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AN ANALYSIS
OF

GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE:
ILLUSTRATED BY A SERIES OF UPWARDS OF SEVEN HUNDRED EXAMPLES OF

DOORWAYS, WINDOWS,

ETC. ETC.

ACCOMPANIED WITH REMARKS

SEVERAL DETAILS OE AN ECCLESIASTICAL EDIEICE.

BY

LONDON:
PELHAM RICHARDSON,
SOLD ALSO BY THE AUTHORS,

23,

CORNHILL.

BEAUFORT BUILDINGS, STRAND,

11,

AND BY GEORGE BELL,

186,

MDCCCXLVII.

FLEET STREET.

LONDON
WILLIAM STETBNS, PRINTER,
TEMPLE BAR.

BF.IX YARD,

TO THE

MOST HONOURABLE THE MARQUESS OE NORTHAMPTON, P.R.S.

ETC., ETC., ETC.,

WHOSE DISTINGUISHED NAME

IS

SO JUSTLY

ENDEARED TO THE

CAUSE OF ENGLISH CHURCH ARCHITECTURE,

THIS WORK
IS,

WITH PERMISSION,

MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

BY HIS LORDSHIP'S GREATLY OBLIGED AND VERY OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANTS,

RAPHAEL AND

1847.

BE.^LFORT BUILDINGS,

J.

ARTHUR BRANDON,

PREFACE.
F

the numerous works recently called into existence

by the prevalent

of inquiry and research into the Ecclesiastical Architecture

spirit

of the Middle Ages, none has supplied such an analysis of details

as

absolutely essential, no less for the complete abstract elucida-

is

tion of the principles of this great art, than for their correct practical application.

The

present

work has been undertaken with a view

to supply this deficiency,

by

presenting a series of good and pure specimens of the various details which occur

Church Architecture, as they are exemplified

in

in

existing

Edifices.

The

examples thus selected commence with the closing style of the Romanesque,*

and range throughout the Gothick

The Authors,

era, properly so called.

desirous to adhere in every respect to their plan of producing

a practical rather than an historical

purposely avoided

Many

Saxons.

all

abounding
is

has
in

been

by the architect

* This

if

remote period, and much of both curious and valuable

thus

of

the

any claims

term was

first

day

present

indeed
to

its

our

adopted by the Rev.

note explanatory of this term, Mr.

calls

Saxon Architecture, however, though

elicited.

and barbarous as a constructive system, and consequently

And

authority.

very few,

of the architecture of the Anglo-

materials for interesting research to the antiquary and historian,

at best but rude

or

illustration

excellent treatises have been devoted to the investigation of the

style of building at this

information

and

notice

work on English Church Architecture, have

Gunn thus

cannot be considered

it

successor,

regard

and

W.

in his

Gunn,

justifies its

the

as

Anglo-Norman,

adoption.

That

a
has

this

"Inquiry on Gothic Architecture."

analogy: "A

modem Roman,

guide
but
style

In a

of whatever degree,

himself Romano, a distinction he disallows to an Inhabitant of his native city, who, though long domiciliated

yet from dubious origin, foreign extraction or alliance, he stigmatizes

architecture under discussion (Norman), in the

same point of view,"

by the term Romaneseo.

p. 80.

consider the

PREFACE.

vi

many

possesses

features

yet on the one hand,

and
its

on

the

we

themselves

trace in

true

other,

noblest efforts

in

to

it

liighly

readily

admit

prototype,

it

is

shackled even

in

by the characteristick horizontality of classick architecture.

Indeed we do not find Mediaeval Architecture to have been absolutely

free

the impress of a lingering barbarism,

all

Roman

its

we

meritorious,

from the influence of debased ancient principles,

until,

set

with the complete

establishment of the pointed arch, the manifold elements of building had under-

gone an

entire,

English

style,

With
this

although a gradual renovation.

Gothick Architecture attained

the

same view

work have been

Gothick,

own,

beautifiil as

to

entirely
it

is

derived

in itself

cannot be consistently

was then

that, in the

usefulness, the examples

from

English

Churches.

and influenced by the same

English

associated with

peculiarly distinctive features, which

it

is

Early

to its first decided development.

practical

their

It

details

given in

Continental

spirit

with our

each possesses

impossible to blend together without

serious injury to both.

It

has also been a principal object of the Authors to collect their examples

from Parish Churches only

have been already amply

it

and

to this determination they

Cathedrals, and the larger

very few exceptions.

which

illustrated,

have adhered vnXh

Abbey and Conventual Churches,

perhaps even to the detriment of the art

has been the object of such illustrations to advance

for,

from the want

of proper information upon the subject of architectural details, considered wath

reference to Edifices of various designs and magnitudes,

we

see in

many Churches

of comparatively recent ei'ection, numerous features belonging essentially to our

Cathedrals,

and contributing

decoration

but which, from the necessarily diminished proportions and general

incongruity of

effect,

in

the very highest

degree to their appropriate

appear absolutely ridiculous when introduced into the

architectural composition of the smaller Edifice.

Any

remarks,

therefore,

that

occur

in

the

course of the work, as well

as the illustrations themselves, must, unless otherwise stated, be understood to

have special reference to Parochial Structures.

The
sections

illustrative portion

of these the

first

of the work will be found to have been divided into two

is

devoted solely to a

art in all its various branches, while the

full

exposition of the mason's

second embraces a similar elucidation

PREFACE.

vii

of detail in the important accessories of wood-work and metai-Avork.

execution of the plates, no less than in their selection, the
character of the work has been
pictorial

to accomplish this, the

without aiming at
fidelity

authors have personally

made

the drawings, and engraved

them on

zinc.

subjects only form exceptions, the one a floor-cross from St. Patrick's Cathe-

which they have drawn from a rubbing kindly sent them by

Dublin,

dral,
J.

practical

every Church, from which examples have been drawn, and have them-

selves taken the admeasurements,

Two

been to ensure the greatest possible

beauty, the object has

and accuracy of delineation

visited

uniformly kept in view

strictly

In the

K.

Colling, Esq.

and the other, the diapers upon the shield of Sir Robert

de Vere, Earl of Oxford, A.D. 1221,

the

in

Church of Hatfield Broadoaks,

Essex, for a rubbing of which the authors are indebted to the kindness of the

Rev. Charles Boutell

ledgments

much

for

Had

description.

to

whom

they also have to

offer

their

sincere

acknow-

valuable assistance in the arrangement of their letter-press

the plates been executed by

more practised zincographers,

they would doubtless have exhibited a higher degree of artistick treatment, and
greater beauty of finish

of

some

slight

but

this,

was

it

feared,

might have involved the

risk

inaccuracy, and thus have considerably diminished the utility

of the examples.

The humble

have been sweetened and rendered

labours of the authors

dear to them by the sincerest admiration for those noble monuments of piety

and

our

skill,

dishonoured
our

land

enhance

as

English Churches

which

they often remain,

and should

sentiments

their

are

exertions

of interest

Ages, their desire will be most

in

the

fully

even

still

in

now, cruelly mutilated

foremost

among

the

and

glories

of

any way tend to encourage and

matchless architecture

accomplished.

of the

Middle

INTRODUCTION.
ERY

shortly after the

Christian era, the Ecclesiastical Architecture of this country, as

to the accession of a

among

if

preparatory

dynasty, became assimilated to the pecuhar form

Norman

ourselves as the

of Normandy, and at the

Duchy

of Romanesque then estabUshed in the

present day distinguished

years of the

commencement of the second thousand

Anglo-Norman

style.

The

first

principles

of this style appear to have been introduced into England by Edward the Confessor, or
possibly

to the construction of the

by Canute, and by them apphed

erected during their reigns

princes,

was

very highest degree of perfection to which

by many of their works which yet remain

it

development of a system

in reality the

was capable of

still,

attaining, is

no sooner

for

by the working, as

an'ives at full maturity,

than

it is

gi-adually superseded

classick architecture to admit of its

Anglo-Norman

style,

by some other form or

style,

But

besides the influence

retained by far too

permanent estabUshment.

of ancient

ponderous and self-supported walls, the rectangularly recessed arches, the square

rather of a gi-ander style in a state of debasement, of

gi-eat style rising

Ages preparing to measure

Anglo-Norman the

was wanting
fi-om

much

The low and massive propor-

abaci and plinths, and the strictly supei-ficial character of every decoration,

the

it

form of a

latent yet constraining law, one style, or one distinctive

of this inherent principle of change, the

than of a

became, there was

It appears, indeed, true that

which necessarily involved its suppression.

differing in a greater or less degree, yet still essentially differing.

tions, the

most evidently shown

intrinsically excellent as it

Architecture shares in the general instabihty of things ten-estrial

would seem, of some

fairly

architects raised their style to the

That the Anglo-Norman

established before the conquest.

in its very essence that

Church Architecture which

so that the rapid improvement in

Norman

took place under the

numerous Churches

a Pagan

upward
its

fi-om its foundation

essentially

these

all

spoke

degenerated to Romanesque,

of the Architecture of the Middle

strength with the Ai-chitecture of antiquity.

at the best, there

origin,

Roman

And

again, in

aspuing and expansive character of Christian Ai'chitecture

was something Basilican

though not

itself

actually
c

in

Pagan.

it,

something not
Therefore, in

far

removed

reviewing

the

INTRODUCTION.

Transition Period which intervened

the

full

between the

estabhshment of the Anglo-Gothick

tinal

close

Anglo-Norman and

of the

the passing style

styles, all regi-et for

than overbalanced by joyous contemplations of superior excellence in

more

is

After

successor.

its

an Architectural struggle of unusually protracted continuance, during which the elementary

new

features of the
old,
its

appeared blended with the estabUshed characteristicks of the

style

Gothick Architecture assumed a

superiority, in the hghtness, the

distinguished the Early English

the

questioned

if

ever a

hands that reared

form

and at once gave

" a

parallel

the

or

observes the author of the

style,"

to

minds

it

that

has

existed

conceived

which as unsurpassed by former ages, so future generations

Manual

that

itself,

may

it

any age or countiy, or

in

the

choirs

both of

detail

if

of Ely and Lincoln

that,

shall never see equalled again."

Henry (A.D. 1216

1272)

and combination, appeared

in the

the reign of the third

novelties,

which

Abbeys of Whitby, Westminster, and Rivaulx, have not achieved

Cathedrals, the

As

assurance of

fiill

elegance, the loftiness, and the spaciousness

" so transcendently beautiful, so perfect in

of Gothick Architecture,*
well be

style

definite

approached

close,

its

certain

works of Gothick Architects.

In place of distinct lancets, isolated by strips of the main wall in which they were pierced,

and yet combined by continuous dripstones and hoodmolds, windows of large dimensions and
divided into several hghts
bars, filling the

by muUions, were introduced

more

beautifully blended

became instead firmly compacted

being suppressed

mass

into a

tliey

adorned

the

alternation of bold

to a system of gi'ouping, richer

banded into

clusters,

and
and

the bands, no longer of any use, real or apparent,

Gothick enrichment, appeared more closely studied

and instead of waving

stalks, the several leaves

member which

encircle the

way

figures

shafts ceased to stand detached, or

foliage, ever a favourite

fi'om the natural tree or plant

upward-tending

and with the mullions came tracery-

wdndow-heads with various rich geometrical

projections and deep hollows in the moldings gave

far

trefoils,

expanding fi-om clustered and

were disposed in a WTcath-Uke form, and made to

:

more abundant and

diversified decoration also,

began to overspread the several component members of a Gothick

imparting a

Edifice,

finished richness to the whole.

Thus

it

was that the Early English

gi-adually

merged into the Decorated,

admirable style, which has identified with the Edwardian era (abounding as

of high historick interest) the perfection of Anglo-Gothick

several peculiarities

assumed a very

art.

As

it

its earliest

most

does in matters

this style advanced, its

clearly defined distinctness of character

same time, the geometrical precision of

that

while, at the

form yielded to a predominance of

fines,

flowing with gi-aceful undulations.

tendency to direct
*

verticality, placing itself in, perhaps, violent

Manual of Gothick Architecture, page 230, by F. A.

Paley, Esq.,

M.A.

contrast with

Van

Voorst.

the

INTRODUCTION.

Romanesque horizontalism of the Anglo-Norman, had been

in the Early English Gothick,

the

characteristick

special

cipal lines

In the Decorated Gothick, the prin-

of that beautiful style.

of the composition verged pyramidically, rather than vertically or horizontally.

series of

And, to complete the

changes in this fundamental principle, a

of Anglo-Gothick was distinguished by the prevalence of perpendicular

angles by others of scarcely less importance than themselves.

the position of
the Decorated

had

itself

and of

this

the

Perpendicular Gothick,

Decorated,

its

style, fi'om

and

gi-ace

For a while the new style was content to retain much

predecessor, in combination with

historically

(or,

first

speaking,

the

what was more

Lancastrian)

especially its

period

of the

although certainly wanting in the majestick beauty of the pure

would be

it

gorgeous

supremacy before enjoyed by the more youthful

succeeded to

that was characteristick of

:

last

crossed at right

and harmonious richness of the Decorated

as the mature, yet ever chaste

elegance of the Early EngHsh.

own

lines,

period

leading lines denominated the Perpendicular Gothick, gi-adually supplanted

its
;

This

tliird distinct

difficult

to

speak in terms of too high admiration.

With the

depressed arch of the Tudors, however, came that multiphcity, profusion, and minuteness

of panelling, and other ornamental

Ai-chitectonick

in

always

system

fatal

symptom.

single

which but too

Debasement,

once

former

its

exalted

clearly indicated a decadence

movement

retrogi-ade

admitted,

and then a period of utter degradation

animated by

revive,

taste.

detail,

will

in

Architecture

speedily

pervades

intei-vene, before the art

is

almost

the

entire

can again

and capable of aspiring to even nobler

spirit,

achievements.
It

has been thus with the Church Ai-chitecture of the Middle Ages

decline, it spread over its last gi'eat

monumental
and

di'eaiy

canopies, not

works those elaborately

unworthy of Gothick

art

it is

Ecclesiastical Edifices, there is

reason for associating with the past, both present congratulation and future hope

for

truly satisfactory to observe the existing recognition of the superior merit of Mediseval

its

principles

state of feeling
spirit,

Church Architecture, and the prevalent anxiety to obtain

and of

it is

their practical application

con'ect views both

and from the actual existence of such a

not unreasonable to anticipate that complete revival of the original Gothick

which may even lead to an Architectural perfection hitherto unknown. But before advance

can become practicable,

first

fretted vaults of fan-tracerj', as

age of Architectm'al debasement.

Architecture, as

of

magnificent even in

and then speedily came on the long

Taking thus a retrospective view of the history of our

much

it

thing to be attained

is

is

indispensable that there be a recovery from retrogi'ession.

the mastery of Gotliick Architecture as

It is accordingly the object of these

volumes, by conveying a clear and

various details of Church Architecture

as

they

exist in

it

The

has been practised.

full

exposition of the

om* Churches, to contribute, in

INTRODUCTION.

4
however humble a

And

here

it

may

Early, Decorated,

toward the attainment of

degi'ee,

all-important preliminary step.

be remarked, that undue importance must not be attached to the terms

and Perpendicular Gotliick, as though they denoted so many

For convenience

Church Architecture.*

styles in

tliis

studying, and also with a view to

in

simplify the process of classifj'ing details, these terms have been invented
distinctive titles, to certain Architectural forms or periods

and assigned, as

the forms and periods themselves,

however, are really but modifications and progressive eras of one and the same style
is

most important that

distinct

As

in this light they should be regarded.

it

and

it

has been already

observed, " the great principles and essential characteristics of Gothick Architecture remained

unchanged, fi'om the

establishment to the final suppression of the style

first

though the several conditions of Gothick Architecture have led to

each distinguished by a peculiar name

still,

its

and hence,

subdivision into styles,

these minor styles must, in the

first

instance,

be regarded as mere subdivisions, or rather as the more prominent transition stages of the

one

gi-eat style,

Accordingly, notwithstanding that dates have been assigned

the Gothick. "f

to these several subdivisions of Gotliick Architecture,

peremptoiy certainty where one stage of the

can be

(unwilling to depart, as

same time

it

that, in other localities, complete

period subsequent to the time that

The

still

were, fi'om the scene of

manner Decorated may be observed

dicular.

art left off,

doubt but that Early English was

little

is

it is

impossible to fix with absolute and

and where another began.

in use in

many

its

some

parts of the

still

kingdom

glorious triumphs) at the veiy

Decorated was struggling into existence

to have

There

and in

like

lingered here and there for a considerable

generally considered to

mark the estabhshment of Perpen-

commencement and

usually received dates, therefore, of the

close of the Early

English, Decorated, and Perpendicular Gothick, in strict reaUty sei-ve only to indicate those

minor stages of transition which intervened between the several more important periods of
Anglo-Gothick Architecture

and in

this capacity they are veiy useful

their utihty

is gi-eatly

increased also, fiom the circumstance of then- ranging with the reigns of successive sovereigns,
for the association of Ai'chitecture wdth history is always

In pursuing the study of Mediaeval Architecture,

most

it is

desirable.

absolutely necessary to pass on from

WTitten and illustrated treatises to original examples themselves.

so completely described, nor so illustrated
* This nomenclature, introduced by the late
sufficiently well

adapted to

its

purpose

in like

it

Architecture,

May,

18-16.

as being in itself

possesses the very important advantage of being

manner, where words already

;

exist

which

clearly explain the

but where such terms are wanting, free use has

been made of the nomenclature of the Middle Ages revived by Professor

the Rev. C. Boutell, M.A., Secretary.

can neither be

Mr. Rickman, has been retained by the Authors,

have uniformly been adopted

t Lectures upon English Church

art

by the pencil as to convey any adequate conceptions

while at the same time

And,

generally recognised and understood.

different details of Architecture, they

Gothick

Willis.

delivered before the

St.

Alban's Architectural Society, by

INTRODUCTION.

of

its

It

reality.

may, therefore, be held as an axiom, that personal inspection of the old

chm-ches of England

the

is

otili/

mean, by which

it

can be possible now, either to appreciate

the genius of our mediaeval architects, or to sympathize with the spirit which animated them.

But

in carefully studying early remains,

may

possible that even experienced observers

is

it

sometimes be misled by a practice, the very existence of which can scarcely be considered to
have received a general recognition

work

is

to say, of occasionally assimilating

is

mcomplete general design.

existing portion of an

some already

in a later style to

This

the practice, that

a remarkable and highly important circumstance

basis of authoritative rules for restoration of original Edifices

it

forms a strongly marked exception to the usual practice

builders of the Middle Ages, never to

engaged
times

it is

his

own previous works.

and each sought

to their Churches, the style then prevailing

it

And

art,

even when

which

spirit,

knew must

any fresh design to improve upon

in

in repairing, or

making

was invariably and boldly adopted

had to complete a design,

some instances

to

mold

left

necessarily exist the

from the

their

work

first

in

same

in these

one " Master"

any period of

at

it.

additions

the architects

of those days trusted in the beautiful harmony which breathes throughout their great
wliich they well

indeed,

was a general rule with the

aim was advancement

would seem that when engaged

It

does, at the very

by ourselves.

Influenced by a

scarcely possible yet to understand, their sole

was ever anxious to surpass another

it

back upon a past era of their

fall

completing Stinictures of a by-gone age.

in

for

Ipng, as

art,

and

But when they

imperfect, they appear to have been induced in

such manner, as to maintain

the general outline

in

some degree of uniformity throughout the whole.

The grand and venerable Abbey Church of

Alban preserves examples, no

St.

remarkable for diversity than excellence, of the proceedings of the " Masters " of

Nave, including the

triforia

and

clearstory,

was

originally

Anglo-Norman

in the extreme, yet strikingly majestick in its austere simplicity.

after a lapse of time, the Early English
alter the

Nave

to that style, and thereby improve

commenced, began
north

side,

Gothick was

at the west,

it.

fairly

It

plain

old.

less

The

and massive

would appear that when,

estabhshed,

it

was determined to

The work of renovation accordingly

and the design extended to the

We

and the three corresponding ones on the south.

first

four arches on the

must imagine that

for

some

reason the works were suspended, and that an interval of several years elapsed before they

were again resumed

progressed, and Early

the

for

when once more proceeded

EngHsh Gothick was

Anglo-Norman arches on the south

shortly to give

side

the style had

with,

way

were rebuilt at

to Decorated.

considerably

Two more

of

this period, their general design

being the same, the strings &c. corresponding with the earlier work, while a partial diflference
is

observable in the

discontinued

moldings and other

ornamental

details.

Again were

the works

nor was any further effort attempted, with a view to the reconstruction of

INTRODUCTION.

Church, until

the

degree of

beauty and

its

gradually undergone

And

jierfection.

commencement

Since the

assimilation.

Gothick

Decorated

the

had

attained

ahnost the very highest

to

of these improvements, Gothick Architecture had

a remarkable change

architect been desirous of assimilating his

so that

work

very certain that, had not the

is

it

to that of his predecessors, he

adopted a design very different from that which has actually been carried into
is,

work of

here begins, correctly speaking, the

the general character of the Early English pier-arches

would have

As

effect.

it

here preserved, though the

is

moldings of the arch-heads, and the capitals of the piers are pure Decorated.

In the south

triforium also, the arrangement of both the arches and sub-arches of the arcade corresponds

with the similar members

})laced in the

earlier

work

(though no

shafts

longer detached) are

jambs, and strings are continued above and below the arcade, in which the long

of tooth-ornament are superseded by a series of the square flower of four leaves.

trails

And

the

in

again, the walls of the clearstory (quite at variance with the practice of the time) are

piei'ced

with lancet windows, in evident continuation of the original design: the propoitions

of these windows are precisely similar to those in the adjacent Early English portion of the

The

Church, but their moldings are beautiful and pure Decorated.

beneath the parapet on the exterior,
English notch-heads
(valuable

are

specimens of

continued

but in the later portion of

have given way to a

seen to
the

is

head-dresses

corbel

of the

and

it,

also,

the Early

male and female heads

series of

period)

table

heads,

lions'

peculiarly a

Decorated ornament.
In Westminster
that in a

manner

Abbey Chui'ch

still

this

same curious process appears

more remarkable,

Nave and

in the Nave-piers

and arches,

The

eastern part of the

the

western portion was continued at intervals, between

The Early English

many

cases

it

character,

requires a close

possible to detect

Aisles

was

rebuilt

triforia

and vaulting.

between the years 1269 and 1307

the

years

and

1340 and 1483.*

however, has been so well preserved throughout, that in

inspection,

and that by an experienced eye, before

and authenticate the presence of Perpendicular work.

in the Aisles erected

also exemplified, and

and

it

work itself, which would

against their being classified as such, did not the customary octagonal

is

Thus, the windows

by Henry V. are very decidedly of Early Decorated character

indeed, be difficult to assign any reason, from the aspect of the

it

might,

militate

and molded cap of the

Perpendicular period occupy the place of the con-esponding circular and foliated members

which, had the windows really been erected some hundred years

have surmounted the bowtels placed in their jambs.

is

An

also observable in the plans of the Nave-piers of the

shafts stand clearly detached fi'om the

*

would assuredly

equally characteristick distinction

two eras

main body of the

earlier,

pier

Neale's History of Westminster Abbey.

in the early

work, four

but subsequently the pier

INTRODUCTION.
was worked with eight
perpendicilak Nave Pier.

shafts,

thougli

equally attached

all

in

nevertheless

is

but

rcality

the

mass.

central

This

last,

a trifling deviation fi'om the original plan,

of the

indicative

which detached

to

fashion

altered

of the

day, in

once such a favourite feature, were entirely

shafts,

discarded.

In the Nave of Westminster Abbey, as at St. Alban's, in the

midst of this partial amalgamation of

member

the

treatment

strictness the

how

put

have

Henr}'S,

Moldings we

of their

aside

the

that

find

attempt

all

of retm'ning to what was then

seem to have been

felt to

its

characteristick identity

of the

architects

assimilation,

at

molding system of their own times.*

capricious these architects

symptom

appears to have invariably rejected the slightest

of compromisc, aud maintained

eaelt English Nave Pier.

one most important

styles,

and

pursued

be an inferior

with

It is, indeed, truly

in their adaptation,
style, yet at

fifth

in

for,

and sixth
scrupulous

worthy of remark

jealous, apparently,

the same time anxious to

preserve and be guided by the conceptions of the original author of the general design.

must be noted

that,

when

altogether foreign to their

copy exactly the model

out

it

member

introducing, for the general purpose of assimilation, a

own

style,

was the

It

the architects of the Perpendicular period disdained to

original idea,

and that idea alone, that they cared to cany

thus in the piers they worked the bands of the thirteenth century with the moldings
peculiar

to

drawn to the same

not only
original.

The accompanying

the fifteenth.
scale,

show how

cuts, both

they departed

fearlessly

fi.'om

the outline, but also fi"om the size of the

And

thus also in the

triforia,

the Early English

Band to Nave Piers.

