When under a church, crypts are usually contained within the limits of the choir or chancel and its aisles, but may be smaller in their subterranean extent, typically confined to just under the altar or the main apse.
The decoration and majesty that is often observed in churches and cathedrals is not usually carried through to the crypt, which is often executed in a much plainer style but nevertheless still well constructed.
Crypts originally emerged as part of French Romanesque architecture in the middle of the eighth century and then spread across much of Western Europe.
In the UK, crypts were often used as chapels and contained an altar and other necessary accessories required for the celebration of feasts. Sometimes, a crypt might be used to allow pilgrims a glimpse of a saint’s tomb or other holy remains and relics. Later, crypts were used more to contain the coffins of the deceased.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
IHBC NewsBlog
2021 Building Conservation Directory published
The 2021 edition of the Building Conservation Directory, also available online, has been published. Find skilled trades specialising in work to historic and traditional buildings.
BT dials up ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme
BT has revealed that almost 4,000 of its iconic red phone boxes across the UK are available for local communities to adopt for just £1.
Watch IHBC’s webinar on ‘Retrofit of Traditional Buildings’
On 26 March the IHBC, led by Prof. John Edwards, hosted a free one-hour CPD webinar ‘Introduction to Building Survey for Retrofit’ for sector professionals.
Has the world left Europe behind?
Greg Clark, writing an opinion piece for RICS, explores how good governance in cities pays dividends.
AHF on ‘Transforming Places through Heritage’
The Architectural Heritage Fund has issued a report on the first year of its ‘Transforming Places Through Heritage’ grants programme, funded by DCMS.
‘Star Cities’, Marvels of Renaissance Engineering
Europe’s star cities are scattered all over Europe but their perfect geometrical beauty can only be fully admired when seen from above.
COTAC Releases Insight 1 series – The Need to Appreciate the Built Heritage
The freely available Insight 1 series targets a wide range of cohorts who wish to gain an appreciation of practical heritage conservation.
Palace of Westminster ‘deteriorating faster than it can be fixed’
The restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster is of ‘paramount importance’ according to the recent strategic review.
Find Webinars and other Events pertaining to Heritage Conservation
The IHBC's monthly CPD Circular showcases upcoming Events, Awards, Placements, Bursaries & Scholarships, Calls for Papers and more from across the UK and beyond.
139-Year-Old Victorian house moves through San Francisco
The move of a 139 year old Victorian House through the streets of San Francisco drew an excited crowd of onlookers who came out to watch a truck slowly and carefully pull the historic house through the streets.