Literally western work, western wing. The western part of the basilica, characteristic of pre-romanesque architecture, located on the nave. Westwork was generally erected on a square or rectangular plan. Inside was a chapel in which occasional services were celebrated and baptism was given. In the upper part was a matroneum that opened with arcades to the interior of the church, dedicated to the ruler, the clergy and the monks taking part in the basilic mass. Whole was often crowned with one or two towers, to which the stairs led, located in the western corners. The central part of the westwork facade along with the main portal was sometimes extended before the front of the wall. Westwork was accessible from the outside through the portal entrance. Westwork first appeared in antique churches in Syria and in some churches in Spain. The oldest examples of the westwork architecture are located in today’s Germany: the 8th century Aachen chapel and the 9th century Corvey abbey church.