ABU

English,

(jggjgn

of the

portions

differ essentially,

jg

work

equally

Piers.

'pL'^Eh^DicoLAR."^'

in

the

and

former

latter

but the moldings in these respective portions

each being true to the style of

again, although the gi'oining

Band to Nave

apparent

is

its

own

tolerably in keeping throughout

Aisles and in the later portion of the vaulting, the

And

period.

original

in the

spring and

height of the ridge-rib have been preserved, while to the elegant acutely pointed lancet of the

* It

may

not be out of place here to remark, that the architect in chief to our King Henry V., and the probable

author of the assimilations referred to in the text, was Alexander de Bemeval, the builder of the later portion of the

Church of

St.

Ouen,

at

Rouen

in

which Edifice

is still

preserved an Incised Slab of elaborate workmanship, the

memorial of his predecessor in that great and splendid work, as well as of himself.
interesting

monument

the entire tomb

Ouen by

is

Gilbert.

are figured in the Rev. Charles Boutell's Treatise

represented by Willemin in his

Monuments

Inedits,

and

The

effigies

depicted in this

upon Monumental Brasses and Slabs

also in the description of the

and

Church of

St.

INTRODUCTION.

an obtusely pointed arch has been preferred

earlier groining,

necessary to

arcading also,

we

the process

are describing.

the Perpendicular work

new system
made

this

mode of

feature,

we

that
find

was not deemed advisable to omit

it
it

how

in

it

has been continued quite round the Church

still

in this instance, in its

main features

On

it

has been revived, and

examining the moldings, however,

rigidly the distinctive peculiarities of the Perpendicular style

Sectio.n of

have

Cap at D.

Section on Line N N.
Section op Cap at

C.

Section on Li.ne A A.

Westminster .\bbey Church.

This

been adhered

to.

append cuts

the one a beautifully molded specimen of Early English work, the other an

equally good

is

decoration had long since been disused, and supplanted by the

assimilate to the earlier portion.

perceive

of

illustration

In the Early English portion of the Church, this arcading

accordingly

of panelling,

closely to

we again

has been

Peependicdlar Arcade, Westminster Abbey

Church.

under the windows, we find another striking

was made such a prominent

and although

it

stilt.

Early English Arcade. AVestmisster Abbey

Church.

In the

which consequently

especially to

be remarked

and pure Perpendicular example.

The

in

the two capitals of which

stilted

we

and octagonal base of the

Perpendicular shaft contrasts very forcibly with the low and unpretending Early English
base, each indicative of the prevailing spirit in the Architecture of

its

respective age.

INTRODUCTION.
One more

The choh of

of Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire.
built

by Edmund of Langley,

Richard

son of Edward

fifth

be mentioned

this

III.

Church
and

in

we

Church

refer to the

supposed to have been

is

1435, (13th of Henry VI.)

of York, his son's nephew, signed by commission a contract with William

Duke

Horwood, fi-eemason of Fotheringhay,

and

may

notable instance of assimilation

for the rebuilding of the Parish

Church on a

This contract, w^hich

in a style exactly corresponding to those of the choir.*

preserved, states that the said William Hoi-wood, " graunts and undertakes to

scale,
still

is

mak up

a new

body of a Kirk joyning to the quire of the College of Fodringhey, of the same hight and
brede that the said quhe

accordyng in
at all ;"

is

poynts unto the wyndows of the said quire, sawf they shal no bowtels haf

all

and also that " aither of the said

clen-hewyn

have

Isles shal

and every botrasse fynisht with a

be wyndows of freestone,

in " eche Isle shall

and that

of,"

six

mighty botrasse of fre-stone,

according in

fynial,

all

points to the fynials

of the said qwere, safe only that the botrasse of the body shal be more large, more strong

Now

here

we have a document which

new body of the Church,

the Decorated choir already

and mighty than the botrasse of the said qwere."

expressly states that in building the
existing

is

to form the guide

and be exactly copied

and yet William Horwood, we must

imagine, was so entirely imbued with the Architectural sphit of his day, that even with
these positive injunctions before him, he

almost every portion of his work.

have hmited their practice to one

able even

among

Middle Ages

they arrived.

many

the

let

still

Truly, that

should not merely

our ancient builders

but actually to one period of that

style,

extraordinaiy facts

style, is

remark-

connected with the Architecture of the

such being the case, how can we wonder at the astonishing perfection at which
It is in

those of the choir

the piers that

as in

we may

observe more particularly the assimilation to

Westminster Abbey Church, with a plan of an earUer period they

combine an aiTangement essentially Perpendicular

phnth and

the Perpendicular architect be visible in

such

is

the stilted base, and octagonal

with the intermediate continuous moldings, so

capital,

common

Indeed when we remember that the then existing choir had two

understand that

if

uniformity of design was sought after,

it

about this period.

aisles,

we can

would be so more

easily

especially in

the piers and arches, as they form in a Parish Church the most striking internal features.

The arches

in

the nave are pointed, and of good proportion, and were probably

made

conformable with those already existing in the choh.

From

these

examples, therefore,

it

portions of the fabrick of the larger Churches,

architects to assimilate

new work

uniformity of an original design

this

practice

to

have been
*

far

to

and

old,
it

is

in reconstructing

clearly evident that

is

it

certain

was an occasional practice with the mediaeval

so far as

would tend to caiTy out the

genei'al

highly probable that further researches will show

more extensively adopted, than

Memoirs of Gothick Churches, published by the Oxford

at present

Society.

is

imagined.

INTRODUCTION.

10

Whether

it

(juestions

desemng

was

also

followed in small %allage Churches, and

a close and searching investigation.*

occasionally present themselves, and which

may

they occur,

result

it is difficult

and that

features

which

Be

may

this as
ai'ise

may, one thing

it

fi'om this practice of

that the assimilating process never extends to the moldings.

however great an extent the

an Edifice

earlier portion of

are

to reconcile with the style in which

from some such an arrangement.

is,

many

Possibly

appears sure and invariable amidst whatever of uncei'tainty

assimilation

what extent,

so to

if

may have been

these important

To

subsequently copied,

members were always worked

in strict conformity with the ordinary system

prevalent at the time of their constiniction

and thus they

will

be found guides

of the

greatest possible authority, as well for detecting

the application of this principle of assimilation,

as

for

determining the date of those Strac-

tures, or parts of Structures,

which maintain

throughout an architectural consistency. Such,

at least,
all

is

the conclusion

fairly

deducible from

the instances, which the authors of these

volumes have examined.

Before adverting to their analysis of more
strictly Architectural details,

remark

monumental

that

the authors here

brasses

may

fre-

quently be studied by the architect, with satisfactory

ment of the canopies

effective

while, in

The annexed

in

these interesting memorials

illustration

Mr. Paley,

rebuilt after the

in his

beneficial results.
is

is

from the

manual

(p. 214),

model of the other side

who

brass,

in

The

arrange-

almost invariably elegant and

some examples, they display designs of most

de Bohun, Duchess of Gloucester,

*

and

elaborate magnificence.

Westminster Abbey Church, of Alianor

died in 1399.

mentions that

"now and

as at Little Casterton

then the arches on one side of a nave were

Church, Rutland, where there are semi-circvdar arches

of the fourteenth century, evidently suited to others of the twelfth."

AN

ANALYSIS
OF

GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.
SECTION I.-OF MASONEY.
1.

WINDOWS.

TRACERIED

window may be

characteristick

of Gothick

justly regarded

Ai'chitecture,

a peculiarly distinctive

as

own grand

its

and

conception,

most beautiful emiclunent.

Well aware of
artistick

exemplify in

this

versatihty and the

traceiy,

one

and

constructive

member,

power of

skill,

preference

in

great art.

their

imposing richness of

effect.

It

is,

Mediaeval

the
as

would

it

architects

seem

to

Hence the astonishing

almost invariable grace and elegance,

its

both

remarkable suitableness for the display of

its

just

its

delighted

all

others,

to

the

diversity in their

harmony of proportion, and

however, most certain, that Gothick windows are

far

from being specimens only of mediaeval genius, most admirable as these specimens are
for,

upon a

critical

examination,

general principles of design, as

capricious

ramifications

becomes evident that they are regulated by

it

weU

as of composition

now

and consequently, the apparently

and undulations of the stonework, are in reahty no other than

variously modified applications of the

In

sketching out the

same fundamental

origin

laws.

of traceiy in the heads of windows,

developement and successive changes, we shall endeavour to

prominently distinctive forms which at different periods

upon an examination of the

been governed.

certain

rules

by which

its

it

gi'adual

illustrate the several

assumed

construction

its

may

more

previously to entering

be considered to have

;
:

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

12

Possessing several important features, and being also characteristick of certain periods,

windows altogether devoid of tracery are the

In the early

Norman

Edifices,

round headed

Susses.

as

at

Examples occur

massive walls.
tangmere chircu,

pierced,

slits

and particularly

Church,
Nately
*

Hampshu'c,

are between

England,
^"^

many

two and

upon the

rebate,

of

these

early

windows

do

as

made

to render

are absolutely devoid of

but

of design, as
externally,

the

two other

though

1,

and

opening

capitals,
* In

Norman,

lights

in the

south

in the

fi'om

masomy

absolute

them subservient

was

as at

necessity

to decorative

In Nately

end of Darenth Church exhibits

is

are without

aisle

of

over one light a dripstone

it.

These

wall, or

regularly recessed,

feature presents

withdrawn from

all

may

be

splayed

slightly

(Section

by a

1,

decoration

Norman,
;

and

in

The window-opening
slight external

splay

and ornamented with jamb-shafts, having bases

:

dripstone worked with

the ^yindows in the Chancel, including the east triplet, are rebated internally,

and retain the hooks on which the shutters hung.

page 75.

itself.

it

which carry an arch molded with the cIicatou

II.

are

lights

Waltham Abbey Church,

new and important

Clymping Church, Susses,

Churches," Vol.

Plate 2)

work about the heads of the

veiy early, exhibit a considerable advance in

still

no longer flush with the outer

here the

pi-ovision

interior their splay is very wide.

and in the

their construction also, a

is

Waltham

on the outside, without even a

perfectly plain

is

no

been

occun-ence here would seem to be the result rather of accident than

its

The windows
Plate 3)

evidently

seen at

ornament whatsoever.

all

early round-headed triplet at the east

on the exterior (Section

noticed,

may be

have

to

probably, was designed to close

shutter,

a few rude and imperfect attempts at zig-zag and billet

lights

width

in

and internally a very sUghtly indented saw-tooth molding appears over the

The very

arch.

appear

not

These windows merely resulted

Church, the east window of the apse

dripstone

of glass.

and, accordingly, but slight attempts were

Many examples

and

the

almost flush with the wall-face.

set

is

winch sometimes may be seen worked externally

Sussex.*

which

in

being at that period an object of considerable scarcity in

for fixing panels

Southease Church,

purposes.

Norfolk;

tlu-ee feet high,

Abbey Church, Essex, and Darenth Church, Kent, where

made

plain,

possible above the ground, in the

as

constinicted with a \aew to their being glazed

originally

more than

little

These windows have a considerable internal

but externally their glazing

Glass, however,

but

Stow Church,

and

do not exceed a few inches.

splay,

indeed

South ease Church, and StejTiing Church, Sussex,

in

window openings

entire

a height

great

notice.

in the small village Churches, the openings

smaU and remarkably narrow,

the wandows were

for

to present themselves to our

first

plan and two \iews of this Church are given in the

'

Parish

WINDOWS.
billets

also

is

and

appended,

membei*

this

and particularly

in

wadth as proportionate to their height.

which in the interior

string,

from window to window by

continued

is

These windows are themselves greatly increased

horizontal returns similarly ornamented.

in size,

13

simply molded, but externally

is

is

Beneath them

i-uns

enriched with the saw-

tooth.

As
were

the style advanced the windows increased in both size and richness

recessed

in

two or three

were added, and a profusion

shafts

additional

orders,

the arches

of the most elaborate carving ornamented the heads of the lights,

some

in

cases ex-

tending to the jamb-shafts and completely covering the innermost order of the masonry.
In

a window in Stourbridge Chapel, Cambridgeshire, (Appendix, Plate

the arch

is

richly diapered.

Church, Oxfordshire, presents some

Iffley

recessed windows with jamb-shafts

and here the chevi'on

head down the jamb masonry on either

Rising,

Castle

some

Norfolk, and

Beaudesert, Warwickshire,

and valuable examples of windows of

rich

may

specimens of

tine

continued fi-om the arch-

is

Amongst many

side.

the surface of

1),

Churches of

others, the

be

specified

as

containing

Other admirable specimens

this style.

be found in that most interesting Edifice, the Church of St. Cross, near Win-

will also

chester.

In the clearstoiy

than those of the

it

was a common practice to construct windows having larger openings

aisles,

as

Steyning Church, Sussex

in

one foot only from jamb to jamb

to about 2

ft.

while

where the

This

which traverses
occurs

in

arrangement
in front

passage

displays

Winchester, and Norwich, and elsewhere.

the transition or semi -Norman period

arrangement appears, with pointed,

their

and as the

common

apsidal, their rare occurrence is

unusual
arches.

as, indeed,

thickness

the

of the walls,

in

Plate

1),

in

the

Cathedrals

thus, at

Romsey Abbey Church a

place of semi-circular

beautiful,

position

termination of a

without

It

of Oxford,

This same feature was continued throughout

difficulty

precisely similar

headed arches.

would be

Norman work

at the eastern

Norman Chm'ch toward

accounted

for.

Circular

end of the

the east was

windows are not

appears but natural in a style expressly distinguished by

its

rounded

In the earlier period they are mere openings, simply moulded, or perhaps orna-

mented mth the chevron and other equally

circular

in

centre one being

occasionally introduced, are not characteristick of

most usual, as well as most

Building

pierced

the

of the clearstory windows, and forms an upper triforium.

Waltham Abbey Church (Appendix,

Triplets, although

measure

windows (themselves consisting each of

a single hght) commonly opened into an arcade of three arches

stilted.

aisle-lights

same admeasurement amounts

in the clearstory the

Internally, these clearstory

9 in.

windows constitute the clearstory

characteristick caiving.

lights

to

series

of such

the nave of Southwell Minster:

and

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

14

again

Waltham Abbey Church,

in

same

the

original

aiTangement appears to have been the

although at the present time, in consequence of subsequent

alterations,

it

is

difficult

to determine whether the existing remains

were once actual openings, or merely sunk panels.

fi'ont

able

same position the remains of a

size

may, notwithstanding, be

part of a similar

Botolph's

window has been

of Iffley Church, a Perpendicular

in this

window of

circular

traced

distinctly

window yet remains

Priory Church, Colchester.

In the west

in

consider-

fi'ont

of St.

small but perfect example, simply ornamented

with a band of nail-head, occupies the eastern gable of the Church of St. Cross
in

Chichester Cathedral and

and again,

west

the

inserted

New Shoreham Church

are

and

other good examples, though

both partake of a transitional character.

At

a late period of the

Anglo-Norman

style,

it

of circular windows with small shafts, radiating from a

was usual

common

to

divide the openings

Good specimens

centre.

of this usage occur in the Churches of Barfreston and Patrixbourne, both in Kent.*

From
style,

the time of

its

first

introduction until the final close of the

Anglo-Norman

the pointed arch diffisred from the semi-circular headed arch merely in form

the

general characteristicks, details, and ornamental accessories of the two arches remaining

the same.

It

was

also a

common

practice,

anterior to the Gothick period, to introduce

the two forms of arch in close connection the one with the other, in the same Building,

Thus, in Chichester Cathedral three pointed lancets appear arranged

or part of a Building.

under a single large semi-circular arch.

In the triplet at the east end of Castle

Hedingham

Church, Essex, the arches externally are pointed, while internally their heads are rounded

and again

in Barfreston

Church, a pointed window

is

placed side by side with one that

rounded, and the two are connected by a string continued between their dripstones.
circular

is

Semi-

headed and pointed windows are also inserted indiscriminately in the clearstory

of Oxford Cathedral
precisely identical,

and

in

all

other respects, however, the

essentially

details

of these windows

are

Anglo-Norman.

Forced into existence by the exigencies of construction,! a

considerable

space

of

time elapsed before the peculiar faculties and beauties of the pointed arch were duly
appreciated or even
*

It is

is

and consequently, we

find

it

have been in frequent

to

highly remarkable that these windows, thus divided, and bearing so close an approximation to tracery,

do not appear
Bristol,

discerned

to

have originated the idea of a traceried window-head.

a curious instance of a near, but

f There can be
constructive form.

little

doubt but that

still

it

The

circidar

window

in St.

James's Church,

purely accidental, approach to a complete piece of tracery.

was

in vaidting that the pointed arch

was

first

introduced as a necessary

WINDOWS.
use, merely with a view to produce

The pointed arch thus

form.

and

this

that

is,

may

period

intervening

that already in

may

used,

between

be distinguished

Norman and pure Gothick

strict

Norman

as the pointed

by the term semi-Norman

in

arch,

the period,

which the

gi-and

appeared in association with the general characteristicks of

style

decline.

its

Fine specimens of the transitional character of this

ruined

from the more general rounded

agi-eeable variation

also be correctly indicated

coming

feature of the

an

15

Semi-Norman period

exist in the

Churches of Buildwas Abbey, Salop, Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire, and Croyland

Abbey, Lincolnshire

in the chapel, also in ruins, of St.

of the hospital of St. Cross, near Winchester

From

and Romsey.

Joseph

Glastonbury

at

Church

in the

and in the conventual Churches of Malmesbury

the circumstance, however, of the exact period of

having been recorded by a cotemporary writer, as well as from

its

its

construction

intrinsick merit, the eastern

part of the choir of Canterbury Cathedi-al justly claims a pre-eminence in value and interest

over

all

other remains of this period.

Here, in the clearstory windows, a remarkable

deviation from both the pointed and semi-circular form

window- arches

the actual

is

observable in the head of the

openings of these windows have trefoiled heads,

But

circumscribed by a semi-circular arch.*

this

each one

new form, notwithstanding

its

close

approximation to the heads of the lights in pure Gothick windows, clearly had no real
influence in the formation of traceiy
design, produced nothing

its

introduction, whether fortuitous or resulting from

more than another form of window-arch, and

led directly to

no more

important results.
In the smaller

Semi-Norman Churches, the windows appear

to have frequently been

pointed, but in other respects constructed and ornamented after the

good examples of

this

Norman

style.

Several

aiTangement remain in the Chancel of Bloxham Church, Oxfordshire

and at the east end of the Chancel of Barnwood Church, Gloucestershire,

is

window (from

molded jambs,

its

great width scarcely to be called

to refer to other examples of these transition

(1.)

lancet) with

and dripstone ornamented with chevi'on-work.J

a pointed arch,

more prominent

features of the

They were

windows

plain

It

a single-Ught

appears unnecessaiy

we, therefore, here recapitulate the

windows of the Anglo-Norman

style

small, each consisting of a single-light semi-circular in the head,

and

placed as highly as possible above the ground.

*

The

trefoil-arch is also observable in the

heads of doorways of this period.

See subsequent article upon

Doorways.

t Professor
A.D.

11 7o

Willis, in his admirable histoiy of

and 1178

William de Sens, architect.

" Parish Churches," Vol. II. p. 71.

X See

Canterbury Cathedral,

fixes

the date of these windows between

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

16

In the earlier examples the splay was entirely internal,

(2.)

preparation for glazing appears to have been

made

and

later in the style the

in

many

no

cases

windows began to

be recessed, jamb-shafts with quaintly carved capitals were introduced as the supporters
of richly ornamented arch-moldings, and the openings were considerably elongated.

No

(3.)

decided indications of traceiy had yet appeared

Semi-Norman
tracery,

On

period,

the wheel-windows of even the

though possessing what might have been regarded as the germ of

were discontinued when the Early Enghsh Gotliick became positively established.
the

first

establishment of the Gothick style,

invariable adoption of the pointed arch,

little

was apparent

essential difference,

the windows gradually increased

in proportion to their height

was introduced
several distinct

At

its

in the heads of

details

and accessories

in

the openings of the Hghts became, in most cases, naiTower

new and pecuharly

window-arches

characteristick principle of construction

and, after a while, the juxta-position of

windows brought on the general use of mulhons and

first

and proportions of the

in the design

windows, but as the style advanced, the development of Gothick

beyond the

tracery.

introduction, and throughout the continuance of the

Semi-Norman

period,

the pointed arch was very obtuse, rarely becoming equilateral, and perhaps in no single
instance acutely-pointed.

In the Early

the usual form of the window arch

Cathechals and larger Churches,

and Southwell Minsters.

first

find the

windows most acutely-pointed,

single-light Early

and

4.)

is

Enghsh

as at Lincoln

lancet, in general use during the

;

its

very simplicity constituting

In these windows the glass was generally brought within three or

four inches of the outside face of the wall.

1

contrary, the equilateral

while in some cases, and more particularly in the

Gothick period, was of the simplest aiTangement

peculiar charm.

its

The

we

Enghsh Gothick, on the

(See plans. Section

I.

Early Enghsh, Plates

In the interior the openings were widely splayed; and consequently, in walls

of great thickness, this splay caused the width of the jambs to be, in most cases, four or
five

times the width of the

light.

Now,

if

the arch of the

inside with the jambs, besides the unsightly appearance

it

would have necessitated a much greater height

considered desu-able by the Early English architects

window had been allowed

which would have been produced,

in the walls
;

of the

Church than was

and hence arose a pecuhar treatment

of the interior of windows, the

consisted in

to widen

general arrangement of which

having totally distinct arches inside and out

tlie

outer adapting itself to the peculiar character of the window, but

the inner being almost invariably a segmental pointed or droparch

below that of the window

itself,

the point of which, in

many

examples, was considerably

as in the south aisle of St. Alban's

Abbey Church.

be obsei-ved, in this mode of construction, that the head of the lancet

is

It will

cut out of a mere

WINDOWS.
slab a few inches in thickness,

(See Section

di'op-arch.

which

is

up

carried

17
internally

The

Early Enghsh, Plate II.)

I.

till

it

eftect

meets the

of the

soffit

also of this treatment

of their lancets was to tlirow the light doivn into the Church, and leave the valley of

an object they so evidently sought

their high-pitched roofs in a state of semi-obscurity,

So characteristick was

in their interiors.

aiTangement considered, and also so peculiarly

this

effective in itself, that shortly after its introduction it

so placed as not to requu-e

windows were very commonly

English, Plate 15)

indeed, of by no

windows

thus, in gable-triplets, the combined

I.

Early

and, again, the same arrangement appears in the tower of Brockworth

I.

Early Enghsh, Plate 11), where the interior

actually concentrick with the arch of the light.

is

in

finished in the interior with drop-arches (see Section

Church, Gloucestershire (Section

segmental,

was generally adopted even

constructive advantages

its

for

means

ai"ch,

though

This last-named circumstance

rare occurrence in those positions, in

is,

which the drop-arch was intro-

duced, rather as an essentially characteristick feature, than a necessary constructive application.

As a matter of
siderably as

construction,

tliis

would have been

We may here

drop-arch

is

by

had the

requisite

far

more secure than an arch sloping

interior

connected with the

lancet-head

effort of design or

The proportions

2.)

arch inside,

systematick construction.

in

the

Churches

or ten times, as at Shorne

Oundle

at

Church

in other examples, as at

much

as eleven

and Clymping

(see Section

I.

times their width

may

The

its

fair

Eight, or perhaps nine

average for the height of these

gi-eatest perfection.

instances are rare in which

aiTangement of

1, 4, 7)

Brockworth and Great Casterton, the height

be regarded as a

lancet-wdndows when in their

Clvmpixo Chdech, Sussex.

Early English, Plates

of the lancets does not exceed five times their width.

