(b ?nr Yeaveley, Derbys, c. 1320–30; d London, 21 Aug 1400). English architect. He is first recorded in 1353, when he was granted the freedom of the City of London. He quickly rose to prominence and c. 1357 he was appointed mason to Edward, Prince of Wales (1330–76). The title of King’s Deviser of Masonry, which he held from 1360 to his death, indicates that he was recognized as an architect in the modern sense, with responsibility for design, erection and maintenance of all Crown works, such as Queenborough Castle (1361–7; destr. 1650; see also PLANTAGENET, (4)) and Rochester Castle (repaired 1367–8). Stylistic evidence, including characteristically Perpendicular mouldings, indicates that he was responsible for the Black Prince’s chantry (from 1363) in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. In 1371 he contracted to build the first cell and the cloister of the London Charterhouse. The Neville screen (1372–6) in Durham Cathedral has been attributed to Yevele’s London workshop (see DURHAM, §1(ii)). He also designed John of Gaunt’s chantry (1374–c. 1378; destr. 1666) for Old St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

• Yevele, Henry
  • Durham, §1(ii): Cathedral sculpture
  • Mason (i), §II, 2: The masons: Wages and social standing
  • collaboration
    • Plantagenet: (6) Richard II, King of England
  • works
    • Bridge, §2(i): Before c 1500
    • Canterbury, §I, 1: History and urban development, before c 1530
    • Canterbury, §III, 1(v): Cathedral architecture, after 1184
    • Gothic, §II, 2(ii): Architecture, late 13th century–the 16th: British Isles
    • London, §II, 2: Urban development, 1066–1665
    • London, §V, 2(i): Westminster Abbey: Architecture
    • London, §V, 3(i)(a): Palace of Westminster, c 1059–1547: Architecture
    • London, §V, 3(i)(a): Palace of Westminster, c 1059–1547: Architecture
    • Perpendicular style