^^^

Decorated, Plate

of Early English lancets vary to a remarkable de-

times their width, as

while,

1,

by rough and irregular masomy,

the lights bemg, in height, in some instances, as

(See Section

we meet with a simple segmental

In some early examples

gree

and exterior arches been concentrick.

observe, that this aiTangement, variously mocUfied, continued to be in use in the

constraction of windows throughout the Gothick style.*

any

so con-

lancet- windows

we

find a

Church

but in such cases

still

retaining the original

we may

generally remark,

Manton Church,
RuTLANDSHiEE.

are of
*

^]-,^^

jj-^

^|^g

gaUcs aud

more slender proportions than

north and south walls of the Chancel they

in the

in the other parts of the Edifice.

contrivance of this kind was not necessary in the

invariably of

much

less height,

and the walls in some instances comparatively higher.

height, even in the Early English period, in

concentrick, as in the

Auglo-Norman Churches, the windows being almost

some examples the

North transept of York Cathedral.

exterior

and

Where

there was sufficient

interior arches of the

windows were

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

18

The reason

for

this

ob^dous

is

were the narrow proportions of the Chancel lancet

presei*ved in those placed in the less elevated walls of the aisles, the light thus obtained

would

be altogether insufficient

and hence

width of Early EngUsh lancets varies

appears to arise

the general

proportion

inversely in

to

but combinations of four and six lancets are rarely to be found.

an example of this

furnishes

Chapel of
rarely

Mary's Hospital, Leicester,

St.

placed

uncommon

arrangement

latter

at

the

east

a western

in

Merionethsliire,

is

end

of

Chancel

The

elevation.

nor

and

is

The usual
and

in the east

Chancel

in the north

is

in

productive

and west extremities of aisles.

of the most beautiful

This arrangement

effect.

lade Churches,
well,

Sussex

more

Wenham

Little

(Section

I.

beautiful little

nearly their original state

Sussex,

may

also be

Early English,

of

lancets

in the

Weuliam,

in

the aisles

any other position, as at

in

Plate

and Hythe Church,

1,)

in

aisles

to

Long

but in the

aisles the original

have

Kent:
which

light,

greater

propor-

lancet couplet also

side walls of Chancels,

Suft'olk,

St. Michael's,

as containing

occur

from the same desire to obtain

lancets

single

Church of

specified

seen to the

Church, Suffolk, and Stoke Pogis Church, Bucks,

commonly found
at Grcat

sometimes

and narrow,

and Tangmere and Ports-

width than in other positions.

tionate

soBTB Newton Church, Wilts,

Couplets

fi'equently than

this probably results

caused the

is

tall

and commonly to the west, as at Barn-

Cambi"idgeshu'e.

of Churches,

The

Church, Rutland,

and south walls of Chancels and Naves,

east of a Chancel, as at Great Casterton Church, Rutlandshire

Llanabar,

Northamptonshire.!

In a small country Church, the arrangement of two single lancets

is

at

less

Single lancets also appear

Churches of Stanwick, Ringstead, and Etton,

position of single lancets

very

is

window much

at Little Casterton

and Tangmere Church, Sussex, are single lancets to the west.f

in western towers, in the

end of the

east

single lancet

similar

of the

gable

eastern

pierced with a single lancet

an instance.

affords

and seven

five,

Repton Church, Derbyshire,

of the former, the

Early

height.*

their

English lancet-windows occur either singly, or in groups of two, three,

that the

i-ule,

as in the

is

Churches

aud Hartley, Kent (Appendix, Plate

2).

Stanton, Cambridgeshire, retains the Chancel lancets in

windows have been altogether destroyed.

Clymping Church,

most valuable examples of Early English lancet-windows.

Parish

Churches, Vol. II. page 75.

f See Parish Churches,

Vol.

I. p.

1.

X Single western lancets sometimes

in a

Church of similar character

at

may

be seen in Semi-Norman Edifices, as

Barnwood, Gloucestershire,

See Parish Churches, \o\. II. p. 34.

See also Section

at

!Manton Church, Rutland

is

a single eastern lancet.

I.

Early English, Plate 13.

and

WINDOWS.
The

triplet,

'

19

most characteristick and the most beautiful arrangement of

at once the

lancet-windows, generally appears to the east in the gable of the Chancel, and this

and also

most exact accordance with the

in

symbolism

Hei'e its impressive

safely considered as its original position.

any degree

Instances,

into every possible posi-

infi-inging the general rule of

peculiar applicability for the eastern extremity of the Chancel.

west front of the Church, at Werrington, Northamptonshire

be

most appropriate,

of the Early Gothick age.

spu-it

however, occur, which authorize the introduction of the triplet

tion in the walls of a Church, without in

is

may

its

Lancet-triplets exist in the

small picturesque Edifice,

(a

having a double bell-gable over

the Chancel-arch, but without

any west door)

west end of the

Church, Rutlandshire (Section

Early Enghsh, Plate 20)

and

at

and

is

at Tinwell

aisle,

Warmington Church, Northamptonshire

also four times repeated in the south wall of the south aisle.

the

Rutlandshire,

Oxon, two

of

side

was customary to mark with

and

7,

triplet

and

the

other in gable

gi'eater impoi'tance

most cases increased width

At Great

Casterton,

Stanton

Harcourt,

at

walls,

as

and also

in the transepts,

and sometimes even

frequently two,

Whitby.

at

three, were

In triplets

the central light, by giving to

also

modification

this

aisle,

In the Cathedrals and

Chancel.

the

may

it

it

addi-

be

satis-

deduced from the form of the gable, in which, as we have already remarked, the

factorily
triplets

in

either side of

in

a continued series in the clearstory

tional height,

contains

were placed to the north and south

placed successively one above

4,

Chancel

the

are pierced

triplets

larger Churches, triplets

in

appears at the east end of the

it

I.

at the

of lancets without doubt were originally placed.

9,

12,

Where, on the

and 20.)

15,

bv dripstones, each lancet has

its

own

(Section I.Early Enghsh, Plates

exterior wall,

lancet-triplets

distinct dripstone; though, in

dripstones are united by short, strings traversing between the lights.

nerally placed at the spiinging of the arches of the

the dripstone of the central light

Early Enghsh, Plate

ing string

is

5)

or in

is stilted,

some

as St. Bartholomew's

surmounted

cases, the three

Tliese strings are ge-

and consequently either

Hospital,

instances, as at Stanton Harcourt,

Kent

(Section

I.

Oxon, the connect-

inteiTupted by perpendicular returns, and again continued horizontally to join

the central dripstone at the springing of

windows of a

two outer lancets

most

are

1,

own window-arch.

its

lancet-triplet are placed within a dripstone

though essentially and reaUy

three-hght window.

The

distinct

from

glass, in these

it,

In some examples the

forming a single arch

tlii-ee

and thus,

they bear a strong general resemblance to a single

combinations of lancet-windows,

is

usually placed

near the outer face of the wall, in the same manner as in single lancets, and internally
the three windows are widely splayed

in this last respect,

no

less

than when placed under

a single dripstone, they produce a general effect closely approximating to a single window
of three lights.

This

effect

is,

in the gi'eater

number

of instances, considerably enhanced

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

20
by the narrow

fillets

of the wall which intervene between the splays of the windows, being

In both single lancets

faced with bold shafts, fi-om which rise the combined hood-molds.

and
is

and also

triplets,

in all other combinations of this beautiful

fi-equently introduced in long trails, in the

mold

fine

examples of

window^ the tooth-ornament

molding of the window-arch, or of the hood-

enrichment occur in the south

this characteristick

aisle of St.

Alban's

Abbey Church.*
In Cathedral and other very large Churches, four or

more lancet-windows of the same

In

and width, were occasionally introduced in combination.

height

Buildings, and also, in

many

instances in the larger ones, the lancets in combination, are of

an uneven number, and are generally arranged after the same system as the

window, that

central

on either

is,

triplet,

the

having both the greatest width and height, and the exterior window

group being smaller than the inner

side the

important

the less

In these combinations of lancets,

pair.

exceeding three in number, the several windows are commonly surmounted by a single
dripstone, as in the Churches at Etton and Oundle, Northamptonslm-e (Section

Seven lancets similarly arranged but

English, Plate 7), w^here five lancets form the group.

rarely occur

Early

I.

examples, however, exist in the Churches of Blakeney, Norfolk, and Oakham,

Surrey.

In place of the customary simple arch-head, in some examples of lancet-windows, the

head

of the

the Chancel

light
is

is

foiled

at

Wenham

Great

pierced by a triplet of this character.

This form of window-arch was in

common

we

see the

or cusping, in

its

pi. 2,)

(Section

same Section,

germ of cusping, properly

near Winchester (Appendix,

Suflfolk,

use at an early period

modification, a foliated lancet, (see in the

Church,)

Church,

pi. 4,

so called.f

I.

the

end of

eastern

Early EngUsh, Plate

and

1.)

in this, with its first

the example from Hangleton

At Winnal Magdalen Church,

the lancets display early and rude specimens of foliation

primitive condition.

To

this style of

cusping the distinctive

title

of

soffit

cusping has been apphed, fi'om the circumstance of the cusps springing fi'om
the

soffit

of the arch, and not, as subsequently was the invariable practice,

This soffit-cusping

from the chamfer or slope of the arch-side.

regarded as a sure indication of early work

and

in

may be

most instances

is

it

characteristick of a transition from Early to Decorated Gothick.

In early cusped
here the
*

foils

distinctive peculiarity

is

observable in the cusping

are produced fi-om the inner curve, without rising at

The tooth-ornament,

Rutlandshire (see Section

circles, a similar

I.

also appears

on the exterior

Early English, Plate 20

;)

in

and

some lancet-windows, as
in

a.

foiled arch.

into the chamfer,

in the triplet in Tinwell

and

Church,

Warmington Church, Northants.

Professor Willis derives the idea of a foliated arch from a

simple, and the second

all

compound archway,

of which the

first

order

is

WINDOWS.
thus no eyes whatever are formed
fered,

hut the eyes are imperfect

their outer curves

is

Tracery,

which

circles,

of distinct

windows
10,

Meopham

in

cut

all

when not

invariably of an early,

chamfer

restricted to

being-

early foils

in

segments of intersecting curves, they are formed fi-om a

a larger

cusping of which any

the

in

their

themselves are cham-

foils

Another marked peculiarity

(B).

in place of being

that,

or the

21

inscribed

circle

of these

within them.

peculiarities

actually of a transitional period.

Church, Kent, (Section

occur,

is

The two

Early English, Plates

1,

and also the windows of Evington Chm-ch, Leicestershire,

11,)

scries

illus-

trate this early cusping.*

From

the combination and cusping of distinct lancets, a single

muUions and tracery derives

instance

first

was customary, and the

opening

is

no

less

by

remarkable than interesting to

Thus, as in Glapthonie Church, Northamptonshire, two lancets

grand Gothick conception.

shaped

It

divided

enabled to trace in existing examples, the gradual development of this

trace, as w^e are

were in the

origin.

its

window

No.

spandi-el

side

by

side

in

closer

proximity than

heretofore

between their heads was pierced by a simple oval-

second window

placed

same

the

in

No.

1.

Church

exhibits

No.

2.

the

lancets

more

3.

Glapthorne Chuech.

acutely pointed, with an opening of a lozenge shape in place of the previous oval, and

whole

the

enclosed

cided advance

the

oval

is

within

apparent,

common

a
for

in this

superseded by a

has been

the plain space in No.

dripstone

and

in

a third window

circle

conceived in the

The window

artist's

in Belgrave

(Appendix, Plate 3)

it is

in

de-

with soffit-cusping forming a quatrefoil, and

These three windows

has been converted into sunken spandrels.

manner perhaps unparalleled

more

composition, while the lancets remain the same,

occur in the south side of the Chancel of this interesting Church

in a

and they exemplify,

any one similar Structure, the idea of traceiy being

mind, and gradually worked out in three successive designs.

Church, Leicestershire,

somewhat

* luArreton Church, Isle of Wight,

intersects the foils (Sharpe's Decorated

is

is

another good specimen of this period

richer in moldings, but does not exhibit

window with

Windows), thus

this description of cusping,

any advance-

where a stone ring connects and

illustrating in construction the formation of the foliations.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

22

ment

in

The windows

design.

in

Houghton Church, Durham,

same

are of precisely the

character, with a veiy peculiar an-angement of dripstone.*

The

of

idea

several

window, was no sooner

character, constituting a single

of

aptitude for modification and variety which distinguished a

and tracery, appears

in this

very

fi'om the

first

ornamental

recognised, than examples

fairly

number and

application rapidly increased in both

practical

its

minor compartments of an

with

lights

distinct

The

variety.

j^eculiar

window divided by mulUons

to have convinced the Gothick Architects that

the essentially pliant character of Gothick Architecture might be most

member

Hence the almost countless

signally displayed.

multiplicity of designs

and modifications

of each design, which were so speedily produced in the windows erected after the

first

inti'oduction of tracery.

two-light

we have

seen,

window with

the

a quatrefoiled

circle

head of the lights was, as

the

decided step towards the adoption of regular tracer}^

first

a natural and easy advance to

with a larger

at

circle

the

space

place

two such windows

enclosed

in

combination, and to

pierce

arch

above

by a dripstone forming a single

them both

here

window with

appears,

therefore,

four-light

Then one of

geometrical tracery.

its

was

It

the lights would, no less naturally, in some instances

^
and,

again,

every such

traiy nature,

a fifth

be introduced

alteration

Aldwinkle Chcech, Northamptonshire.

while under circumstances of a con-

be suppressed

in

and

the

even

or

each

in

of these

must

tracery

fresh

might

some

cases

necessarily

would lead to the introduction of

alteration

sixth light

ensue

variety,

thus illustrate the faciHty with which window-tracery admits of change, even whilst
tered

the

by geometi'ick forms, without diminution

fii'st

instance, in these early windows, the cusping

to the geometrical tracery, the heads of the

a similar enrichment

was introduced

of the entire composition

Billing's

and

all

(Parish

inclosed within a

softit-cusping enriches the circle.

tion,

or

of consistency .f

for the

remaining plain

most part
;

In

restricted

but after a while

at the heads of the lights, to the great

show

fet-

that,

improvement

even in large

Durham.

excellent specimens of early tracery.

plain circle,

lights

was

examples, however, remain which

t Etton Churcli, Northants.

some

either of beauty

and

The windows

common

dripstone

At Oundle the

produces a three-light window.

the same arrangement.

Churches, Vol.

I.

p.

13,)

pure Early English Structure, affords

in the aisles consist of

two lancet

lights,

surmounted by a

those in the Chancel are of the same design, but a trefoil of

addition of a third light, and two head circles to a similar composi-

In St. Alban's Abbey Church, a very fine three-light window

is

the result of


WINDOWS.
windows of many

and

quatrefoils

trefoils

The

cusping was occasionally omitted altogether.*

lights,

form of tracery,

original

23

itself trefoiled

and

many

in

and

quatrefoiled,

circle,

was soon modified by

instances a reversed trefoil

became the central

the

distinct

figure of

the tracery in two-light windows, and sometimes, as at St. Alban's, in three-light windows.
In trefoiled circles also, the trefoil formed by the cusping

Meopham Church,

(Sect.

arrangement of early cusping

a favourite

into single lancets, with a view

Section
Plate

13

introduction

its

impart to them a traceried character, are given at

to

same Section

of the

at

appears to have been

trefoil

two beautitul examples of

Chancel of Raydon Church,

Early EngUsh, Plate 8, from the

1,

The

Early Enghsh, Plate 10).

1,

frequently reversed, as

is

In

Suffolk.

engi-aved a singularly beautiful two-hght window, also

is

from that Church.

During the

becomes apparent
the

in

development of window tracery, a

the

of

progi-ess

Gothick Architecture

great period of the style

first

itself

and the observer

merged into

has

its

change gradually

led to discover that

is

In thus passing on

successor.

from Early English to Decorated Gothick, the only sure criterion for deciding upon the

windows of

either,

lies

necessary result that

or

greater

the works

executed

degree,

the general

lesser

works must be

such

specimens

or

which

they

Thus,

the

identical

their

appear,

and

yet,

regarded

either

assignment

must

if

of

there

because

the idea

may

of the

appear soffit-cusping,

Early English,

I.

Decorated

their

EngUsh

period.

Church

of

St.

partake

ings

period

sition

Plate

soffit-cusping,

And
Alban,

reality

other of

the

upon

altogether

of transition

and the other with no

while

the

in

other the

in

however,

more

the

so

also

the

composition

in

their

rejected,

altogether

the

Early

matters

was customary to construct many

See in Sharpe's Windows, an example from Grantham Church.

It

between
of detail.

may

be

the

one

precisely

may

be

Decorated

in

the

one

may expand from

Stoke Albany Church

them with the Early

choir

English,

of

the

but

more of a Decorated than of an Early English character.!

it

in

might be reckoned pure

con-ectly classifies

over

lose,

periods

because

or

in

transitional

accuracy to

cusping

general aspect

clearstory
is

in

ti'acery

different,

as

are)

successive

less

being

established style

they

For example, the windows

17),

an

of

It

should

period

peculiarities

windows be

essentially

cusping.

transition

strict

in

is,

the

characteristicks

or

moldings being

the chamfer of the window-arch.

(Section

with

two windows of geometrical

correctly assigned to Early English,

Gothick

during

(as

one

to

depend

design

general

moldings combined

the

in

the

Abbey
mold-

In this tran-

windows of more than two

lights,

perhaps, impossible to consider these windows otherwise than as transitional, from the want of any

decided peculiarity of style.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

24

having no other tracery than

in the

window-head

and forms the

and

intersections

of

produce

however,

different,

mullions

the

are

by the examples from the Churches

some examples

and

when

with

the

quatrefoils,

these cases the

in

unsatisfactoi

result,

in

filled

beautiful

singularly

is

and

the

is

and other enriched forms of tracery

general effect

In

cusped, but very frequently they are entirely

meagre

muUions

of the

instances continued considerably later,

of Decorated windows.

are

intersections

consequently
^"ely

trefoils,

the

some

in

of a numerous class

basis

appearance.

was

a practice wliich

of this an-angement
plain,

would be produced by the intersection

elegant,

as

shown

is

and Heme,

at Southfleet

Kent, and at Trumpington, Cambridgeshu-e, (Section

in

Decorated,

I.

^TTjii'Ziy iiiivj/li [vja,

dcnton basset, leicestershike.

Plates 20, 29.)

But, before entering upon the

one

pecuUar

kind of

common

tracery,

commencement of the Decorated

to

that

the

to

Anglo-Norman
Suffolk

(see

trefoiled

Section

I.

I.

of

is

figures.

This arrangement

general

exemplied in the east

Early EngUsh,

Plate

is

may

triplet at

Great

by

be distinctly
jft-om

Wenham

the

in

refer

indicated

Gothick Ai-chitects

The windows

1).

design

we

the

south

their

Church,
aisle

of

Kent, are instances of considerable merit

St.

1)

other examples occur in the

Alban (Appendix, Plate

As Gothick

Wooton Church, Northants.*

vanced,

the

and

English

particularly noticed

practice,

adopted by the early

arches,

Decorated, Plate

Abbey Church

usual

be

to

the Early

of

close

demands

geometrical

predecessors, and

Northfieet Church,
(Section

foliated

the

to

periods,

the

contrary to

and not by

foliations,

refeiTcd

which,

in

consideration of Decorated Gothick windows,

direct

this foiled tracery

4),

and

Architecture

in

ad-

was almost abandoned, appearing

only in occasional specimens, and then perhaps resulting rather

fi'om

accident

than design

mentioned as existing
Neither

may we

-.f

fine

late

window

in a Perpendicular

and

tried

rejected

Thus, at Rickenhall Church,

* This

window

is

t The windows
combined

in the

before

Suffolk,!

figured at p. 12.t of Paley's

in

in

may

be

cineui.o"x cmacii. clovcester^iuri:.

Churchdown Church,

Gloucestershire.

here omit to notice the remarkable evidences which yet remain in

windows undoubtedly constnicted during

which were

example

the

Lady Chapel

same design.

J Parish Churches, page 45.

at

St.

this transition period, of the

the
the

perfect

east

Decorated

manifold experiments

window was

window of the south

aisle,

produced.

which

is

Manual of Gothick Architecture.

Alban's, Appendix,

Plate 4,

show the two kinds of tracery

WINDOWS.
same date with the other windows (temp. Edward

decidedly of the

every peculiarity of Perpendicular tracery

head

comprises

two windows

still

north

more curious

western window (Fig.

the main lights are cinquefoiled, and the window-

with

aisle are

of these, the

might be regarded

1)

as a tine specimen of flowing tracery, were

not for

its

of early

work

it

is

soffit
:

cusping

it

the invariable test

the ornaments also, with which

studded,

richly

exhibits ahnost

At Evington

the general custom of the time.

Leicestei'shire, in the

I.),

super-mul-

batement-lights,

lions, &c.; all features directly at variance

Church,

25

are

a mixture

of the
KviNGTON CnuRcn, Leicestershire.

Decorated

ball flower,

Fig.

wdth the dog tooth and

masks of the Early English

The composition of the

period.

remarkable, and indeed contradictory (Fig. 2)

it

consists in

east

its

window

is

even more

general design of a series

of equilateral-headed arches springing from small

shafts with delicately carved foliated caps of pure

Decorated character, and the upper part of the

traceiy
into

is

divided by super-mullions and transoms

two octo-foUated squares and a row of

tre-

foUated batement-lights. Thus, in these two windows,

evidently both of the
liarities

same

characteristick

of Gothick Architecture

date, are displayed pecu-

of the tlu-ee
:

periods

gi'eat

the Early English

soffit-

cusp, the Decorated foliated cap, and the Pei'pendicular

super-muUion and tracery -transom.

phenomena
first

afford

introduced

ample scope

for conjecture

Perpendicular

tracery,

a window of the time of Edward

that

in

their endeavours

to

arrive

at

shall

when we

Shall

I. ?

Evington Church, Leicestershire.

Such

we not

perfection

we say

find

that William of

every

one of

its

Fig.

2.

Wykeham

essentials

in

rather conclude,
in

traceiy,

the

early builders, in the course of their experiments, actually invented

Perpendicular tracery, proceeded to

peculiarities,

and

finally rejected

it

as

a partial development of

unworthy?

With the decided establishment

tracery,

it

its

of the principle of window-

became a recognised constructive arrangement

i^^^'ip;iirf!ii'iiiii'

Capital from E.\st Window.

to recess

the mullions from the face of the wall in which the window-arch was pierced
I

and the

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

26

thus produced was, as the art advanced, speedily enhanced by the introduction of

fine effect

orders of mullions,

distinct

and by recessing certain portions of the tracery from the

The

of the primary mulHons and then* corresponding tracery-bars.

face

distinct

planes

of tracery and mullions thus produced, constitute one of the most beautiful features in

Gothick windows

four of these planes are well exemplified in the

Church, figured at Plate 20, of Section

muUion and

the

tracery -bar plane

the eyes of the cusping.f

and again,

in

tracery-bars

This

all

third,

are, first, the wall-plane;

the tracery-plane

are primary

(Section

Heme
second,

and fourth, the plane of

and secondary planes of both mullions and

these modifications appear in the beautiful

Sleaford Church, Lincolnshire.!

fi'om

sometimes, coincides with the plane of the tracery:

last plane,

some examples there

Decorated: here

I.

window

I.

window of the north

aisle

of

Decorated, Plate 26.)

Decorated window tracery has been generally divided into two chief varieties, Geometrical,

and Flowing

the former so called, from strictly consisting, as

such as

figures,

two

implies, of geometrical

circles, curvilinear triangles, lozenges, trefoils, quatrefoils, &c.

tracery these figures,

these

name

its

though

still

existing, are gi'acefiilly blended together into

varieties, the geometrical is the earlier

though

it

while in flowing

one design.

Of

appears to have been retained in

many instances both forms were

use subsequently to the introduction of flowing tracery, and in

used indifferently in windows of the same Edifice, and these erected at the same period.
Indeed, the two varieties of tracery are not unfrequently exemplified in the same composition

for tracery, like

changes with

its

almost every other feature of Gothick Architecture, passed through

such extremely gradual progress,

that in

many

cases

it

is

absolutely

impossible to carry out any complete rule of classification.

In

most perfect

its

state,

geometrical

tracery invariably exhibits

some

large

figure

of distinct

and decided character, which occupies the entire upper part of the window

head

figure

this

is

generally either a circle, itself foliated and cusped or subdivided by

smaller geometrical figures, in most cases similarly enriched

diverging

fi-om

head

the

of the

central

light

in

or

it is

formed by tracery-bars

such a manner as to resemble the

upper portion of the window-arch inverted, and containing ornamental work of the same

design
title

Tracenj-Bars are those portions of the masonry of a window-head, which mark out the principal figures of the
:

from these, the minor and more

of Form-pieces.

y<:;^
//V*

t
*'^^

For want of a

small

triangular

better,

space,

the curve that circumscribes

"-^
A..'v.ti,peyesofa.|uaireioii.

stonework

may be

distinguished under the

See Willis's Nomenclature.

^\^

strictly decorative parts of the

We

the term

exje

has been adopted by the authors, to indicate

whether pierced or not, which intervenes between a cusp and

it.

occasionally, however,

meet with instances where, probably from the great scarcity

of freestone, the mullions have been brought flush with the outer wall.

; ;

WINDOWS.
character as the large
triangles (Section

I.

27

In some other designs three circles

cii'cles.*

Decorated, Plate 2) of equal

or three

curvilinear

introduced, and variously emiched

size, are

And

and modified.

again, in other win-

dows the geometrical

forms are subor-

dinate to intersect-

ing cui*ves (Sect.

I.

sawbkidgewoetu church, hekts.

Decorated, PI. 20)

or the entire tracery consists simply of one geo-

metrick figure (Section

To

Decorated, Plate 8).

enter into a full de-

scription of even the chief of

COTTINGUAM CHUKCH. NOETH AMPTONSUIEE.

manifold variety of designs w^hich appear in the wdndows of the

the

Decorated period, would

is

I.

especially the

gi-eatly

case in

exceed the Umits of this w^ork

and

this

windows of flowing-tracery, which comprise

1,

almost eveiy possible modification of almost every possible design.

must

to refer, in general

suffice

lea\ang

it

more

the

terms, to

distinctive

It

SOUTHFLEET, KeNT.

peculiarities in tracery

to the illustrations to explain the details of upwards of one hundred specimens,

selected from

all

the principal varieties which are pro-

fusely scattered over the countiy.

In two-light windows, the Early English arrange-

ment,

and

varied

fi'equently

enriched,

was

long time continued

the

beautiful

the

fi"om
RiNGSTEAD ChURCU, NoRTHAMPTONSHlBE.

figured in Plate 5, of Section

I.

Decorated.

as in

specimens

Churches

and

Northfleet

for

at

Roydon,

In other two-light windows in which the tracery-

bars diverge from the muUion, describing cm-ves similar to those of the window-arch, the

heads of the two lancets thus formed are

Plate 3).
class
*

filled

with various traceiy (Section

I.

Decorated,

Others, again, are of a character so veiy peculiar, as to form an absolutely distinct

from any we have yet noticed.

See in

Howden, York
Cathedral, &c.

Sharpe's
;

They occur

in

the purest period of the Decorated

Windows, specimens from the Churches of Rudston, York

Exeter Cathedral

Fishtoft,

Also Appendix, Plate 3.

Lincoln

Trent,

Somerset

Billinborough,

Wellingborough,

Northants

Lincoln
;

Ripon

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

28

and are characterised by a remarkable angularity and abruptness of outline

era,

the windows in the Chancels of

Belgrave

Chartham Church, Kent (Section

Church,

(Appendix,

and

Leicestershire,

Plate

"

4.)

The

Decorated, Plate 22,)

I.

Lyddington

tracery

is

different

examples, but they agree in being dissimilar from

windows of the same date."*

light
St.

windows are

filled

such are

Chm'ch,

each of these

in
all

Berks.

other Decorated

In other examples the heads of two-

with flowing traceiy

so endless, indeed, are

Alban's Abb Chubch.

the varieties

in

species

this

of decoration,

we

that

are

much

as

astonished at the gi'cat effort of imagination which could, in a comparatively short space

of time, produce such numerous designs, as

we

are gratified with the exceecUng beauty and

appropriateness of the designs themselves.

Larger windows of three, four, and a

lights,

greater

still

number of

were produced by repeating with certain mocUfications, the

same designs

as were introduced in a simple

windows.

many

In

state

into two-light

of these large windows a fine effect

is

produced

by the primary muUions and tracery-bars being very richly molded

in
SOUTHFLEET ChURCH, KENT.

I.

some examples,

Bottisham Church, Cambridgeshire, (Section

Decorated, Plate 27,) the rich moldings of the mullions are con-

tinued tliroughout the entire

shafts,

as at

composition.

The mullions

also,

many

in

In some specimens,

with bases and capitals characteristically molded and enriched.

also, the ball-flower is

instances, have

introduced with admirable

effect, stud-

ding the hollows of both mullions and tracery in rich profusion.

(Sect.

I.

Decorated, Plate 38. )t

Specimens of some

of the most beautiful forms assumed by flowing tracery, are

given in Section

To

29.

these

I.

may

Decorated, Plates 6,

in Carlisle,

Remarks on the

Principles of Gothick

class in

England, the east window

and the west window

Architecture,

as

2G,

be added, as ranking amongst the finest

windows of the same

Sawbridgeworth Church. Herts.

7, 11, 12, 18,

appHed

to

in

York

ordinary

Cathedrals.

Parish Churches

by the

Rev. J. L. Petit.
See also Bloxam's

Gothick Architecture,

plate representing one of the

tracery

windows

I.

Windows.

p.

217; and Sharpe's Decor.itcd "Windows, where

p.

07;

Abbey Church of Whitby, which

is

contains

that at Chartham.
also

Herefordshire; and Britton's Gloucester Cathedral.

X See Sharpe's

8,

in the north aisle of the ruined

somewhat of the same character with

See Parish Churches, Vol.

Ed.

Sharpe's AVindows, part

(J,

window from Leominster Church

WINDOWS.

of windows

class

met with

occasionally

are

29

more

the

in

magnificent of our Churches, of which the rich and elahorate design

owing to the inelegant an-angement

to entirely satisfy the eye,

fails

We

of the tracery bars.

such windows as those in

refer to

of Chancel

transept of Sleaford Church, in the S. transept and E.

Abbey Church,* and

of Heckington Church, in Selby

Redgrave Church, Suffolk.

window of seven

lights in

The diagram

N.

tlie

in the Chancel of

primary curves of the E.

the

represents

Heckington Church, where we may notice

that two intersecting and iiTcgularly shaped ogees form the principal
featm-e in the design,

and by

their

awkward combination

from the merits of an otherwise beautiful production.

light

window on the

shown

as

contrary,

in

main

Amidst

lines

this

ar-

fine effect,

the surpassing beauty of Decorated tracery, anomalies sometimes present

all

more

still

nine

throughout the composition would be equally balanced.

themselves to our notice, for which, while

be

In a

diagram B,

rangement might be well canned out and create a very

for here the

detract

difficult

to find admirers.

at Dorchester, Oxfordshire,

is

it

is

difficult

to assign any reason,

For example,

in

that curious and contradictoiy composition

to

represent the tree of Jessef.

into

window

however

known

as the

beauty, are together

its

and where the muUions, branching out into various shapes, are made

of;

sight

lost

conventual Church

the fine

Jesse-window, in which the real use of tracery, and consequently

would

it

traceiy

they

richly

of canopies

may

be

Again, scarcely less reprehensible

is

the

and pinnacles, however beautiful

in

themselves,

members

These

decorated.

are

designed

introduction

to

and

form

an

external protection, and at the same time in their proper position to enhance the beauty

of window traceiy, but not to be interspersed amidst the tracery itself

this

arrangement occur in the otherwise

Oxon,j

St.

Alban's

Abbey

east

fine

Barnack

Church,

Examples of

windows of Merton College Chapel,

Church,

Northants,

and

in

the

west

window of Henry Vllth Chapel, Westminster.

One

other kind of tracery, veiy

throughout
to

the

that great

Decorated

period,

change, which has

English Gothick Architecture

to the

meshes of a

net.

we

This,

common

in

windows of every variety of dimension

we must not
given

I'efer

title

its

omit
to

the

last

to the net-tracery so
,

when double-cusped,

* Sharpe's Decorated Windows.

as

notice

to

of

the

named

passing

before
tlu'ee

periods

Westminster

f See Addington's Dorchester Church.

of

fi'om its resemblance

in the cloisters of

X See Britten's Antiquities, Vol. V.

on

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

30
Abbey,

is

productive of

gi-eat richness of- effect:

in

presents

designed to

fill

"

:J

l\lvll,.vUi|l,..jJl,^txJln.:AW|l

Wheathampstead Chcech, Hants.

rather

the

thi-ee

particularly

lights,

it

almost

appearance of diaper cut

the head of the

arch

which

within

it

is

This appearance results in part from the want

contained.
'

same time, and

the shape of the toifidow-arch, than of tracery specially

to

'

at the

windows comprising more than

invariably

J,'

though

of variety in

the

several

subdivisions of the design,

more

paiticularly

come

in contact with the curves of the

but

from those portions of the tracery wliich

window-arch, being

cut off abruptly, instead of cui-ving upwards to adapt themselves to then- situation.
It also

appears requisite here to refer to one other pecuUar species of flowing tracery

common

in continental

Gothick

Buildings, but very rarely indeed

be found

to

From

the

tions

of

this

country.

flame-like

undula-

in

its

form-pieces,

tracery-bars

and

traceiy

has

this

Section of Jamb and Sill.

been distinguished as Flamboyant.

In England this term Flamboyant

or design in tracery

but,

is

restricted to

form

on the continent the same ex-

pression denotes not a peculiar style of window -tracer)^ alone,

but the entire range of Gothick Architecture at a period

commencing with

decUne

the

The term,

England.

of Decorated

however,

can

hardly

Gothick
be

in

con-ectly

apphed to English windows, inasmuch that however flameFrom a Dksecbated Chuech at Rouen.

hke*

to the purest period of Gothick Art, if

ings

tracery

their

we have

may

they are

be,

still

be referred

to

recourse to that unfailmg test, the mold-

whereas in the real Flamboyant of the continent, (of which we append an illustration

from a desecrated Church at Rouen) the moldings show

taken place.

MulHons

finishing with an anis are

at

once the debasement that has

perhaps never met with in Decorated

work, though they harmonize well with the general angularity of the Flamboyant.
*

That we should meet with niauy Decorated windows

resembling

Flamboyant,

is

in

no ways remarkable,

if

in

our own country having flowing tracery, closely

we consider

this

named

last

style

in

the

light

of a

debased Gothick, in which flowing tracery alone was preserved tolerably pure amidst the general debasement
of

all

its

place earUer

other parts.

Indeed,

tracery

on the continent than with us

itself

losing

soon
all

shared

in

the

total

wreck

consistency in construction,

it

of good taste,

which took

became distorted and unsightly.

WINDOWS.
Towards the

close of the reign of

show a tendency

to

to

adapt

itself

King Edward

to

it

Decorated Gothick, gave

v\ath

dicular.

Here however,
at

the outline of window-tracery began

first,

rather

to

rise

new

into compositions in other respects

prevailed, as Perpen-

it

was very

gi-adual

-^^

Thus

Mary, Stratford, Suftblk, Charlton-on-Otmoor, Oxford,

St.

-=?.

windows of the Churches of Houghton-le-Spring, Dur-

in the east

ham,

con-

flowing in their cha-

strictly

than of any decided verticality in entire designs.

racter,

\
'\

'

and
is

in

in

and there of a perpendicular member

here

introduction

known,

present

at

variety,

as in the previous changes, the alteration

of the

of

instead

This, the death-blow to flowing tracery,

the period of Gothick Architecture during which

common

sisting

III.

to the vertical bearing of the mullions,

branching oiF from them in flowing undulations.

and with

31

the S. Aisle of Tunstead, Norfolk, a perpendicular tendency

apparent in parts of the tracery (Section

The N. &

S.

windows

I.

Decorated, Plate

,'

9).4^||iilt^i>;J^]||ll|;^|/^>;|iPv^>^

Tu^sTEAD chdecb, Norfolk.

Chancel of Wheathamstead, Herts,

in the

also, are curious

examples of the gradually progressive influence of the vertical principle.

In the Church

at

The

earliest

are,

probably, those

of William

and the corresponding windows

Cathedral,

Norfolk

Sutton, Northants,

Wykeham

of

transition- tracery.

of

nave

the
St.

is

completely

of Winchester

Nicholas

at

Lynn,

here the mullions rise through the window-head into the curves of the arch.

in

Church

the

in

This continuation of the vertical bearing of the mullions

tracery

window of

another

is

examples in which the leading principle of the new style of tracery

out

carried

King's

the basis of

is

all

Perpendicular

and though, as the Perpendicular period advanced, the application of

this fun-

damental principle was carried to such an excess as to degi'ade tracery into mere panelHng,

and almost to destroy the characteristick

must be admitted that

a while

it

interest

and

beauty.

In

these

of the mullions themselves

qualities

windows

Perpendicular

earUer

specimens

of

this

possessed features
style,

stiU

for

of great

the window-head

is

generally divided by tracery-bars rising direct fi'om the mullions into the arch, and also

by other

similar

members branching

corresponding with those of the

off"

from the same mullions and describing curves

main-arch.

The

principal

are again subdivided by form-pieces, variously arranged

compartments thus formed

and modified, but

for the

most

part having a vertical tendency.

These members, fi-om their bearing and position deno-

minated super-mullions, generally

rise

and

fi'om the

the

number of

5,

13,

16,

actual mullions
lights

18, 23, &c.)

alternately

from

the

heads

of

the

main-lights,

and thus they divide the head of the window into double

contained in the lower part.

The heads

of the

whereas in the Decorated period the

main

trefoiled

(Section

lights are

I.

Perpendicular,

Plates

almost invariably cinquefoiled

heading of the lights was

so

prevalent

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

32
constitute a

as to

Above each

of the style.

characteristick

exterior light, or of those

main subdivisions which are formed by traceiy-bars following the curves of the windowarch,

a compartment of traceiy

curve, while

an inverted arch,

produced by a minor tracery-bar following the same

is

foliated,

is

placed within the space thus formed.

is

a no less beautiful than peculiar feature of the tinest Perpendicular traceiy

in

William of Wykeham's work

windows

beautiful

in the south

The
period,

St.

is

prevails

it

also exemplified in the

transept of Beverley Minster,* in the north transept of

Merton College Chapel, Oxford,!

Kent, and

Winchester Cathedral, and

in

This

Ashborne Church, Derbyshire,

in

:f

Headcorn Chm-ch,

Mary's Church, Oxford.

transom,

which

had

been

occasionally

used

during the Decorated

Gothick

and then generally consisting of a simple horizontal mullion, crossing the

at right

angles,

speedily

lights

became a regular com-

ponent of Perpendicular windows

this

member

dividing the lights into an upper and lower series

and the heads of the

similarly

lights in either series being

Instances

foliated.

are

fi'equently

with in which the transoms are embattled, as

the

Church of

Norfolk

this

St.

also exemphfies the

an embattled transom in the tracery.

Section

I.

in

Mary Magdalen, Wiggenhall,

Church

specimen of an

met

embattled

use of

For another

tracery-transom,

Perpendicular, Plate 18.

rich,

see

though

perhaps a scarcely legitimate, effect was sometimes

AsHBv

ST.

produccd by cuspittg thc lights of thc uppcr

LKOK.-S ch.kch, nokth.mptosh,kb.

at the foot as well as at the head,

any intei'vening transom-bar.

and uniting them with those of the lower

series,

series

without

modification of this an'angement appeal's to have produced

the panelled windows at the west of Winchester Cathedral, and Westminster

Abbey Church.

Perpendicular tracery continued to degenerate in character fi'om an early period after

its

first

largest

number

introduction,
possible
possible

devoid of

all

until

window

its

utmost

containing,

of small pierced

effort

in

lieu

panels.

appears to have been the production of the

of tracery rightly so

named,

* See Britton's Antiquities, Vol. V.

t See Ingram's Memorials of Oxford, and Blo.xam's Gothick

X See Bloxam's Gothick Architecture.

Oxford Glossary, Vol.

II.

greatest

Nothing can be more monotonous, or more

beauty or effectiveness, than this glazed panelling.

See

the

Architecture.

WINDOWS.

the progress of the Perpendicular period, a remarkable change took place in the

With

form of the window-arch

its

33

and indeed long before other parts of Perpendicular Structures

was

destructive influence, the four-centred arch

in general use in the formation of win-

dows.*

In the tracery of windows constructed with the four-centred arch,

richness

was attempted,
of

the

arch.

arrangement,

the

idea

springing

it

became a general
Possibly

fi'om

t tracer led

of

felt

practice to

carry

any degree of

if

considerably below the

it

this

-transoms

might have been derived.

In this

many windows were

period

such ample

sti'ucted of

size, as entirely to

which they

as at Winchester,

York,

St. Alban's,

This vast extent of window was produced

&c.
(in

the

in

end of that portion of the Edifice

were placed

fill

con-

accordance with

tlie

Blackeney Chcech, Norfolk.

much by

laws of Gothick Architecture) not so

inci'easing the size

of the lights, as by adding to their number: thus, the west window of Henry the Seventh's

Chapel contains

fifteen lights,

and those

at Winchester, St. Alban's,

and York, each nine

lights.

Nearly every possible variety of arch appears to have been used in the construction of

As we have

window-heads.

already seen, the pointed arch was the

almost invariable shape adopted in the Early English lancets

sionally however, as in

pendix, Plate
lancets.

2,)

Farndisb Church, BKripoEDSHiRE.

we meet wdth square-headed

The accompanying

lychnoscopickj
Sussex.

Thanington Church, Kent, (Ap-

window

fi-om

illustration

is

occa-

_^ [^

trefoiled

the

Westhamptnet

north

r]

Chui'ch,'^*;-]

The one from Thanington Church occurs

in

j^r

the north side of the tower

Westhamptnet
Chcech, Sussex.

We

meet with Decorated windows with four centred arches,

occasionally

This arrangement

is

not

uncommon

in

Decorated windows,

those erected during the closing years of the Perpendicular period;

the beautiful

window

figured

by Sharpe, from Billingborough, Lincoln.

as in

Deopham Church,

Norfolk.

though by no means so frequent as

see Section

1,

Decorated,

Other specimens occur

at

Plate

13;

in

also

Heme, Kent, and

Evingtou, Leicestershire.
X

The term lychnoscope has been

the different periods

generally brought

example of one

most frequently

much

to the

applied to a very pecuhar window, to be found in Gothick Churches of

it is

placed at the south west or north west of the Chancel, and the

nearer the ground than in any of the other windows.

south west (Parish Churches, Vol.

page 15).

It is still

Temple

Balsall

more frequent

Church

is

affords an

that both the north

west and south west windows are of this description, as in the Churches of Westhamptnet, Raydon (Sect.

sill

all

1,

E.E.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

34

At the

close of the Early

window-arch

EngUsh, and throughout the Decorated Gothick period, the

most frequent use was the

in

equilateral

and

this

always the most

is

Other window-arches which occurred during the Decorated period, were the

beautiful form.

acutely-pointed, the obtusely-pointed, the ogee, the segmentalpointed, and the segmental-circular.

ogee arch
nor is

it

The

not of fi-equent occun-ence,

is

often productive of a

the segmental-circular

is

good elFect

The

very rare.

Bfii^NDON Church, Norfolk.

use at this period

all

square headed arch was veiy generally in

the windows to the south aisle of

description (Parish Churches, Vol.

The

page 65).

II.

very good and

as

(Appendix, Plate

6,)

KX^iX)^

'I

K)<>lix>Ol

souxHriEET cnuHcn. kent.

Leckampton Church

tracery in these

rich,

r-

windows

are of this

is

sometimes

Harbledown Church, Kent,

in

and Roydon Church, Essex,

Decorated, Plate 13.)

(Sect. 1,

Triangular-headed windows are occa-

met with, but they

>sionally to be

are defective both in gi-ace of out-

and soundness of construe-

line
Bicker Church, Lincolnshire.

Church, Sussex,

is

ment, in

its

which

not instanced as a

is

The example from Keymer

tion.

another curious

instance

of the

course naturally producing some

fit

example

for

thus treated.

imitation.

It

may

Crick

at the west of the south aisle.

Church,

page 75).

A'ery rarely are

quatrefoiled

comparing

windows

Sometimes a separate opening

Northamptonshire, where we find

improve-

be considered as a link

identify- it as a

Aldwinkle Church, Northamptonshire, (Parish Churches, Vol.

example of one
in

A'ol. II.

after

such extraordinary designs as the present,

square-headed window from Southfleet, we can clearly

and Cl^inping (Parish Churches,

Keymer Church, Sdssbz.

never-ceasing search

between the several successive changes in Gothick Architecture,

Plate 8),

LufY^^'AVu^^

circle

it

with the

modification of the

in other parts of the

may perhaps

Church

I.

page 51)

the wall was expressly provided, as

or

in

Bishop's

furnish an

Lydeard Church,

Somersetshire, (Parish Churches, \o\. II. page 63,) where the wall of the south Chapel, which apparently was

suhsequently added,

The

splayed so as not to block up the lychnoscope.

is

real use of these curious

openings in the walls of the Chancel

exclusively to be found in this part of the

Church)

is still

(for, as

a " vexata qusestio"

we have

among

seen, they are almost

Ecclesiologists

of the various

uses to which they have been supposed to have been devoted, such as confessionals, openings to watch the Easter

Sepulchre, lepers windows, &c., none seem to adapt themselves entirely to the different peculiarities of the case

any rate we
is

no ways

in

feel that

no apology

in the

at

necessary for not entering into a discussion, which, though highly interesting,

accordance with the nature and objects of the present work.

notices of this subject

page 65.

is

We

" Ecclesiologist," Vol. V. pages 1G4 and 187;

would

refer to

some very

Vol. VI. page

40,

instructive

and Vol. VII.

WINDOWS.

35

Triangular windows were comparatively rare,

former, by the omission of the two spandrels.

except in clearstories

the example from Cottingham Church, Northamptonshu-e, occurs

west end of the south

at the

continued, with the exception

arches were

these

All

aisle.

perhaps of the acutely-pointed and the ogee, in the Perpendicular

four-centred

named

very

In

arch.

hood-mold

or

dripstone

took

and

of

this

place

the

the
last

of

case,

this

in

of

also

the

Monksilver Church, Somersetshire, were occa-

spandi-els, as at

Square-headed windows were

pierced and glazed.

sionally

windows,

late

sometimes

label*

style,

pointed

the important addition

with

era,

cottixgha,, church, noethants.

in constant \ise in the Perpendicular, as well as in the preceding periods

specimens are appended.

is

by no means common

Circular

of these several

also occasionally appear, but this beautiful

windows

form

this country.

Gothick Edifices in

in

CLEARSTORY WINDOWS,
Which

almost

are

features

essential

occurrence

at

an

earlier

frequently than

did

the

architects

rare

thus,

at

placed

singly

Peter's,

windows

are

circular.

Lincoln,

St.

Church, Northants,
Clearstories

in

the

Sussex,

arcades

At

Southwell,

In

Early EngUsh

we

Alban's,
find

this

at

St.

has

Churches

smaller

often, but

t See Parish Churches, Vol.

I.

most

p. 1".

already

Churches

of

the

at

been

the

Cliffe,

series

Decorated

period

but

and

in

St.

clearstory

formed

SaMsbury,

windows.

usually

lighted

exclusively denotes a horizontal string with rectangular returns

refer to

exterior

and

interior strings

incorrectly, used indiscriminately.

Warmington

of two-light

were

eras

and

rarely

Structures

large

more

windows

Kent,

remarked, the

clearstories

of a

much

clearstory

clearstory

and other

comparatively

the Decorated

or

Anglo-Norman

Margaret

feature consisting

and the terms dripstone and hood-mold, severally

These terms are

as

observe

have Early English

The term Label (borrowed from Heraldry)

openings.

we

of

them

used

of either the Early English

except in the Cathedrals

design,

and

The Anglo-Normans

period.

they form

while

Northampton.

a part of the
Ely,

Church,

Steyning

Perpendicular Edifices, were

in

which enclose arches or

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

36
by a

of quatrefoiled

series

Examples of

cii-cles.

Kent, Filby, Norfolk,* and Great Milton, Oxfordshire.

circles

have

six

foils

and

at Stanton

aiTangement occur at Meopham,

this

At Garsington,

in Oxfordshire, the

John, in the same county, in place of

St.

the clearstoiy lights are triangular and with five

Church

the exquisite Decorated Gothick

circles,

In

foils. f

at Cley, Norfolk, the

clearstory consists of double-cusped cinquefoiled circles, alter-

At Bottisham Church, Cambridge-

nating with single lancets.

a series of finely molded two-light clearstoiy

shire,

wndows

Ont

Scale of fti I

Mbopham Church, Kbn

ig^,j

at

Raunds, Northants, a similar

to the subsequent period

From the

the

and

the

more nearly

was

occur

almost

of

detriment

great

introduced

invariably

into

previously

one

is

devoid

and
in

new

all

was

beauty)

their

the

of this

to

Bishop's

In

feature.

clearstory

use,

those

examples

rare

three-light

common

Churches

added

constructed.

of

as

at

and very

they were introduced

one with
than

the

actual

other,

fi-equently

had

(to

been

Somerset,

Perpendicular

Structure

smaller

windows,

with

Churches,
square

Humberstone Chux'ch,

much more important members

clearstory

which

Edifices

As the period advanced,

Cambridgeshire.

the

decline,

Lydeard Church,

of

the

its

and similar windows segmental pointed, as

HCMBERSTONE ChCRCH, LEICESTERSHIRE.

pot

FiLBT, Norfolk.

Perpendicular.]:

of Perpendicular Architecture to

introduction

approximates

series

at

two-light

heads,

were

Leicestershire

Histon Church,

became

clearstories

of the compositions into which

and the several windows being placed in close connection the

they frequently exhibited

walling.

Of

this

an-angement

the

considerably

Churches

Melford, in Suffolk, afford traly magnificent examples

of

in other

larger

surface

Lavenham

of

and

Churches,

glass

Long

however, of

about the same date, the clearstory destroys the whole beauty of the Building by

monotony and apparent

insecurity.

At Long Melford the

clearstoiy over

the nave

its
is

pierced by twelve large three-lights windows, which are also continued round the north

and south transepts.

* See Parish Churches, Vol.

I. p.

37.

t See Oxfordshire Churches.

Vol.
X See Parish Churches,

I. p.

69

See Parish Churches, Vol.

I. p.

63.

also

Northamptonshire Churches, Vol.

I.

p. 59.

37

BELFRY WINDOWS,
In

Norman

shaft

or

generally consisted of a doubled semi-circular arch divided by a

Structures,

designs,

richer

in

of the

parts

panelling

were

pierced for this purpose, as at St. John's Church, Devizes.

Another

not

Oxon

Iffley,

where

two

panels

exemplified

is

at

formed upon each

are

by two external

face of the tower

one central

arrangement

unfi-equent

of masonry and

strips

and a recessed window of a single arch

strip,

occupies each of the panels.

Semi-Norman towers the

In

double arch with a central shaft

The same

and Repps, Norfolk.

ton, Northants,*

Dudding-

retained, as at

is

arrange-

ment was continued throughout the Early English Gothick

period, with such modifications as the

examples occur
Northants. t

in

In

the Churches

the

last

was also a
also in the
foiled

common

style

demanded

^=

New Haven Church,

Etton and Barnwell,

at

Sussex,

the belfry windows are richly ornamented with

Edifice,

In the more important towers of this period, a pierced

and dog-tooth.

foliage

named

new

arrangement, as at Raunds, Northants. J

And

again,

arcade

in this,

and

succeeding period, the belfry windows consisted of a series of small quatre-

circles,

one pierced

Lindfield Church,

Sussex

each face of the tower, as at St. Mary's Cray, Kent, and

in

(Section

I.

Early EngHsh, PI. 4).

In

the Decorated period,

a single two-light window in each face of the tower was the most usual arrangement, as
at

Badgeworth,

Church, Kent, the

Heme
and

Church,
the

in

stage

belfi-y lights

in the

large

divided

is

which

is

into

I.

Edifices,

p.

5.

the

The tower

in this example, however, the flint-work

each

belfi-y

at
is

St.

Mary,

containing

windows

Repps

Redclyffe,

is

differed

I.

pp. 13 and 31.

I See Parish Churches, Vol.

I.

p.

69

At

the

;||

upper

window.

from those of the pre-

one of the circular

flint

Structures so

common

headed by an octagonal stage of ashlar, forming an arcade

and the Churches of Northamptonshire, Vol.

See Parish Churches, Vol. I. p. 19.

I.

Bristol,

three-light

fine

pierced towards the cardinal points with shafted double belfry windows, of strictly

See Parish Churches, Vol.

Southfleet

similar lancets occur in each face of the tower

compartments,

three

tower of

are four single lancets, each trefoliated at the head.

t See Parish Churches, Vol.

!l

Decorated Gothick

fine

and magnificent Church of

Parish Churches, Vol.

in Norfolk

the

same county, two

In Perpendicular Gothick

In

Gloucestershire.

p, 7.

Semi-Norman

I.

p. 53.

character.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

38

ceding period rather in points of detail, than in general design.

while

window

two-light belfry

size,

in

more important

In Churches of moderate

each face of the tower was the usual arrangement

in

two windows* were similarly placed.

Edifices

case the genei-al effect was considei'ably heightened by a buttress rising

and being crowned by a

pair of belfiy windows,

Churches of

of the

George,

St.

at

Doncaster,

and

light

latter

up between each

The towers

lofty pinnacle.

Margaret,

of St.

the

In

and at

at Leicester,

Bishop's Lydeard, Somersetshire,! are good examples, each containing a series of double
belfiy

windows

College Chapel,

and

similar

of notice.

It

window

or

circle,

are given in Section

I.

of the ringing loft

used for the same purpose.

some other geometrical

in the

Some specimens

figure.

of

In the Early English towers

Perpendicular, Plate 22.

Examples occur

and usually consists of

of Northamptonshire, a circular window of this same description

is

of Magdalen

tower

noble

the

in

Norfolk and Suffolk contain a peculiar window

in

the floor

lights

square enclosing a foliated

this

occurs

Oxford.

The towers of many Churches

deserving

also

series

is

also very fi'equent

and

it

Churches of Barnwell and Aldwinkle.J

Similar windows of the same period appear in the Church towers of Leicestershire, as at

Humberstone Church.
situated

it

is

At Section

I.

Semi-Norman, Plate

window

figured a

5, is

pierced through the south and east buttresses of the tower of

Church,
the

Sussex

opening,

the

imparts

detached

Norfolk,

diflicult to

is

chevi-on,

considerable

The window

portions.

Church,

in

assign a date to

richness

the west

of very
it,

at

to

design
first

pleasing

its

it

sight

Clymping

carried

is

of the tower

singular

and

which

curiously

it

pro-

Hunworth

of
is

round

exceedingly
presents the

appearance of a very early gable Cross, built into the wall of the

tower
HuN^i^^^I^nuRCH.

II

that this

the rough terminations of the four arms, however, show

was not the

case,

though

it

is

more than probable that

a gable Cross suggested the idea.

*

used in

Windows

of three lights, so fre((nently occurriug iu the body of the Church, appear to liave been sparingly

belfries.

In towers of great magnificence, two double lights under one arch was a more usual arrangement, as

in St. Margaret's

Church, Leicester.

t See Parish Churches, Vol.

I.

X See Parish Churches, Vol.

I.

p.

G.'?.

Also see Bloxam's Gothick Architecture, Ed.

pp. 31 and n9.

See Parish Churches, Vol. II. p. 75.

II

See gable Cross from Edith Weston Church, Rutlandshire, Section

I.

E.E. Plate 16.

8,

p 236.

39

TURRET LIGHTS.
No

part of an ancient Building, not even the minutest detail,

Builders of old as unworthy of their attention

accordingly

we

find that these small openings

lighting a turret staircase fi'equently displayed

for

no

design, and

little

skill in then-

ture, a staircase tuiTet

slits

Early English architec-

In that of the

Norman tower

of

Church, Leicester, the lights are mere square-

Martin's

headed

Norman and

was by no means an usual adjunct to the

towers of parish Churches.*

St.

considerable elegance in

Early examples are of rare

construction.

occuiTence, for, during the continuance of

was considered by the

while in the turret at the

N.W.

angle of the

tower of Achurch Church, Northants, an Early English Edifice

AcHURCH Church,
NORTHAMPTOXS ml'z.

of gi-eat beauty,

is

a very graceful

arrangement for admitting

light to the stairs, consisting of a series of small lancets

yl

with gabled canopies.

Early in the Decorated period lancet openings continued in use for turret
fights

as

in a tun-et to the

choir of St.

N.E. of the

Alban's Abbey Church. f

At

same period naiTOW cruciform openings

this

were also in use for this purpose, as in

the conventual buildings at Ely, (Appendix,
WiNTRRTON CHUBCH, NORFOLK.

(Section

I.

Plate

Decorated, Plate 3).

7,)

and

Waltham

more generally adopted

were enriched with various cusping and traceiy (Section

*
is

and

such

is

fxt

Abbry
Church.

I.

and these

for the

most part

Decorated, Plate 36, and Perpen-

occasionally

meet with towers

in

which the only ascent to the belfry

the tower of Weekley Church, Northamptonshire, (Parish Churches, Vol. II. p. 84.)

In Perpendicular Churches the turret

t The Newel

C-x

St. .\lb.\n's

22).

Even during the Decorated period we

by means of ladders

Church

Subsequently, and during the Perpendicular Gothick era,

small circles, squares, or triangles, were

dicular, Plates 13

Abbey

is

of invariable occurrence.

in this stair-turret is encircled

by a spiral molding, admirably adapted to the grasp of the hand.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

40

SPIRE LIGHTS
In their general features did not differ materially from other windows in the same Edifice,

except

that

consequence of the peculiarity of their

proportion

naiTow^ in

the

in

to their height

gi'ound line, they rose

and

being generally set at right angles to

also,

dormer windows from the

like

hdng

Church,

Leicestershire.

Oxfordshire

or in

tlii-ee

spire, as at Fleet

Canopied spire

two rows, as

Chm'ch, Northants, which

spires,

is

at

lights

Church, Lincolnshire,* and Humberstone

occur singly,

Leckhampton Church,

as

Newington Church,

at

Gloucestershire, and Duddington

an early specimen of such an ari-angement

and even four rows of

lights

have been introduced, as

tier

were of course invariably placed upon the cardinal sides of the

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRACERY

IN

geometrical formation.

It

is

Churches of

spire, the

upper

sides.

WINDOWS.

a review of the chief varieties of Gothick windows,

into the principles of their

while in other

The hghts of the

rows sometimes alternated, but very fi-equently continued on the cardinal

From

in the

Warmington, Northants,t and Ew^erby and Grantham, Lincolnshire.

lowermost

in beautifully

In some early spires, however, the lights were merely quatrefoiled openings

same plane with the

in the

and were

sides of the spu-e,

surmounted by acutely pointed canopies, which most frequently terminated

designed Crosses.

somewhat

thev were

position,

we proceed

examine

to

impossible for any person

to

have observed with the smallest degree of attention any number of Decorated windows,
without becoming aware of the constantly recurring combination of the equilateral triangle.

With very few

exceptions, the window-arches of the Decorated Gothick period are actually

founded upon that

figure, or

upon a veiy

close approximation to

The

it.

the heads of Early English Gothick lancets are similarly formed, as

Early EngUsh, Plates

and

7.

In Plate

1,

from Great

Wenham

is

greater

shown

number of

at

Section

Church, where the

I.

lights

of the triplet are trefoiled, the system of equilateral triangles has been, nevertheless, kept in
view, as

is

shown

in Diagi-am

(B.),

wiiere the centres for the curves are at the several

points of the triangle.

* See Parish Churches, Vol.

t See Parish Churches,

13, 31, 51, 55, 57, 59, 61, 69,

I.

Vol.

and

p. .Ol.
I.

pp.

65 and

77, &c. of the

17.

Also

same volume.

for other

specimens of spire-lights,

See also, Northamptonshire Churches.

see

pp.

11,

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRACERY

WINDOWS.

IN

41

A minute examination of numerous specimens of tracery, collected fi-om all parts of England,
has led us to form the conclusion that this same principle of the equilateral triangle constitutes
in

them

will

all

the basis of their formation

many

in very

cases

truth

its

is

undeniable, and

it

not invalidate this (assumed) constructive law that in some others, examples occur which

do not

mathematical strictness comply with

in

to imagine that occasionally the design

its

may have been

may have been

for it is

both easy and just

duly prepared

and yet

fi'om the fixed rule of the equilateral triangle,

the work,

requirements

in

executing

slightly altered or modified, to suit

some

circumstance or taste, or even as a mere practical experi-

pai'ticular

Thus, for instance, the annexed illustration of a window from

ment.

Southfleet Church, Kent, will be seen to have been both designed

and executed upon

strictly equilateral principles

equilateral, so also are the heads of the

two

the window-arch

lights,

above which

is

is

SOUTHPLEET CHURCH. KENT.

placed a quatrefoiled

In Shorne Church, at the east end of the north Chapel, occurs another
similar design, but in the execution of

window of

circle.

precisely

which we may perceive that

the architect has allowed himself to deviate slightly from the precision

which characterises the window at Southfleet

scarcely

on

this account be regarded as

working

he can

still

in absolute variance

from the principles which determine the formation of this

Such a deviation

of window.

modification of a general rule

is

it

but an instance of the legitimate

does not in the slightest degree tend

argument calculated to disprove

to frn-nish an

style

Classick Architecture, to the disci'eet architect

its
is

So

existence.
left

in

Shorne Church, Kent.

the privilege of slightly varying from

the exactly-defined relative proportions of the column and

its

entablature, withovit his being

thereby rendered obnoxious to the charge of impugning the ])roportional laws which hav^e

been estabUshed.
In the window from

Northfleet

tration of two-light windows),

tect

had

it

is

Church

by unduly increasing the

to

show

circle in

that,

in

it

result cannot

is

practice

so widely,

These examples

endeavouring to ascertain the correct

windows, a satisfactory

be obtained by experimentalising upon any one par-

specimen

conclusion

in

the window-head.

principles of formation in different varieties of

ticular

illus-

view the same principle which produced the Southfleet

in

serve

resume the

distinctly evident that the archi-

window, though he chose to depart from

will

(to

first,

NuBTlIFLEET CHURCH, KeNT.

on the contraiy, the only course calculated to lead to a

to

classify

Gothick windows

in general,

really accurate

and then to search out from

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

42

a variety of specimens of each class (as, for example, from a variety of two-light

haAang a

circle in

their formation

windows

the window-head,) the existence of some particular principle by which

may have been

regulated.

For ourselves, having carefully proceeded wnth such an investigation from one

windows to another, we have been

basis of alt

tlie

led to adopt the opinion that the equilateral triangle

Decorated Gothick tracery

In

of

the

some windows
equilateral

it

member can be
is

difficult,

beholders.

except

we

will

that the equilateral triangle

;

in

other examples,

ABC

may

once ob^^ous to

at

is

of

this

of

character,

last

St.

Nicholas,

be fairly regarded as a type of a class

is

distinctly

evident

centres

for the

we

is

a similar example from Northfleet Church

is

figTired

affords an

Leek Church,

is

is

and

St.

e,

e, e,

1,

also

a remarkable

John, at Staunton, Oxon,^ again,

is

Norfolk,

(Appendix,

like character,

The

six lights. t

specimen

likewise those in the Bishop's Palace, Southwark, and Chichester Cathedral.

window of the Church of

the

all

in Plate 8

Hingham Church,

one of a similar design with

Staffordshire,

here

perceive

easily

at

another elegant variety of this style

example of a three-light window of

Plate 4,) and in Trinity Church, Hull,

In Plate 2 of Section

arches of the tracery.

of window, from Capel St. Mary, Suffolk.

in

others,

in

subdivided into four similar figures, will give

of the same subdivision,

window

Gothick period.

B, C, being severally the centres for the window-arch, and

Decorated,

circular

it

adduce a specimen from the Church

principle of formation

the

the

in every class,

by actual admeasurement

Commencing with windows

Colchester, wliich

A.

possible

if

or rather scarcely possible, to discover the existence

and again

all

centres for the tracery

and

is

comparatively slight examination will I'ender that principle clearly

apparent

Nicholas Church.
Colchester.

justify,

divided, during the Decorated

principle of formation,
a

St.

and now we desire to

;*

by adverting to a diversity of examples

establish the accuracy of that opinion,

into which that important

class of

||

:}

as are

The

east

a curious example, and at

the same time a most valuable witness in favour of this principle of the construction of tracery

* Tlic term Tracery must, to a certain degree, be restricted to the windows of the Decorated Gothick period

inasmuch as

in those of the

t See Sharpe's Decorated Windows.

X See Bloxam's Gothick Architecture, Ed. 8, p. 220.
See Brittou's Antiquities, Vol. V.

succeeding period, the window heads for the most part degenerated into a species of

pierced panel-work.

II

See Britton's Antiquities, \o\. \

See Architectural Antiquities

in

the neighbourhood of Oxford, p. 225.

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRACERY

what

and the

ti-acery

43

must have been the formation Unes, are worked into the

in other cases

for here,

WINDOWS.

IN

consequently consists of intersecting lozenges which,

if

design,

subdi^dded, would

The example from Harbledown Church,

naturally produce a series of equilateral triangles.

Kent, could hardly be the result of any other than of a system of triangulation.

We

pass on to the second class of windows, in the tracery of

which this principle of formation, though existing,

not so manifest

is

III/

Stoke Albany (Section

Wenham,

Early English, Plate

1,

Suffolk (Section

and Decorated, Plate 20)

(Section

easily

be

seen

attempt

at

the mullions
added,

it

In

is

by

that

which

continuous

metrical figures, which

four

extends

Trumpington, Cambridgeshire

all

curves

the

of

this

style

the

of

arch,

outer

have no further

with
is

and

circles,

Such

or other geo-

sides

of the compartment

inserted

or,

sometimes

SOUTHFLEET CHURCH, KENT.

it

no further than to the mere foihng the several compartments.

intersecting

lights,

subdivisions

the

of

more

must of necessity be tangent

intersecting

which they are

within

Early Enghsh, Plate 10,

more important

distinctly visible.

enrichment usually consists of

ii,.kbledown chubch, kent.

formed by

secondary character,

of a

members of the window-head

the

is

I.

equilateral,

following

and even where further enrichment

always

^^a

Little

these windows, whether of two or

Many endows

also.

leaves the original formation of the

to

all

traceiy-bars

tracery-bars

of

and

five lights at

outer arch being

equilateral

tracery than

intersection

this

be

necessity

17),

Kent (Section

both in

windows of

in

the

that

produced

window-head,

must of

and

Decorated, Plate 29).

I.

will

the

,/f/,y

Early EngHsh, Plate 5); in three-light

I.

windows, at Meopham, and Heme,

it

those with intersecting tracery, as in the two-light windows ^J|(/C'

first,

at

these there are two chief varieties

Of

as in the preceding examples.

windows may be

classified all two-light

With

these

windows, in which tracery-bars diverge

from the head of the mullion, and describe curves similar to those of the window -arch
in

fact,

these tracery-bars,

which they are contained.*

The second

upon
is

No

two-light

if

produced, would intersect the sweeps of the arch, within

(See Section

said to

have

Decorated, Plate

iiifersecfiiii/

this principle, therefore, that the tracery in the

said to intersect.

1,

subdivision of this second class of

window can be

3.)

windows comprises by

far the greater

tracery, except uiion the principle here laid

windows of the Churches

at

down.

Stoke Albany and Little

It is

Wenham,

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

44

which

part of that manifold variety of designs

the Decorated

Gothick

perhaps than in any other

principle.

It

which governs the formation

line

a curve, but also every cun-e

the practical influence of this

almost

will

it

as at St. Margaret's, Herts,

each

to

the

other,

equilateral

main cm'ves of the tracery

to

set

the

out a

three,

and of such

gi'eat

(see Section

I.

examples of

made

we

this

to undulate

Thus

reproduced.

in

four,

An

beauty,

or

the angularity of the figure

number of
admirable

Decorated, Plate 10)

as

rule,

in

is

shown

I.

the

in the

an

of

angles

three

of other
of

this

similar

have

centres

the

find

easy to

set

all

out,

design

is

series

a second series

wliile

window

In the

circles.

for

One

diagi'am.

circles,

only

Lincolnshire

capriciousness of the

accompanying

In

circles.

we

class,

the door of Holbeach Church,

here the apparent

tangent

circles

and the undulations of the

order to

of similar and equal triangles gives the smaller and inner

Plate 5, of Section

equal

of this tracery, so

modification

showm

upon examination,
forming a diagram,

in

three

8,)

of equilateral triangles determines the centres of the larger

in

and

eveiy

is

two-light windows of net-tracery,

window

triangles,

exemplified in

is

brought wdthin the simplest

light

not only

nevertheless,

must of necessity be

six

readily

class

result fi'om the apposition

five,

more

detect,

working of the equilateral

Decorated, Plate

I.

window-heads of

the

the

speedily recognized,

is

of which

all

proportionate
curves.

requisite

net-tracery

determine the tracery of the window

triangle,

constructing

is

(Section

centres

in

execution, altogether suppressed

figure

be

involuntarily

in

in

is,

of

exemphtied

of flowing tracery,

\-ariety

time, indeed, that

is

windows

In

period.

is

figured

Decorated, fi-om Northfleet Chm'ch, this principle of formation

to determine the construction of a totally different design

the same

regards the subsequent specimens, in Plates 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, and 26,

is

the case as

all differing

more

or less one from another.

Nor

will this princii)le be

found applicable

onlj- to tracery

The

of windows.

beautiful

mosaick pavement in the Chapel of Edward the

Confessor, Westminster Abbey,

is

most remark-

able example, of the not always observed but ever

active influence of the equilateral triangle in all the

purer designs of the Middle Ages, and also of the

earnest desire to assign to that figure a distinct and

prominent position.

^y

"4sr

I
'^.

-^v^^-

"^

i-

applicable

to

the

The same remark

exquisite

diaper

in

is

equally

the

gi-eaf

Flemish Brasses at St. Alban's, Lynn, and Newark.

_^^
1

,vi

,,

lateml triangle,

,,

u,-,Mi>M,,.

its

A,n.i^

The

peculiar geometrical

easy subdivision into similar triangles,

properties

the part

it

of the equi-

takes in the forma-

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRACERY

hexagon (the most compact of

tion of the

form the basis of tracery)

to

these

more than

points are

reason

factory

governing principle

not

this

most beautiful

the equilateral triangle

evident anxiety visibly to impress

works, as well as to employ

Alban's AintEY Church.

Woodwork,

who employed

evidently a combination of such triangles, and

we

decorations
is

subdivided

triangularity

Section

I.

in

all

this

of which

is

pure

tripUcity

doubly

triplicity

Gothick work.
is

In

thi-ee

trefoiled,

Plate

tracery,
in

their

form upon their

elegant tracery

the construction of the design

the

even the hexagon

same studious display of

lights,

in

surmounted by as many

while single trefoils occupy the intervening

a greater

or a

lesser degree

inherent

25 of the Early English portion of Section

even unusually apparent

II.

manner

Northfleet Church, represented

trefoiled

indeed, in

is,

fi-om

it

form and arrangement of the

the

in

window

the

Decorated, Plate 2, comprises

This remarkable

stone at

window

in

also

apparent

constantly

is

triangles, each

spaces.

So

trefoils.

its

The very

perceive throughout the prevalence of a similar figure

into

infer

Plate 14) illustrates in a striking

the desire both to use and to show the equilateral triangle

is

we may

Bottisham Church (Section

in the spandrel fi'om

^T.

style of Archi-

as a governing principle

it

formation of them.

in the

is

a qualification of no slight

we needs must

as

that

all

remarkable symbolism of

importance in the sight of those

so eftectively

the

triangle

geometrical value also,

its

associate the

to

fail

finding

a satis-

fiirnish

the formation of

in

in the

With

tecture.

sufficient to

our

for

most beautiful

45

and therefore the best adapted

figures,

all

WINDOWS.

IN

for in the

Barnwell, Northamptonshire, the entire

Cross engraved on a coped

I.

coffin

design consists of a series of trefoiled

leaves.

But

let

us return to the more direct consideration of the subject, from which

we

In the four-light window of Sleaford

have permitted ourselves thus widely to

digi'ess.

Church (Section

are led, without any gi'eat difficulty, to detect the

I.

Decorated, Plate 26)

influence of the equilateral principle.

modified,
is

the

of

outline

we

Here the main bars of the tracery

window of

net-tracery

of two

lights

display,

only

somewhat

and though

it

not actually struck fi-om the angles of an equilateral triangle but has the central figure

slightly

elongated, in

of tracery with which

similar specimens,

order to impart a greater degi-ee of elegance to the second order

it

that

is

filled

same

still

it

cannot be doubted that in

principle of formation

was

this, as well

carefully kept in view.

as in

all

In the

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

46
other

window

same Church, which

fi-om the

the deviation fi-om the outline of net-tracerj^

here

would he

it

had not,

in the

maintain

to

difficult

figured in Section

is

can-ied to far greater extent

is

the

that

constructive

more, the four-light window from Holbeach Church

(Section

another instance of a somewhat similar departure fi-om a

the cu'cumstances of a special case, or to

but even

of net-tracery

principle

And once

ground-work of the design.

instance, been used as the

first

Decorated, Plate 18,

I.

Decorated, Plate

I.

is

7)

rule with a v\ew to suit

strict

peculiar ideas of the beauty of a traceried

gratify'

window.

woodwork of the porch of Bradwell Church, Essex,

In the

two

Plate 13) are instances of

upon the same

jierfectly different designs of

In the same plate

basis.

(Section

Woodwork,

II.

though both formed

tracery,

another specimen, in which an attempt has

is

been made to produce net-tracery fi'om the intersection of squares instead of equilateral
triangles

but the

would appear
is

still

more

the result where

produced

thus

effect

so,

singularly distorted

is

and unsatisfactory, and

How

were the design continued over a larger space.

the triangle

the principle

is

of formation

then

all

is

different

consistent,

harmonious, and elegant.

windows, in which the equilateral principle, though

Finally, with reference to those

certainly
circular

existing,

window

in

cannot

be

Waltham Abbey Church

to the diagram in Section

of a series of equilateral

triangles

curve in the entire figm'e.*

rather

who produced

his design,

compass

Perpendicular,

I.

may be proved

Plates

and

2,)

the original design.

It

reference

referring

merely fortuitous

art,

the

occurs in the crowning

Abbey Church of

curves

the

St.

every portion

for

the

Alban's

of the
angles

(see

design

of equi-

In these and like examples, indeed, a careful investigation

But then that

principle of formation,

principle

a similarly careful investigation will not

Got hick

similar instance

of the

cloister

necessaiy in order to discover the

is

to have been described from centres determined by

lateral triangles (see Plate 2).

of

in hand.

ornament over the doorway into the

is

the

even the minutest,

of every,

cannot be that such a circumstance

It

be seen that the intersection

will

the centres

give

will

By

wonderful specimen.

ti-uly
it

examination

searching

argues the window to have been the work of a profound practical geometrician,

it

Section

is

Decorated, Plate 4,

I.

a more

discovered without

equilateral

triangle

reproduce, as

it

were,

thus to be detected, and, in like manner,

/*

fail

to

to

show

was the

that,

gi-eat

throughout the purest period

pi'inciple

of general design

and

does not appear necessary to increase the space occupied by this article upon windows by a further
to

any of the other plates

of the

tracery have

degree,

made

been

apparent.

laid

down,

still

and

less

the

because in nearly

existence

of the

all

the

equilateral

specimens of windows the centres

principle,

in

greater or a lesser

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRACERY

and

formation,
itself

when

many

was, in very

also

Hence,

executed.

and niches of a Decorated Gothick Structure, and

the

form of

and diapers,*

traceries

its

amined:

this

but,

less

than in

and carved ornaments.

pavements

its

no

characteristick

it

would be

It

is

difficult,

if

with any of the varieties which we have now ex-

common

even possible, to class in

essential

prominent position assigned

some examples of windowsf may be adduced which

true that

the work

in

may be pronounced an

the

in

and pinnacles, we may recognise

buttresses

its

47

In the outline of the canopied windows, doorways,

charactei-istick of Gotliick Architecture.

to

WINDOWS.

made prominently apparent

cases,

equilateral triangularity

its

IN

an age in which the love of novelty in architectm-e was ardent and

in

almost universal, when eveiy endeavour was constantly directed to the improving what
already was of surpassing beauty

of talent scarcely less

existence of
it

some anomalies cannot be reckoned

observed,

formation,

than the diversities

multifarious

would indeed be most

before

an age in which there must have been gradations

in

we

extraordinary

therefore,

must

be

our

in

guided,

taste

in

such an age the

any degree extraordinary, or rather

in

had no such anomalies been

a

governing

individual

examples,

search

by

not

in

after

found.

As we

of

Gothick

the

general

principle

by

but

practice.!

very beautiful diaper on this principle occurs in Canterbury Cathedral.

t The statements here made with

members of
X

special

The lodge

in

Rushton Park, Northants, exemplifies the

The

here altogether unnoticed.

all

extend

with

equal justice

to

the

a Gothick Edifice.

application of the equilateral triangle in a

roof on

to windows,

reference

See Willis's account.

three

sides

the windows and from

plan

divided

is

them

to

into

We

of this curious building,

account

full

manner too remarkable

to

The

an equilateral triangle.

three

equilateral gables

be

and

in

every minutest detail, the same principle

has been carefully kept in view.

a

is

practical

subjoin a cut of one of the windows

of which

will

be

found

in

the

"Builder," Vol. III.

Window

in

Rushton Lodge.

other

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

48

MOLDINGS.*

treating

the

of

Moldings

associated

usually

for

system

by any other

we

Medieval Architecture,

propose

to

more important of those members with which they

notice separately the

are

of

we hope

be better enabled by this

to

aiTangement,

of

produce a practical

to

than

analysis

of the science of Gothick Moldings, without at the same time being in

any
of

degi-ee

this

induced to depart from that conciseness and brevity which the general plan
necessary.

work renders imperatively

the

advert to

remarkable diiference

and

gi'cat

appears

It

which

grouping, and

in

character,

whereas,

and introduced into certain positions, and

in

Structures

characteristick

of the

characteristick

of

the

in accordance

Gothick
:

Gothick

style.

fi'om

the

moldings,

of piers

bases

of the fretted vaults which they sustain, scarcely a

that in this multiplicity of molding-work, the almost

are

in

their

with established rules

no

is

indeed,

and the

essentially

less

member

appear

occurs which

And

it

only combinations

such as would have appeared to assimilate

in

is

almost

themselves to the

j^iers

of receiving consistent decoration by this most elegant method.

commonly found

definite

moldings themselves, than the frequency of their occurrence

every conceivable position

I'ibs

and these

Middle Ages, variety of outline

of the

a difference extending

Thus, the entire collection of moldings

position.

examples comprises but a few different forms

ancient

to

first

between Gothick

apparent

is

Moldings and the corresponding members of Classick Architecture

alike to their outline,

however,

requisite,

to,

incapable

is

may be added
which are not

or to have been

derived from, classick authority.

Such being the

practice

Masters of Gothick Art, we are disposed rather

of the

to assign to themselves the invention

of moldings, than to seek

its

in support of the opinion that

that in

moldings

of the

buildings

may

Romanesque,

be
is

traced,

their

The authors

from another source.

their

own admirable system

It

no argument whatever

feel

Anglo-Norman
especially in

much weight from

much

is

Gothick Moldings are derived fi'om Classick Architecture,

style

bases

a rude
for

the

resemblance

pleasure

iu

to

certain

Anglo-Norman being

altogether distinct fi-om Gothick Architecture.

supposition acquire
*

origin

and development of

ancient

form of

Neither does the same

the fact of a casual similitude of outline in

avaiUng themselves

high opinion of the Treatise upon Moldings,

lately

of this

opportuuity to express thus publicly

published by Mr. Paley, which

possesses

combination of being equally valuable to the professional architect and the amateur student of architecture.

the

rare

MOLDINGS.
Roman and Gothick Moldings

few instances, between

the

to

occasionally

base,

attic

49

be

to

some few Early Gothick examples.

obseiTed in

member only

This resemblance to a regular classick

and necessarily an imperfect, period

sitional,

abandonment of the

or from a close approximation

mth

the

existed dm'ing a

tran-

final

sudden change appears

circular arch, a

to have taken place in the moldings of bases, as well as of

members

other

and, in place of a modification of the attic

was introduced.

base, a widely different composition

annexed figures No.

is

English imitation, and No. 3 a base which

to the latter,

indeed,

if,

was not

it

No. 2

the attic base,

of

consideration

direct

in

cornices, vaulting ribs,

strings,

of

Jamb Molds.

in

These,

the

earliest

members

pier-arches,

in

and

basements,

we now proceed

origin,

These

moldings.*

windows and doorways,

occur in the jambs to

2.

same time.

in use at the

mediaeval

No.

Early

its

found to have immediately succeeded

is

Leaving to others a further investigation of their

more

In the

examples

Norman

of

most part simply squared back from the walls without the

and bases,

And

positions.

doorways,

slightest

are

style

for

attempt to

and

this

first

the

eni'ich

Recessed

the surfaces with moldings, properly so called, as at Fritwell Church, Oxfordshire.

jambs were, however, introduced at a very early period of the

the

fi-equently

capitals

in

some other

in

most

to

arrangement

continued in favour, both in windows and doorways, until the most perfect period of

Gothick
to

Norman jamb molds when

In

art.f

recessed orders, and sometimes the

St.

diversified surface-carving

Mary's Church, Easton,

shafted jambs
Plates

forms
their

4,

most

form

is

Maiy's

6.

it

shafts also,

of the style

Hants,

was the prevalent habit

were often enriched with the peculiar

the S. doorway of

furnishes

These jamb shafts occur

indeed, they are

fi-equently,

a good example

in a

(Section

I.

of the

is

I.

yet

variety

Anglo-Norman

5,)

being in

stjle

Norman,

and again,

so

of

occasionally

many

g^,

maey's, easton.

Plate 4, or slightly pointed

restricted to late specimens, as in the

Semi-Norman, Plate

of

Norman,

I.

great

circular,

octagonal, or twisted, as at Section

The moldings

successors,

jamb

and other specimens are figured in Section

last-named variety

this
St.

1,

it

detached shafts in each nook or interior angle, and in this case the several

place

though

thus recessed,

at

Chancel arch

Weald

Edifices

at

Codford

in Essex, in the S.

associated with

their

Gothick

has been considered expedient here to give a place for the consideration of these latest developments

of Romanesque work, in connection with Gothick moldings.

be borne in mind that the jambs of

It will

the doorways

in fact, in

Norman windows

most cases they are precisely

differ

but very slightly,

identical, except in use

and position.

if at all,

from those of

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

50

doorway, another curious form of jamb shaft

is

In some arches the customary

exemplified.

shafts were either entirely dispensed with, or restricted

to the sub-arch only, while the

the jambs were richly ornamented, as at IfRey

different faces of the recessed orders in

Church, Oxon, and Malmsbury Abbey Church.

Before proceeding any further,

we must remark

which the moldings

different planes occur in

Paley as the Wa/l Plane, that

the

is

lie

these have been distinguished by Mr.

any plane (A A)

Plane * or any plane (B B)

Soffit

In the Anglo-Norman
soffit

the

style

English,

planes

and

this continued to be the general

we

be most

plane

Plate 3)

find

the

the wall and

this

soffit

the

in

wall

arrangement throughout

jamb molded on the chamfer

soffit

planes

I.

Early

During the

plane.

still

generally used, but then in tolerably fi'equent connection with

which at

and

but by no means

occasionally (as in Section

of the Decorated Gothick period, the wall and

earlier portion

to

generally,

is

jamb molds were almost always worked

the Early English Gothick period, although

"

as

placed at an angle of 45 with the two planes before mentioned.

invariably,

and

main wall

parallel with the

at right angles with the wall plane

the C/iai//fer Plane, or such a plane (C)

jamb and arch molds, three

that in

continued

chamfer

the

time was in most cases worked exactly at an angle of 45 with

Perpendicular moldings are generally characterised

planes.

lying in the chamfer plane, which was no longer usually true to the angle of 45

by

their

and as

the style advanced towards the era of decided architectural debasement, the moldings shared
in the prevailing desire to

of composition

we

accordingly

Lavenham Church,

of

produce a meretricious
find that in

Suffolk, (Section

I.

effect,

many

without any reference to correctness

late

examples, as in the west doorway

Perpendicular, Plate

debasement of their contour and grouping, appear hardly to

7,)
lie

the moldings, besides the

in

either of the proper

molding planes.

But

to return to the

jamb molds

in the Early English

Gothick period, the door-jambs

continued most frequently to be worked in a series of rectangularly recessed orders, with

detached shafts of

An

cylindi'ical

elegant deviation from the

doorway of

St. Martin's

secondary series of shafts

pi'eceding style,
least in

which

archway

is

simple form of this arrangement occurs in the S.

at Leicester, (Section

introduced with excellent

some door-jambs occun-ed

(also as before)

is

common and

Church

in these examples,

* This term
its

form and comparatively slender proportions placed in every nook.

scarcely correct,

in

I.

Early English, Plate 23,) where a

effect.

In this period, also, as in the

which shafts took no part in the design

or at

they only appear as supporters of the sub-arch of the compound

however, the angles of the several orders which the

when

applied to

general accuracy, and to avoid the introduction of

jamb molds

new terms.

still, it

Norman

has been here retained in consequence of

MOLDINGS.

51

architects left untouched, theii- successors invariably chamfered off

produced were frequently hollowed out and

tilled

and the chamfers thus

with the beautiful tooth ornament, or they

were carried up plain to the impost of the arch, and there terminated in some elegant
device (see Section

I.

Early EngUsh, Plate 21).

In the Decorated Gothick period the de-

tached shafts were entirely abandoned, in door-jambs as well as other positions

however, shafts were

still

invariably attached to the

that

when

shafts,

in doorways,

so far altered in their character as to be almost

retained, but

mass of the Structure.

It

may

here be remarked as a general rule

engaged or othenvise, were used, the moldings they earned were placed on
the rectangular planes

but

if

the shafts were dispensed with and

the jambs were continuous wath the arch, then the moldings were

worked on

tlie

(Section

N.

the

in

doorway. Fen

priest's

This arrangement

Ditton Church, Cambridgeshire.

trated

in the

chamfer plane, as

is

well illus-

doorway of Swatton Church, Lincolnshire,

Decorated, Plate 23,) where part of the jamb mold

I.

on the chamfer plane, and part on the rectangular planes

former

is

is

the

continuous with the arch mold, the latter has a shaft

with cap and base, and carries a perfectly distinct series of arch
Perpendicular jamb molds being, perhaps, invariably

moldings.

were
worked on the chamfer plane,
*

Fen Ditton. Ca^ebridgeshire.

much more

therefore,

often

continuous with the arch mold than produced by shafts.

The arrangement of the window-jambs during the

in close accordance with that of the dooi-ways.

duced, (after the fashion of the

Norman

successive periods was generally

In the richer examples small shafts were intro-

architects) which, rising

window, can-ied one or several orders of the arch moldings.

up

At

to the springing of the

all

times these shafts were

used much more frequently in the interior of the window than on the outside

window

in

the south transept of Wissendine Church, Rutland, however, has a magnificent arrangement

of triple jamb shafts externally, resting on a steep and weathered

S.

sill.

The south

Martin's Church, Leicester, has some excellent examples of the use of this

aisle

of

member

internally.

Other instances of jamb shafts

Plate 13, where they are placed outside

Decorated, Plate 29, in

It

all

windows

in

be found in Section

in Plates 10, 12, 15, 17,

I.

Early Enghsh,

and 20, and Section

I.

of which they occur on the inside.

must, however, be borne in mind that though most exquisite adornments, moldings

are not nevertheless essential accessories

tion have their mullions
fleet,

and

will

Section

I.

many windows

with tracery of the richest descrip-

and jambs composed of simple chamfers

Decorated, Plates 2 and

5,

and also those given

see the

windows

in Plates 13

and

in

15.

North-

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

52

Arch Moldings, even when

not continuous, partook of the same general aiTangement as

when shafts were employed, they can-ied

those in the jambs, with greater richness of detail: thus,

groups of moldings more elaborate than those of the jambs, though

same planes
Plate 25.)

as in the west

doorway of North

Mimms

Chm-ch, Herts. (Section

I.

Decorated,

During the continuance of the Norman, Early English, and Decorated periods,

was the invariable

Chancel from

practice, in the case of arches dividing the

them

adjoining chapels, to keep

its

they were carried

Plate 3.)

nave fi-om the

entirely distinct

it

or the

aisles,

from the piers on which

these latter were frequently simply circular, or octagonal, while the arches

were most elaborately molded or emiched, as in

Norman,

upon the

falling

still

New Shoreham

Even when both members were

Church.

(Section

Semi-

I.

equally ornamented, as in the magnificent

examples in S. Patrick's, Patrington, their separate characters were nevertheless preserved;

we may

while in Perpendicular, on the contraiy,

between them.

The

piers

perceive a

and arches given in Section

an'angement generally adopted at

this period

I.

much

closer connexion to exist

show the

Perpendicular, Plate 14,

shafts placed at the cardinal points of the pier

supported part of the arch moldings, the remainder being continuous and

common

to both

members.
Capitals were either molded or carved with

foliage,

animals,

&c.

however, consisted of three distinct parts, which require to be most

HV'MW>,

kept in view,

mold A, the

bell

Norman

In

-----

we would

if

may

be described as the head

B, and the neck mold C.

capitals the

head mold was, almost without exception, square

on plan, and consisted of a few simply arranged moldings

examples this member was adorned wath some of the innumerable sculptures
(see

Section

I.

examples of ornamented

strictly

preserve the peculiar character of this important

Tliese three divisions of the capital

feature.

period:

they always,

Norman, Plate
bells,*

in

the richer

common

at that

In this same plate are represented different

5.)

some of them very

quaint.

The pecuUar form of

capital

which occurs in Waltham Abbey Church, has been distinguished by the name of cushion
capital;
bell

it is

usually a

mark of

was carved with the most

and interlaced patterns,

and even

early work.

elaborate,

excite our sm-prise, were

we not

its

meaning withal

is

whole space.

to reflect that

so well understood, that

beautiful, sculpture

it

is

it

in

Such endless variety

was (and indeed

many

/*)

geometrical

yet

has been considered ad\isable to retain

new term.

figures,

in design

in the spirit of

cases scarcely appropriate

further complexity to the architectural nomenclature by the introduction of a

human

rude representations of animals and

* This term, borrowed from classick Architecture,

and

times, and especially in late work, the

and sometimes most

foliage, flowers,

entire legends, occupied the

At other

it is

it,

would

Got hick

so coavenient,

rather than add

MOLDINGS.
architecture to

embody

any matter of

in its sculptui'e

mitted fi'om one generation to another

in the olden times, at once,

how much

read them,

53
faith or legend,

even passing events, we

which were thus trans-

may imagine

and almost imperishably noted down with the

of historical lore might not these old

The neck mold, the lowest

Norman

chisel.

to have been,

Could we but

sculptures reveal to us.

portion of the capital, never assumed an important position

and during the Norman period generally consisted of a bead, or a square with the angles
taken

off.

In the succeeding styles these three parts of the capital, though always existing, were

prominently marked

less

and indeed

Gothick moldings to lose sight of the

has been a very

it

common

distinct existence of the

practice in the revived

head mold and

bell,

which have

accordingly merged into one, and the character of the capital been thereby entirely destroyed.

In the accompanying cuts,

Church, and
bell,

if lost

shows how the separate parts of the head mold and the

sight of by the

converted into one.

Now

undue projection of the

lastly the

member then came

of stone

head mold was the most

the bell, falling back a

neck mold, which receded

In other words,

bell.

become

still

little

fi'om

it

and

further fi-om the face of the

we might regard a Gothick

-n,

~:?vi

J^

^-^A.'

^^K^ ^

a close examination of ancient examples

will establish, as a general rule,* that the

projecting

latter,

Abbey

a capital fi-om St. Alban's

is

/'

^N
,

L _.

^^'^

"^^"'^

capital as consisting of thi'ee circular pieces

the lower one a thin slab, out of which the neck mold would be produced

second, a thick block projecting considerably over the

another slab at top, somewhat thicker than the

first,

the

and

lastly,

and projecting the most of the

three,

first,

would form the

bell

out of which would be cut the head mold.

The heaviness obseivable

this simple

The
part,

in

some modern

capitals

is

principally

owing to the neglect of

arrangement.

bell,

when not

foliated, generally consisted

of a group of moldings in the upper

which were united to the neck mold by a beautifully undercut and

outline

or occasionally, and the effect

is

gi-aceftiUy

extremely beautiful, the bell was double, consisting

of two different groups, the one receding fi-om the other, as in Fig. 3, Section
English, Plate 24

and Fig.

2,

Decorated, Plate 35.

not acquire more importance than

some other simple molding.

outline

marked the Norman

The neck mold of the Gothick

had during the Norman

it

Finally,

we would remark

capitals, the

curved

it still

I.

Early

period did

consisted of a bead or

that while a general squareness of

Early English and Decorated were distinguished by

being circular, and the Perpendicular by being octagonal.

*

Examples are occasionally found

in old

occurrence iu no way affects the general rule.

work

in whicli this principle has not

been followed, but their rare

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

54

Bases consist of two

distinct

member was most apparent dming

parts, the plinth

and the base moldings

Norman and

the

Early EngHsh periods

sequent styles, though always to be found,

it

The Norman

head mold of the

plinth, in conformity with the

square, and usually consisted of a plain

moldings

in the sub-

was, nevertheless, at times hardly discernible.

unmolded mass of

capital,

was almost invariably

on which rested the base

stone,

these latter took the shape of the pier, and the blank spaces which result from

placing a circle or octagon

upon a square, were enriched with

ornaments.

Semi-Norman, Plate

(See Section

I.

3.)

Plate

Hospital (Section
plinths are

or molded, as

1);

in the

Early English, Plate

I.

commonly met

triplet

foliage,

animals, or other

Frequently the phnth was double, in

which case the lower member was generally chamfered, as

Norman,

the former

Orpington (Section

at

I.

Semi-

the Chapel of St. Bartholomew's

fi-om

In Early English, double and even triple

1.5).

with, as at Clymping, (Section

I.

Early English, Plate

5,)

and

from the richness of the moldings with which they are ornamented, frequently assume
considerable importance

English,

Plate

24,

base fi-om Westminster

see a

Fig.

During the Decorated period, the

12.

prominence, in fact the entire base was generally a

its

the preceding style

instances, however,

Church, Norfolk (Section

I.

Abbey Church, Section

may

plinth

less striking feature

10)

much

than

it

and Tunstead Church,

Perpendicular plinth grew to a most exaggerated height, was constantly double or

it

the

fi'om

have

base

Perpendicular, Plate
entirely omitted.

The tower

moldings.

specimens of this

tine

9,)

its

style.

was

of
in

Hingham

the same county, furnishes an example of a quadruple arrangement of this member.

and from the number and lichness of

Early

lost

be found of triple plinths, as in

Decorated, Plate 33, Figure

I.

in

The
triple,

parts, requires a close examination to separate

piers

to St. Margaret's Church, Westminster,

Sometimes, as in the

sedilia at

Cob ham,

the base consisted solely of a plinth, the base

In plain Churches of the Early English, and

still

more

(Section

I.

moldings being

so of the Decorated

a chamfered plinth of a few inches projection was the most usual termination to

period,

the nave piers.

Shortly after the introduction of the Early English, the plinth began to adapt itself
to the form of the pier which

became an octagon,
foUage

molds

fill

as in

it

supported

the change, however, was gradual

pier.

It is

veiy singular that after a lapse of time the plinth should

once more have become octagonal, though the base moldings

in

wrought

Perpendicular
in

circular base

the plinth assumed the form of the base moldings and bent in and out

with the outline of the

and

the square

Westminster Abbey Church, where delicately carved knobs of

up the spaces which occur between the octagonal plinth and the

finally,

it

still

retained the circular form

was fi-equently the case that both plinth and base molds were

octagonal faces, leaAang only the upper molding of the latter to follow the

MOLDINGS.

55

In Churches of PerpencUcular date

shape of the shaft.

it

was customary

for the base

moldings to encircle the shafts only, while the plinths, on the contraiy, were earned round

Lavenham Churches,

the whole pier, as in Lindfield and

Base moldings admit but of

common Norman

Section

I.

Perpendicular, Plate 14.

form or arrangement.

Uttle variety of

base molding consisted of a hollow and quarter-round, and

not a Uttle singular that the I'esemblance to the attic base did not occur

was considerably advanced

style

very

in fact

it

it is

^\

the

till

was during the Early English period

that this resemblance became complete.

Base moldings were also extensively used round the

Those of the Early English period were generally very plain and unimportant.

Churches.

The

and towers of

walls, buttresses,

beautiful

Church of Skelton, near York,

little

is

enriched inside with moldings of the

most elaborate description, though externally the walls and buttresses have merely a

The tower of Fen Ditton Church, Cambridgeshire (Appendix,

chamfered table*

Plate 6) has a plain but effective arrangement of moldings.

In

many

and Perpendicular towers, the base moldings became highly ornamental and
of the

with a

design

those in

Hingham Church

example of a somewhat

rich

later period

same

an equally

work and

flint

The neighbouring Chui'ch of Tunstead

(Section

Generally in Decorated work the gi'ouping of the moldings

when

judicious that even

instances, a grand

more frequently

is

has also some excellent and carefully wrought moldings.

date,

Decorated, Plate 30.)

some

essential portions

the combination of the panelled

the sunk quatrefoils has a very good appearance.

of the

of the Decorated

The tower of Worstead Church

of beautiful designs.!

gi'eat variety

left

unenriched by tracery, they

and imposing

In Norfolk and

panelled.

still

Suffolk,

panelling

flint

is

I.

so

present a pleasing, and in

Perpendicular basement moldings were

effect.

1,

and are panelled

peculiarly magnificent,

are

Fig.

is

very

much

common

enrichment, and, indeed, a volume might be devoted to the illustration of the elegant and
ever vaiying devices which abound in these counties.

most

as a

perfect specimen of this style of

workmanship.

appears on the basement moldings, by which

north

aisle)

was erected

In producing these

in

with small

I.

t This
is

illustrated

interesting

may

be cited

In this instance an inscription

learn that that part of the

Perpendicular, Plates

it

a few inches, and afterwards

11,

Church
19,

(the

and 20.

filling

up the sunk

or where the cavities were very minute, a kind of black pigment was used.

* Table appears to Lave been the general term for any horizontal
corbel table, crest table,

Mary's, Stratford,

enrichments the " modus operandi" consisted in tracing the outline

flint

flints

we

1430; see Section

of the design on the stone, then sinking

pai-ts

St.

skew

table,

member

in

Gothick Architecture

such as

water table, &c. see Willis's Nomenclature.

and pure specimen of a Decorated Church was erected between the years 1316 and 1359.

by two views and

a plan in Vol. I. of the Parish

Churches.

It

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

56

Stringcourses and Dripstones are so

and forming the other, as to render

no

necessary to examine

it

them

insignificant part in the general design of the Building, "

gi'aduated and rectangular heights

now dying

into the wall

nothing baffled by
label

now

as

it

Strings perform

Sometimes

rising abruptly in

were passing into some interinipting projection and,

and playing the most fantastic tricks before

relieves

together.

sometimes carried over a doon\'ay or round an arch

re-appearing on the other side

it,

one being carried on

fi-equently identical, the

now

starting aloof into a

again descends

it

window

a stringcourse at once

naked masonry and binds into a whole the seemingly detached portions of a rambling

and irregular construction."*

The most

usual,

and perhaps the essential position of the stringcourse

which are thus divided from the moi-e

under the

is

windows

number

of Churches, especially those of the Early English and Decorated period, were

solid parts of the

adorned with this apparently insignificant member

and in most cases where

A corresponding

the walls present an unfinished and naked appearance.

carried

The

basement.

it

string

greater

was omitted,
was generally

round the inside of the Church, under the windows and over the doorways, as

at

Southfleet Church, Kent.

Norman

strings

were usually heavy in their outline, and rarely displayed any particular
beauty of arrangement
frequently

they were, however, very

much emiched with

ture of that period, as in

and

Peter's,

St.

the ornamental sculp-

Waltham Abbey Church,

Northampton.

Early English

strings,

on the contrary, were remarkably

elegant,

and displayed a great amount of taste and

judicious treatment

freed

from the

light

restraint

and

and

horizontality of the previous style, they delighted in

closely attaching themselves to those
GOSGHOVR

Cllt'ECH,

them now rose up

NORTHANTS.

they were intended to adorn

close under the

sill

members which

accordingly

we

of the window, and then suddenly dropping to accom-

modate themselves to the arch of a low doorway, and again

under the adjoining window
rally carried

rising to

run immediately

at this period the strings

were gene-

round an intei-vening obstacle, such as a buttress,

rather than dying against

it

to re-appear on the other side, and

such became the most accustomed treatment in the following

TlCHMAESH

and

tliriKlI,

NORTHANTS.

in all other

find

Decorated strings were frequently of

moldings of this period, there

is

gi-eat

beauty

style.

in these

a gracefuhaess of outline and a finish of

* Paley's Gothick Moldings, p. 69.

MOLDINGS.
execution, that

we look

foi*

any of the other

in vain in

of Bottisham in Cambridgeshire,

most exquisite workmanship.

57

may

The very

styles.

till

stones were most usually quite distinct from the stringcourse,

some quaint

tinued on from one

window

Church, Kent,

offers a

Church

be mentioned as peculiarly rich in moldings of the

In opposition to the practice,

flowers, animals, or

interesting

then prevalent, the drip-

and terminated in heads,

Occasionally, however, the hoodmolds were con-

devices.

Chartham

to the other, of which arrangement the Chancel of

most pleasing example.

(Section

I.

Decorated, Plate 22.)

In the

beautiful Decorated Chapel of St. Etheldreda in Ely Place, Holborn, the continuation of the

hoodmold between each window,

up

rises

Perpendicular strings differed but

into gables

little

emiched with flowing

from the Decorated, except

which partaking of the general character of the moldings of

and

distinctly

often
ever,

Their use was

marked.

Church was erected

small village

the

less

traceiy.
in their

outhne

became more angular

this period,

frequent than was previously the case, and

entirely without

them.

Dripstones,

how-

were generally retained, and in most cases were simply returned at the springing of

the arch, instead of finishing with terminal heads and flowers, such as were used by the

Decorated Architects. In the

i-icher

Buildings, initials, shields bearing the Sacred

and octagons, sometimes with small flowers

squares, pentagons,

rable other devices were freely introduced.

Cornices are not essential features

Ai'chitecture

in fact,

in

(Sect.

I.

in the centre,

Monogram,

and innume-

Perpendicular, Plate 27.)

Gothick

when used they might more

rightly be considered as enlarged stringcourses.

They occur

principally under parapets, or at the

eaves of roofs and spires

of the important part,

however, which they perform in the open timber

roofs

of Norfolk
In

hereafter.

and Suffolk, we

was formed by the projec-

tion of the upper part of the wall,

termed the corbel

table.

siderable enrichment

at

St. M.^rtin's

Church, Leicester.

which was supported on brackets or corbels, and hence

This arrangement was susceptible of and frequently received conBicker Church, Lincolnshire,

table assumes the appearance of the heraldick

nebule line

by an easy modification the

wards became

dog tooth
is

treat

Norman, and some Early English

Buildings, the cornice

this

shall

trefoiled,

circles after-

and sometimes ornamented with

in the soffit, as at

Romsey.

The

spire table

deserving of considerable attention, for in a great

nji

measure the beauty of the spire depends on

its

judicious

>-Hii

Bicker Chuech, Lincolnshire.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE

58

junction with the tower.

from the wall was in

Its projection

cases very inconsiderable.

all

In

the Early English Structures a series of small trefoiled arches corbelled out from the wall,
are

commonly met with

the beautiful spires of St.

Mary's, Stamford, and Ketton, Rutland, have ex-

amples of a very elegant arrangement

and a single

hollow studded here and there with ball flower or

heads, was also introduced with excellent effect.

more properly termed the casement*

Tlie hollow,

which holds a prominent position in most cornices,

Oadby Church. Lbu estershibe.

ornaments

we may

was generally

filled

with heads, flowers, or running

notice that the flowers in Decorated cornices usually spread over the re-

mainder of the moldings, (Section

Decorated, Plate 37,) while in the Perpendicular examples

I.

they were most frequently confined to the casement.

(Section

Perpendicular, Plate 12.)

I.

Having now reviewed the arrangement, and the most ordinary positions
moldings occur, we

The

earliest

will

which

in

examine the subordinate parts of which they are composed.

molding found

in

of the edges of a recessed arch.

Norman work

This formation

appears to be the circular bowtel, worked out

is

clearly

shown

in

many

instances where the

bowtel only commences some few inches above the springing of

the arch, as in Sandridge Church, Herts. f

bowtel alternated

with a hollow forms the principal arrangement of

ings
SANHRIDfiE CnURCH. HkRTS.

tiplicity or

their great richness

sculpture, always

beauty in the moldings.

conspicuous ornaments in

complex as to require no

ornament continued

in

Norman

little

Architecture, and in

its

all

others of the

almost innumerable varieties were

some instances

attention to disentangle the

constant occurrence in Semi-Norman, and

Norman

was rather the result of a profusion of

wrought on the rectangular planes, than of mul-

The chevron and

use long after

Norman mold-

was so

their formation

maze of stone-work.

same date had been

This beautiful

discarded.

It

was of

may even occasionally be traced in Early English work.

stringcourses partook of the heaviness of the moldings of that period.

They

* Willis's Nomenclature.

It is a peculiar characteri stick

the face of the work.

of pure Gothick, that

Such an arrangement

is

all

moldings, panelling, or sculpture were always sunk from

the natural result of a style, a distinguishing type of which was only to

introduce ornament as an emhellishment to construction ; thus a capital would naturally be corbelled from the pier, the
better to carry the

sujicrincumbent weight

resulted from a desire to enrich that which

the face already existing

the block.

hence

its

subdivision into headmold,

would otherwise be a plain

surface,

a row of dog tooth generally exemplifies very well

As the debasement gradually

crept

in,

we

find the contrary to

bell,

and neckmold

panelling

and consecpiently was wrought out of

how ornaments

have taken place.

also were

worked out of


MOLDINGS.
had veiy
sides

59

variety in form, fi-equently consisting of projecting ledges with one or both

little

chamfered

off.

few sections of the most

The

ring varieties are given in Appendix, Plate 6.

Semi-Norman example occurs

adjoined

internally in the north chapel

of Bapehild Church, Kent, and in the original

The hollow soon

oft occur-

after its introduction

coloured blue and yellow.

is

became more and more undercut, and

in the Early

English style was fi-equently earned to such an extravagant excess, as to materially affect the
durability of the moldings.

made

its

During the continuance of the Semi-Norman, a new member

We

appearance, the 'pear-sliuped or pointed bowtel.

can easily trace

its

formation fi-om the circular mold already noticed, by leaving the anis of the

From

original square block uncut.

'

Gothick moldings
one, two, or three

\\all

be found to be derived, for by an easy transition

fillets

all

molding system of

the

in

The example

period.

was common
work, and eventually gave

rise to

derived

appended cut

in Early English

and Decorated

the wave molding

singularly clear

its

that most elegant of Gothick moldings

for

at

from the

oriarin
first

purest

tlie

the

in

having become usual by this time to gently round the

wave mold

became a bowtel of

it

of which, with their numerous varieties, performed important

parts

it

most of the subsequent

this pointed bowtel

fillet

filleted

we meet with

into the bowtel.*

bowtel

instances,

That

this

is

as in

the doorway of St. Margaret's Chapel, Herts, with only one of

the

fillets

Fleet

rounded

and shortly afterwards

Church,+ Lincolnshire, we find both

the molding

still

period advanced,

curve which at

preserves
it

first

lost

its

Chancel windows of

in the
fillets

rounded

off,

gently united the

its

resemblance to

its

to the bowtel, gi-adually

fillet

MARa.K.T-^cn.p.L,

As the Decorated

character of a filleted bowtel.

more and more of

s^

though

prototype

the

assumed more

Flbet Chukch
LlNlui.,NsUIKti

importance at the expense of the latter

most complete

state,

and

and when Decorated had arrived

it is

not a

singular that in

little

its

at its highest degree

of perfection, the formation of the wave mold appears to have been from
the three points of an equilateral triangle.

molds, with intervening hollows, was a

rated arrangement.

group of two or more wave

common and most

beautiful Deco-

This mold was also of fi-equent occun-ence in Perpendicular, though

belonging more especially to the former period.

* This

fillet

gradually became smaller and smaller, until at last

t For a drawing of one of these windows, see Appendix, Plate

illustrated in the Parish

Churches, Vol.

I.

page 51,

it

was reduced almost

4, Fig.

37.

an

to

The Church

arris.

itself is

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

GO

The

ogee, tlie

same source

traced to the
?>^^

most generally used perhaps of

as the

wave mold.

all

moldings,

It is in fact

may

with equal certainty be

a half of the

The

filleted bowtel.

double ogee, formed by the junction of two ogees, was introduced

towards the close of the Decorated, but became a more constant

A remark-

and characteristick feature of the Perpendicular period.

ably early instance of this molding (probably fortuitous) occurs in the central
shaft of the double bell gable of Skelton Church, Yorkshire

appears the result of an an-angement of four clustered

One more molding remains

to be noticed,

Here again we may

It is in fact

expected,
Skelton Chuhch,
yorksbire.

a bowtel, with one

its

first

occurrence

and though

bowtel

we

traced to shortly before

Agreeably with

It

it

as they

and

had the

at last

it

assumed the appear-

This mold was more extensively used perhaps than any

ance so peculiar to the 14th century.

and

its varieties

became so numerous

as almost to dety classification.

entered abundantly into the formation of capitals, bases, hoodmolds, and

strings :*

it

was

rarely used in Perpendicular work.

The sunk chamfer

Before leaxang this subject, yet one other variety must be mentioned.
is

simple in

constraction, yet generally effective in execution.

its

been the result of cutting away the projection ti"om a

^\^\
sc:.K

Chamfer.

allude to the

might be

find its angular outline gently softened,

other,

perhaps

partially developed, and, as

the close of the Early English period.

we

it is

its origin.

their ideas of beauty, the Decorated architects treated

filleted

last

certainly refer to the bowtel for

fillet

is

()(iEK,

filleted bowtels.

the most characteristick and essentially Gothick of any

scroll mold.

DOUUI.E

formation

its

is

perhaps easier to imagine that

view of gaining more

may have

production

Its

filleted

bowtel, though

was simply sunk from the plain chamfer with

it

In the muUions and tracery of windows,

effect.

it

it is

q partlcukrly happy introduction.

To resume
observe that the

briefly the various pecuUarities in

Norman

moldings at the different periods.

hardly got beyond the alternating round and hollow

We

that the

Early English, extending the example set them by the architects of the Semi-Norman period,
liollowed their moldings to an extravagant degree,

individual

* It
It

is

members of a group, but that

occasionally,

though very

rarely,

fouud

in

Decorated the hollows only divided the complete

in vertical

occurs in Wootton Church, Beds, in the north doorway

as a partially developed filleted bowtel.

reversed

and that the hollows until then divided

in

groups of moldings, such as door and window janihs.

such instances, however,

At other times, and more

these, however, are exceptions to the general practice,

it

should rather be considered

especially in bases,

this

mold

will

and can hardly be sanctioned by correct

be found

taste.

DOORWAYS.
groups

Early English

while

that

from

moldings,

irregular section of their hollows, present

61

the

more the appear-

ance of having been drawn " libera manu," Decorated on the

contrary were remarkable for geometrical precision
Perpendicular, the

hollow was converted into the shallow

casement, the character of the moldings suffering in

with

all

that in

common

other parts, fi'om the general debasement of Architecture

made

moldings, wliich at various times

beautiful

traced to a

common

origin, the

bowtel

and

how

Classick Antiquity in the formation and gradual perfection of these

of

Go thick

lastly,

may

their appearance,

thereby clearly showing

little

that the

all

many

be distinctly

was derived from

most lovely adornments

art.

DOORWAYS.
Norman doorways
in design.

are generallj'^ remarkable for excessive

On, perhaps, no other part of

bestow such care and attention

that

richness and elaborateness

their Buildings did the architects of those days

they seem to have considered no detail so minute, but

was capable of receiving further decoration, which was

it

apparently an

unfailing

source.f

liberally supplied

Their usual an-angement consisted of two

recessed arches, with a con-esponding

number of

shafts in the jambs.

or

A common

from

more

practice

was to place a stone Untel from jamb to jamb, thus forming a square-headed door with
the spandrel under the

from

Mary Magdalen's Church

St.

shghtly arched to gain a

lintel is

an

effect

Rutland.

arch generally enriched with

(Section
little

I.

sculpture.

Norman,

Plate 4).

Such

is

the

example

In other examples the

additional height, or perhaps merely to produce

of greater lightness, as in Middleton Stoney Church, Oxfordshire, and Essendine,

This

lintel

became afterwards enriched by having carved on

its

soffit

three

* Paley's Mouldings, p. 34.

t The extraordinary power of invention and

architects are perfectly surprising.
versatility of design,

The

of execution displayed in the ornaments of the

entire succeeding periods of

however superior they may have heen

designs are of such exceeding intricacy that

or board

facility

we must

Gothick architecture

in chasteness

failed to equal

and elegance of form.

possibly considerably modified as the work proceeded.

artificers,

them

in

Many Norman

entirely reject the idea of their having been projected

they must be considered as the productions of clever

Norman

designed and set out on the stone

on paper

itself,

and

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

62
ornaments

like pellets, as in

Weald Church, Essex.

the idea of a triple arch, such as

Plate

1,)

and

I.

Norman,

occasionally occur without shafts, the arch moldings being continuous

;

a veiy fine example of this kind

Malmsbury Abbey Church, Wilts, where the wide bowtels which run down the

jambs terminate
It

possibly have suggested

find in Nately Church, Hants, (Section

to the gi'ound, as in Iffley Church, Oxfordshire

occurs in

may

Church, Gloucestershire.

in Bibery

Norman doorways
down

we

This device

in bases.*

was a common practice

at this period, to project that part of the wall

through which

the doorway was pierced, and hence, from the necessity of protecting this projection, the
dooi-ways

became gabled,

as

in

Lincolnshire, the latter of which

Merrington Church, Durham, or Sempringham Church,

is

surmounted by a Cross (Section

I.

Norman, Plate

6)

a magnificent example of the same description occurs in St. Germain's Church, Cornwall.

Sometimes the projection of the wall was weathered

and in other examples, the gable no longer an object of necessity,

Iffley,

as

at top in lieu of being gabled, as at

an ornamental accessary.

interesting Structure of pure

recessed, with one set of

jamb

In St. Margaret's, at

Norman
shafts.

character,

The

gable

is
is

ClifFe,

w^as

retained

near Dover, a valuable and

doorway of

this

description once

formed by an ornamented

string,

which

rising fi"om the springing of the arch, terminates in a kind of trefoil.

During the transitional period which occurred between the close of the Norman and
the complete establishment of the Early English architecture,
ordinary arrangements in the designs of doorways, as well as in

we meet with many

all

extra-

other parts of the Edifice.

Such arrangements are by no means to be adopted, and are merely interesting

in

showing

with w^hat reluctance the old style was finally abandoned, after having been used in the
erection of a greater

number of magnificent and

costly Buildings than were

existence in any of the subsequent periods of Gothick Architecture.f

Little

two

called into

In the doorway of

Snoring Church, Norfolk,! we find a pointed arch enriched with the chevron, between

circular arches, the outer

one being

stilted

such a construction would almost indicate

that they were fearful of trusting solely to the strength of the newly introduced form of arch.

In Northleigh, Church, Oxon, the south doorway

arch.ij

is

pointed and enclosed wdthin a

cii'cular

Transition doorways, however, were sometimes of elegant design and careful work-

manship.

The west doorway of Orpington Church, Kent,

(Section

I.

Semi-Norman, Plate

1,)

* Engraved in the Antiquarian Itinerary.

t Between the Conquest and the

priories,

and 81

alien priories.

first

year of Henry III. there were foiuidcd and re-estabUshed 476 abbeys and

Tanner's Notitia Monastica.

X Britton's Architectural Antiquities.

Antiquities of Oxfordshire, Part II.

ji.

163.

DOORWAYS.
is

63

an excellent specimen of good proportions, with a delicate

undercut chevron, which produce a beautiful

effect.

trail

of dog tooth and a boldly

benatura or holy water stoup,

has been rather awkwardly introduced against one of the shafts, as shown in the plate.

Highly enriched examjiles of Norman doorways occur in Ketton Church, Rutlandshire,

and

the prioiy

in

Church of

Leonard's, Stamford

St.

Both these

an almost unique

this latter has

on either

an-angement of double jamb

shafts.

on a somewhat smaller

partaking of the character of arcading, yet belonging essentially

scale,

are flanked

by blank arches

side

to the general design.*

Early English doonvays are distinguished by their usually great beauty and purity of
detail, yet

they are by no means so numerous as those of the preceding

style, in part

They may be

owing to the general custom of preserving the older examples.

no doubt,

classed under

the various heads of shafted, continuous, discontinuous, banded, foliated, and double arched.

The

lai'ge

Norman

doorways, when shafted, commonly preserve the deeply recessed

character

bold and effective arch moldings, often enriched with trails of dog tooth or flowers, are

earned on the detached shafts, which very frequently were of a different stone from that

Purbeck marble was most generally employed for the

used in the rest of the doorway.

pm'pose, and was in gi-eat requisition during the entire duration of this style.

consumption of
It

this

costly

material in Westminster

Abbey Church

probably never was employed without being highly polished

The immense

truly sui-prising.

is

those, therefore,

who have

seen the restored purbeck piers in the Temple Church, London, can form an idea of what

must formerly have been the

effect

of this magnificent

Abbey Church with

its

vast masses

of dazzling brightness.

fine

Leicester,
effective

engaged.

example of a shafted doorway from the south

is

given in Section

an-angement

is

arch,

however, are of a somewhat poor character

in the rectangular planes, the four orders of

in its west front a magnificent,

many

are of very great beauty

*

which

The very

however plain

make way

for the

which they are composed have

though sadly mutilated example, with

;

five

the arch moldings, as

detached shafts

may be

imagined,

and are enriched, among other ornaments, with a very elegant

all

parts of the country of

in its design,

Norman

doorways, evidences the estimation in

was generally held by the Gothick

the custom to spare these interesting works of the early builders, even
dovra to

and

Dunstable Church, Bedfordshire, retains

gi'oups.

others that are engaged

frequent occurrence in

this feature,

of outline so characteristick of that epoch, by being

two instances subdivided into secondaiy

alternating with as

In this case a beautiful and

Early English, Plate 23.

lost considerably of the rectangularity

in

of St. Martin's Church,

obtained by using a double row of shafts, the inner ones being

The moldings of the

though lying

aisle

more magnificent Structure

when

all

architects.

It

appears to have been

the rest of the Church was taken

in the then prevailing style of building.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

64

In the example fi-om Barnwell Church

dog tooth.

variety of the

(Appendix, Plate

7,)

Here we may

the moldings are of two orders, very rich, with two rows of dog tooth.

observe a feature, boiTOwed fi'om the Normans, and extensively used during this style

we

the band which occurs midwaj^ and which

refer to

arrangement

for the diameter of the Early English shafts

such contrivance,

it

became a necessary constructive

was so small, that without some

would hardly have been possible to have

effected a durable joint in

their length.

In Felmarsham Church, Bedfordshire,

jamb
on

shafts,

is

a fine doorway with detached

and engaged

and with an an'angement ah'eady noticed in Norman works, namely, an arcade

In the present instance two trefoiled

either side in continuation of the central design.*

panels or orbs,^ with a quatrefoil above, are enclosed in a pointed arch springing fi-om the

same
at

level as the

The

doorway.

interior

arrangement of this example

will

be found illustrated

page 75.

The

foiled

doorways introduced by the Normans were presei-ved and

by the Early English Architects, and during the continuance of

was most usual

occuri'ence.

In large examples

foiled, as in

the beautiful specimen fi-om

it

still fiirther

this style

enriched

were of frequent

for the first Order of moldings only, to be

Warmington Church,

(Section

I.

Early English,

Plate 21,) a very perfect illustration of a pure Early English doorway, where the jambs are

composed of four detached

shafts placed in a coiTcsponding

number of square

recesses,

whose

anises are chamfered, and while the two outer chamfers are simply hollowed and terminate in
delicately carved trefoil flowers,! the centre

The arch moldings

are

all

characteristick of the style

and the

filleted

bowi;el

filleted

of the

The

first

is

richly

among

on the

bases, resting

quasi

order,

others are the pear-shaped or pointed bowtel,

appearance of the

examples of
shafts

and

is

foiled

scroll

capitals

and terminating the

must not pass unobserved, though they

belonging more particularly to the succeeding periods.

early

ornamented with dog tooth.

placed on the i-ectangular planes, and exhibit most of the

members

bowtel.

one

mold, which

is

also

are

features

We may

notice in the capitals the

repeated

in

the

dripstone.

Other

doorways occur at Merstham Church, Surrey,^ which has one row of

enriched with dog tooth

at

Woodford Church, Northamptonshire, a

singularly

beautiful composition with the inner order of moldings trefoiled, the others as well as the

The west

front of this interesting Building is well

pure specimen of Early English.

Four views and a plan of

II. p. 96.

Willis's Nomenclature.

X See Section
%

I.

worthy of an attentive examination

Early English, Plate 26.

Parish Churches, Vol. II. p. 99.

this

Church

it

is

a beautiful and

are given in the Parish Churches, Vol.

DOORWAYS.
dripstone being circular

65

and at Higham FeiTars Church, where the

charming httle specimen, the dripstone, as was generally the custom,

foiled head: in this

pointed, and in each of the spandrels which occur between

Illustrations of these

carved rose.

Churches of Northamptonshire."
form of the
cinquefoiled

two

it

and the

doorway

all

is

trefoiled head, is

mentioned examples

last

In other foliated specimens

as in the

foliations,
;

priest's dooi"way has

a tre-

simply

sunk a

be found in " The

will

the moldings follow the

which

in the cloisters of Salisbury Cathedral,

is

even in this case the dripstone in accordance with natural construction, follows

the sweep of a pointed arch instead of the outline of the several curves.

The doorways of

were not always pointed

this period

many

square-headed form was introduced, and in

naiTow passage which

is

Church, Kent, and

continued

is

illustrated in Plate 3, of Section

this

form

is

round the Building

all

these cases a trefoiled appearance

corbels

produced, by the

is

its

Edifices,

we

are enabled to mention

other at St. Cross, near Winchester.

two

lintel

Though very
fine

foliage at the top

in the
at

its

own

its

met with

rarely

the one at

two

Raunds,t and also at Roth well.

many

appear-

the

smaller

Ferrars,

and the

distinct doorways,

jamb molds, which

is

now

destroyed.

are

in these parts

The space between these

diapei'ed with circles containing scriptural

we

find

it

is

in the

The immense weight of the

contained,

is

very general

immediate neighbourhood

lofty spires, so

the Midland Counties, required proportionably thick walls to sustain them

in

its

application to

in

Higham

distinct

porch, within which this double doorway

more important Churches

amptonshire,

made

a slender shaft, which in a most elegant manner bursts forth into

forming a pedestal for a figure,

The pseudo

first

both entrances are richly sculptured with fohage,

two arches and the large circumscribing one,

subjects.*

In

being carried on two projecting

in fact, almost

is,

each having

continuous round a segmental-headed arch

rises

examples

The former

under one large arched recess or porch

and between them

introduction, in the

almost entirely confined in

is

Conventual Buildings.

and

Early

generally distinguished as the square-headed trefoil.

This magnificent feature, however,

Cathedrals

I.

side

in the thickness of the walls.

During the Early English Architecture the double-arched doorway

ance.

charm to

example occurs on the south

Westminster Abbey Chui'ch furnishes many instances of

English.

all

instances added an increased

A good

entrance, or to turret and other small doorways.

Meopham

under certain restrictions a

Their use was however chiefly confined to the priest's

the beauty of the general design.

of the Chancel of

instances, advantage has been taken of this thickness to

numerous

and

in

in

North-

form openings,

which, while they present aU the appearance of deeply recessed archways, have at the same
* This doorway

and elegant

serial

is

work,

very faithfully represented in page 25 of the " Churches of Northamptonshire," a valuable

now

publishing.

t Parish Churches, Vol. II. p. 69.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

66

time the convenience of porches

the

being generally diapered

The gabled doorway of the Norman

or otherwise enriched.

and the following style

feature in this

soffit

excellent examples of

(as

Ferrars)

period continued a favourite

abound

it

Higham

in

in the middle counties,

where, indeed, they are more abundantly met with than elsewhere.*

Loddington Church, Northamptonshire, has a very curious doorway

tower, the gable of which projects considerably and

The very

springing of the arch.

is

on two brackets placed at the

carried

beautiful Early English

west of the

in the

Church

at Uffington, in Berkshire,

has a good gabled priest's doorway, also a very excellent gabled entrance on the east side of
the south transept

a most unusual position, but which, in this instance, from

approxima-

its

tion to an Altar, appears to have been reserved for the sole use of the priest.

Decorated Doorways
abandonment of detached
(Section

the

I.

are distinguished from those of the former periods, by the gradual

The gabled dooi'way from Milton Church

shafts in their jambs.

Decorated, Plate 14,) presents a rare example of their retention.

Norman method

of projecting the jambs has been adopted, without however obtaining the

originally intended advantage of increased depth.

by the

for the gable

In this instance,

An

apparent

set-off in the wall of the tower,

of projection

effect

obtained

is

which takes place above the string

* This frequent occurrence of certain features in particular districts, to the almost total exclusion of
in others, is a very

remarkable fact in the history of EngUsh Church Architecture.

difference in the supply of building materials

in parts

where such a difference existed

may have

for instance,

while,

on the contrary,

in the

peculiar facilities or wants

regulated to a certain extent the designs of Churches erected

woody districts of the southern

modestly peeping over the woodland scenery.

But the

neither did they any

way

remained singularly uniform throughout the laud

can readily conceive that a

that in the stone-bearing counties of Northants, Lincolnshire,

by a bold display of masonick

Leicestershire, &c., the spire, gracefully tapering,

We

distinctions to

result

and shingle-covered

which we

refer

from alterations in the

had

tially different are

parts,

the two designs.

spire will be seen

no connection with

clearly

long as

style, for so

and yet there appears to have been very often a

it

lasted, that

local

and the material the same.

observe the characteristick towers of Kent, and compare them with those of Somersetshire

same number of

most daring elevation

art shall attain a

counties, the timber

treating one particular part of the Building, the style being identical

consist of the

them

method of

Let any person

both examples

may

both have buttresses, embattled parapets, and a staircase turret, yet how essen-

So

also in the

arrangement of the eaves of the roofs

in

some

districts,

parapets

were invariably constructed to collect and carry away the water; while in other parts, such as Norfolk and Suffolk,
Churches, even of the richest description, were most frequently erected vrithout them.
gather, that while the style itself was in the hands of an experienced

gradually improved

still,

From

these facts

body of men, and by them jealously guarded and

that in the execution of any particular Church, the design of

its

several details

influenced by that of the neighbouring Cathedral, or most important Conventual EstabUshment.

Church

at Skelton favours this supposition, for

the details of

its

" there can be

little

l)ut

not less beautiful httle Church."

Evan

The

was greatly

beautiful

doubt, from the close similarity which

architecture bear to similar parts in the transepts of the Minster (York), that

hands that were employed upon that magnificent building were

we would

many

of

some of the same

also concerned in the erection of this

Christian's Skelton Church, p. 3.

little

more humble

DOORWAYS.
The termination

course.

common

form so

may remark
but are so

now broken away, probably partook

to the gable,

much decayed

The

bell.

intricacies of the panelled gable,

tower in which this doorway

is

is

The small

round the arch and winds tlirough the

carried

adding considerably to

placed

is

richness and

its

a fine specimen of

with the di'essed stone

flint

good

The

effect.

work, and in the Plate, the

As the

shown with minute accuracy.

is

we

bases have been very plain,

that their correct outline can no longer be ascertained.

bowtel wliich originates in the jambs,

flint

of that trefoiled

In the capitals to the shafts,

to the gabled buttresses of this period.*

the somewhat unusual feature of a double

junction of the

67

Decorated style advanced, crockets and foliage became more frequently and abundantly used
in its Architecture

and these, combined with a more studied and harmonious an-angement of

moldings, operated considerably in promoting the greater splendour of the dooi-ways.

Church, Norfolk, a complete study in

of the richest

itself

and most perfect

Cley
of

details

Decorated Gothick, possesses a west dooi-way of such great magnificence, and with such
beautifully

and carefully executed

Church of

in a

parts, that

similar size. Section

awkward, manner

in

rounded

off:

probably unequalled by any other

Decorated, Plate 39.

Possibly

for the

it

was

In the abrupt, and perhaps

that these arch moldings were too

felt

exposed position of the jamb, which was consequently simply

but even then, one cannot help wishing that a more perfect and studied junction

had been practised.

However, the

becomes us to

such minute points, when the whole

criticize

of those days thought otherwise, and

artificers

This single specimen almost comprises in

occur in doonvays of this period.
(ogeed, although the arch

is

We

itself all

is

have the beautifully crocketed and

;

finialled dripstone

the exquisitely carved

crowned heads (probably indicative of royal benefactors)

the leafy cusps and richly car\^ed spandrels

capitals,

and

stone

sill

delicate finish to the chamfers in the

and

last

though not

ill

the several characteristicks which

the well molded arch of two orders, the inner one becoming cinquefoiled, and each
;

it

so surpassingly elegant.

pointed, a pecuUai'ly Decorated feature)

drip terminations, in this instance,

trefoiled

occumng

which the arch moldings join on to those of the jamb, we may trace a

lingering indication of a past era.f

minute and deUcate

I.

it is

least,

foil

again

the quaintly wTought foliage in the

jambs

the double-plinthed bases

the

the original and richly ornamented ironwork of the door

these features, each highly worthy of obsei-vation, combine together to form a most

all

magnificent and characteristick Decorated doorw'ay.

The stone
is

given of

and

it

it

sill

was frequently used during

in Section

I.

Fen Ditton.

* See buttresses from Holbeach Church, Section

St.

and the preceding period.

An

example

Decorated, Plate 23, the doorway in Swatton Church, Lincolnshire;

occurs also in the priest's doorway at

t See arcade from

this

I.

(See page 51.)

In the arch mold-

Decorated, Plate 17, and also those in Plate 19.

Alban's Abbey Church, Section

I.

Early English, Plate 28.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

68

may

ings Ave

observe, that those which

come over the engaged

planes, whereas those which are continuous are on the chamfer plane

strengthening a remark

The

beautiful roses

we have

make

already had occasion to

which stud the inner

soffit,

drawing, nevertheless add considerably to

He on the rectangular

shafts,

thus illustrating and

on moldings.

in the chapter

although not very conspicuous in a geometrical

the general

and are themselves well

richness,

displayed and set off by the elegant moldings over which they are placed.

Under the crown

of the arch a head occupies the place of a rose.

The Church
doorway.

at

(Section

North
I.

Mimms

offers

an example of a plainer but equally characteristick

moldings carried on the engaged shafts,

beautiful

and

effective,

The

here again notice that the arch

add not a

in the hollows

The bases

it.

Milton doorway

little

are very

to the elegant

and

foliage of the capitals is of a very peculiar character,

arrangement essentially Decorated, rather twining round the

against

They

on the rectangular planes.

lie

and the flowers placed

simphcity of this specimen.

its

We may

Decorated, Plate 25.)

bell

than rising up

in

stiffly

are extremely plain, and in this respect they agree with those in the

the square return of the dripstone

is

not the most usual arrangement of

this period.

Gabled doorways were

still

very

commonly

introduced, occurring, as did those of the

previous style, more frequently in the south of Lincolnshire and those counties that
diately surround

example of

description

this

crocketed, which
details of this

Ewerby* has a very

than elsewhere.

it,

is

it

is

many

is

now

of the

In the gable there has been, as at

Milton, a small niche for the statue of a saint

blocked up and

fine

though not

finialled,

a peculiarity observable in

Church.

imme-

hardly discernible.

moldings forms a trefoiled arch

Some

ogeed, as at Cley Church.

the upper

it

has been

The

inner order of

foil

being shghtly

very elegant foliage

fills

up

two of the hollows.

At
and

other times the gable was ogeed and richly crocketed

finialled, as

in the

Northamptonshire
also a flat ogee,
filled

priest's

doorway

in this case the

foliage.

EWERBY chdech, lincolnshise. sootb doobwat.

south of the Church

*

is

is

and the gable

is

sauic couuty possesses

two very

it

The moldings

tinuous and on the chamfer plane.

fine

Church,

head of the doorway

and the space between

with very beautiful

at Crick

Byfield

are con-

Church

examples

in the

that in the

ogeed, terminating in a bunch of foliage which supports a niche, and

For a further description of this beautiful Building, see Parish Churches, Vol.

II. p. 11.

DOORWAYS.
is

by pinnacles, crocketed and

flanked

finialled

69
other

the

the west

at

of the same

is

description, but without the niche.

Doorways with continuous moldings occur very frequently

though the

effect is rarely satisfactory

them the springing of the

the absence of shafts

in Buildings of this period,

severely

is

which should always be well

arch,

without

for

felt,

un-

appears

defined,

determined.

The doorway from Holbeach Church

example,
out " of

mth

a door of the same date very

tracery will be found

its

and bases

caps

fiilly

and

Decorated, Plate 10,)

The

perfect.

It is

left

as in the present instance

this style

minute and exquisitely wrought moldings.

above and illustrated

rows of shafts having

condition,

23 of Section

in Plate

foliated

caps,

is

not

we should imagine

that

the

dripstone

we may once more remark,

we

are

many

in

is

leaf

on

in

meet

referred to

a beautifiil example with three

and judging from

had had another

cases

likely to

The doorway from Heckington

Decorated,

perfect,

more

and with excellent arch moldings.

quite
it

I.

seemed

monuments and

In the arched

the smaller details of the Church, such as the sedilia and piscina,

Mimms

or

how

In truth, good moldings

than in the preceding one

simple chamfers were used throughout the entire work.

terminates

have molded

very plain, as in the examples from North

some extraordinary anomaly,

or presented

any position were much more rare in

A\"ith

shafts

curious to observe, even in works of considerable richness,

to lack a sufficient projection, as in the doorway from Heckington.

in

a good plain

is

framing, and the " setting

The jamb

explained in the plate.

frequently the bases were neglected and

;

I'ich

I.

these latter are of a very unusual character, or perhaps, rather of no

particular character.

and Milton

(Section

its

The

finial

present

which

mutilated

Here

either side lapping back.

that shafts being used in the jambs, the arch molds

lie

on the

rectangular planes.

Circular-headed doorways were occasionally introduced, but must be considered rather as

instances of the caprice of the builders, than as features appertaining to this style.
rich

example occurs

in

Badgeworth Church, Gloucestershire

very

the moldings are continuous, of

extraordinary merit, and proftisely studded with ball flower.*

Towards the

of the Decorated period,

close

the label

spandi'els filled with rich cai'ving, gradually gained gi'ound.

and Deopham
feature

in the

this

Church

resemble those of the doorwaj'

Worstead Church, Norfolk,!

is

illustrated in Section I. Decorated, Plate 38, the

in fact the

Vol.

I.

this

new

In the doorways to turret staircases, almost

two dripstones are

are given in the Parish Churches, Vol. II.

p. 67.

t Parish Churches,

pointed arch and

same county, both present instances of the introduction of

in the latter the label is embattled.

window from

over the

p. 35.

identical.

moldings of which closely

plan and two views of the entire Building

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

70

any shaped arch was equally applicable

and accordingly we

find

them sometimes

pointed, or

sometimes ogeed, now square-headed, or again, as in the example from Aldwinkle Church,
partaking of the character of
ticularly interesting

those already mentioned, in the Churches of Crick

and Heckington, are

tershu'e, has

(Section

Tlie priests' doorways are frequently par-

all.

and rich examples

beautifril

a traceried head

and the one

Decorated, Plate 12,)

I.

The example

at

in

Brandon Church, Norfolk,

commendable

is

that at Oadby, Leices-

Sutton at Hone, Kent, (Section

for its simple elegance.

Decorated, Plate

I.

1,) is

an instance of continuous moldings occumng on the rectangular planes.

soUtary case like

however, can hardly miHtate against, but should

this,

rather be considered as an exception from a general nile, which, for the

^3,il2=

we would attempt

greater convenience of study

presuming to put
Aldwinkle Chl'bch,

it

forth as the one

to establish, without at

by which the masters of old worked.

Indeed we cannot readily conceive that such rules as these were then

Northamptonshire.

wanting, for they are but the necessary results of that natural construction which

remarkably displayed in

all theu*

would be placed in square

molds that also

works.

recesses,

and hence he on the rectangular planes

and their

day,

when

period,

is

it

he can turn at once to the truly

gi'aceftil

minute steps by which such excellence was gradually accomplished

while

it

study

arrive at a

it

will

matured

its

is

directed to the

and yet the investigation

refined appreciation of its eminent beauties,

more

will also forcibly illustrate the great

in

compositions of the Edwardian

perhaps mainly as a matter of curious inquiiy that his mind

must assuredly enable him to

capitals,

when the student

Medifeval Architecture has before him such exquisite specimens of the art in

phase

so

as only to be consistently adopted

At the present

in similar planes.

lie

is

If shafts are used, as a consequence almost, they

become naturally so gi"ouped

projecting from these planes,

for arch

all

advantage resulting from close apphcation to the

show how master minds, through many

generations, continued to labour in the

same field, each generation receiving with reverence the bequest of its predecessor, and invariably
striving to advance
as

it

on the road to perfection. This research may be the more

useftil,

Gothick Architecture, at present at any rate, can scarcely be reduced to precise laws

soars above
will

prove

it

rvile

yet often

when

to have been guided

it

may wear

by purest

taste

it

energies of their powerful minds but to

o;?e style

develop the manifold gi-aces

of,

high purpose.

capable

its spirit

the appearance of caprice, close investigation

must be studied

was conceived, and pursued with ardour and constancy.

it is

inasmuch

The

in the spirit in

it

ancient arcliitects devoting the

of building, were every

and thus render

which

it

way

qualified to

more and more worthy of

Yet, however great the excellence thereby attainable,

it

its

can hardly now be of

frequent occurrence that an architect should devote his sole and undivided attention to the

DOORWAYS.

71

study and advancement of one particular style out of the

each of which has

its

sideration after

is

all

ardent votaries

coming when

surely

it

are in foil practice, and

when we

consider (and the con-

the more especially

some weight) how disproportionate would be the encouragement he

of

But be that

would probably meet with.

is

many which

as

it

may, as regards Gothick Architecture, the day

no longer be studied as a dead language, as an

will

of nearly four centuries divides fi'om us

once well understood

(it is

which a gulf

art

ah-eady appreciated)

its

admirers will boldly strike out anew the track in which our ancestors laboured and, armed

with their

pi'inciples, will

return to the subject

advance

more immediately under our

In Perpendicular Doorways, the

tinguishes
feature

ance

is

in

To

label

characteristically dis-

though, as we have already observed, this

styles,

occasionally be found in Decorated

to them.

consideration,

constant use of the

them from those of the preceding

may

unknown even

to a climax of beauty

it

work

in Perpendicular, however, its appear-

keeping with the then prevailing fashion, which delighted in the contrast of

horizontal and vertical lines.

In the example from St. Alban's Abbey Church, (Section

south

entrance into the

excellencies.

The

two niches with

aisle

from the

which

interior elevation,

pedestals, the

cloisters,
is

place in the present work, were

it

and

the one represented in the plate,

The very

beautifol crowning

date.

beautifol effect produced

first

occupying a
possesses,

it

by the double-

may be

In the present instance, the terminations of

lion's head.

all

obsei-ved

the primary

The

singularly

ornament exhibits a veiy early specimen of that distinguishing Perpen-

dicular decoration, the

which had just closed

strawbeny

on

its

leaf,

combined with much that belonged to the stage of

geometrical formation, which

The door

already

commented

and

be found illustrated more at large in Section

will

order of moldings,

with the exception of one representing a

oflf,

flanked by

is

in so far, perhaps, not consistently

cusped arch, carried in front of and distinct from, the

cusps are broken

the

combined many beauties and

not for the manj' valuable points which

pecuUar to the doorways of this period.

many examples of a similar

find

1,)

whole forming a very grand and imposing composition, adapted

of course only to a very large Church

in

we

Perpendicular, Plate

I.

in p. 46.

roundlets with which

of the Decorated era.

it

is

studded

itself is a

is

exhibited in the plate,

art

we have

very rich and well preserved specimen,

II.

Woodwork,

Plate 4.

seem to have been suggested by the

The arms of England and those of the Abbey

The small
ball

flower

are placed in the

spandrels.

The doorway from

Coltishall Church, (Section

I.

Perpendicular, Plate 20,)

type of the general arrangement of the period at which we have

now

arrived.

is

a very good

It is

placed at

the west end of the Church and in the tower, and exhibits the combination of both label and
dripstone; the horizontal part of the former

is

continued through, and

is

earned round the

72

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

tower as a string.*

Above

it is

placed a very rich band of

shields in octofoiled circles, alternated with the

same device occurs

mediately above
fashion

is

jamb molds of the

filleted

Coltishall

it

cai-ved in

is

and im-

circles,

This arrangement had then become the prevaiUng

window might almost be considered

meet with an early instance of

The

John the Evangelist.

I for St.

second string course encloses the band of

a three-light window.

a west doorway and

and stonework, consisting of

moldings of the tower, and his symbol, the Eagle,

in the base

the spandrels of the door.

crowned

flint

as forming one design

we
The

Decorated tower of Worstead Church, Norfolk. f

in the

doorway are on the chamfer plane, and consist of an exaggerated

bowtel between two casements, leaving two wide, plain chamfers, which in the arch

have a kind of wave mold sunk from the

The west doorway

in the

face.

tower of Towcester Church, Northamptonshire,

rich

and beautiful specimen of

is

a singularly

this style.

It is

very deeply recessed, and has a crocketed and

dripstone within a group of moldings

finialled

which follow the outline of the

label.

The

slen-

der octagonal bowtel, rising from the ground and

spreading into a small pedestal for the

at top

reception of a statue protected by a crocketed

canopy,

is

a rather unusual but beautiful feature.

The moldings
which they

all

lie

die at the bottom.

Lavenham Church,

In the tower of
(Section
nificent,

I.

on the chamfer plane, into

Perpendicular, Plate

though very

6,)

is

a mag-

is

Even

late specimen.

instance, the two-centered arch

Suffolk,

in this

stiU retained,

with the addition of an ogeed dripstone beautifully

crocketed,

which,

interpenetrating

course, appears again

on the upper

originally terminated with a finial.

are of veiy poor character

the

part,

string-

and was

The moldings

in the desire for rich-

ness of appearance, the usually wide, and some-

times effective, casement has been abandoned, and

Towcester Church, Northamptonshire.

groups of moldings have been formed

* This an-angement

was a very common

but by their not lying in either of the usual planes,

practice,

and

is

also observable

Chapel of Barnwood Church, Gloucestershire, Parish Churches, Vol.

t Parish Churches, Vol.

I.

p. .55.

II. p. 71-

in

windows

see

window

in

north

DOORWAYS.

73

they produce an effect at once confused and unsatisfactory.

In the arch head, especially, the

various groups are composed of very minute members, divided by large and plain hollows

when

very different from the previous and purer practice,

The

together.

instances of

it

of the Decorated

Perpendicular work, and

in

manv

would appear to be a corruption

All the caps have double bells, but are otherwise as irregular

filleted shaft.

in their construction as the

it

was so beautifully blended

jamb should be noticed

peculiar shape of the middle shaft in the

may be found

all

moldings of the arch and jambs.

They

are

all

octagonal, and in

the principal ones, small square flowers of four leaves occupy the place of the beautiful foliage

of former times.

we may

In the bases

ceedingly stilted; the outer base

shaft in height.

may appear
more

The

after meretricious effect

Still

and shafts which flank the doorway, however elegant they

must be considered

at first sight,

decoration.

exaggerated to such an extent, as to be nearly equal to the

is

buttresses

notice the then prevalent fashion of their being ex-

the design

as instances of a debased taste,

than correct and consistent

so rich and attractive, and

is

the base moldings and the buttresses to the tower are

in

which sought

all

such excellent keeping, that we are induced to overlook

the imperfections of the details, in our admiration of the

The door

composition as a whole.

and beautiful design, but

is

now

so

itself

much

has been a rich

decayed, that the

moldings and smaller portions of the tracery are no longer

The

discernible.

well

worked
Ishp

good

flint

work of the tower

a portion of

it is

shown

possesses

illustration of a small Perpendicular

we

find

remarkably

in the Plate.

Church, Northamptonshire,

as at Coltishall,

is

doorway.

There,

both label and dripstone

latter

very

the

ogeed, and both

uniting and carried on

small shafts, resting on

the

moldins;s

base

Some

the tower.
drels,

bold

ISLip

of

Church, Nortiiamptonshire.

well carved tracery

up the span-

which, with a deeply sunk casement, produces a

effect.

The

string

round the tower

allow of the usual accompaniment of a

this is a simple, yet pleasing example.

of Shorne Church, Kent,

Shobxe Church. Kent.

fills

Church.

It is

is

is

window

fine,

lowered, to
:

altogether

The west doorway

well adapted for a plain village

flanked by buttresses, which are judiciously

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

74

introduced into the composition

moldings.

we may

It

also

in either

has no dripstone nor label

jamb

and

observe in Basingstoke Church,

Chesham Church,
and

and

a shaft canying a single group of

this leads us to notice a peculiarity,

(Section

some

(Plate 17,) namely, that in

is

I.

Perpendicular, Plate 3,) and in

more advanced

cases, especially in the

fully established Perpendicular, the spandrels to the

doorways form an essential part of

the composition, and would exist whether a label were thrown over them or not
others,

and principally the

drel is the

which

earlier

whereas in

examples, the span-

immediate result of using both

doorway from

dripstone, as in the

label

Coltishall

and

and

it

would appear probable that on the dripstone becoming

gradually obsolete, the spandrel assumed
as

its

position

an actual portion of the dooi^way, and was enclosed

by the outer molding of the jamb.

ings were

now

Continuous mold-

very frequent, but even in small ex-

amples they were very deficient

employed on a large

in

scale, as at

Northamptonshire, the

beauty

and when

Potterspury Church,

was altogether poor and

effect

unsatisfactory.

Perpendicular
Cr.^nsi.ey

Church, Northamptonsuire.

from Basingstoke
date of

On

its

is

plain

were

example,

a remarkable exception, and particularly valuable from

execution cai-ved on a shield in the head.

^'irgin

The

and uninteresting.

the shields in the spandi-els are carved the

blessed

doorways

priest's

other

with

shields,

(Section

monograms

inscriptions

of

usually

however,

having the

Perpendicular, Plate 3.)

I.

Our Saviour and of

now become

unintelligible,

the

terminate

the label.
In the arrangement of these doorways
portunities

of remarking instances

of that

so characteristick of this style of building.

just where

it

we have

frequent op-

unbounded freedom,
Does

window occur

was cashed to have placed a doorway,

with

utmost boldness they are both incorporated into one design

ji-rC

made

-'

j."iv

to

expand on either

'I

1^

desu'ed

doorway

is

of

i^oti^

side,

it

is

at once

and by a clever contrivance the

pierced

to admire the ingenuity with

LE,B cvc. L.,cKrK.,E.

or,

does a buttress present an apparently insurmountable obstacle to

the doorway's being placed in a particular position,

^J,

the

through

which the

it

or

again,

difficulty

we mav have

has been overcome,

erecting a buttress, and adding a porch to an already existing

DOORWAYS.
doorway.

we

75

Throughout every minutia of Gothick Architecture,

shall ever find that construction

and design go hand

hand,

in

and that anj-thing

actually required

,1

by

the former, instead

of being concealed,

immediately and

is

gracefully made sub-

ser\aent to the beau-

ty of the latter.
priest's

The

doorway

in

Merstham Church,
Surrey,
gracefiil

exhibits

combina-

of the jambs

tion

are altogether brought fonvard from the face of the wall

is

also

Geundisburgh Church, Norfolk.

with the base moldings, by which the former

TR0N-CH Chcech, Norfolk.

stone

the arrangement of the

commendable.

The

interior of the

constructive feature

In

is

doorways

an arched entrance,

the door

is

fi'equently

shows how a necessary

converted

highly ornamental

into a

one.

where

placed considerably

nearer the outer than the inner

face of the wall,

cessary to
McRSTHAM CHCRCH, scRRRv.

^1

allow of the door opening

stilt

it

becomes ne-

or give a difterent

^o thc lunBr arch

;

so as to

hence the constant use of

the segmental pointed arches on the inside of doorways.

In Section

I.

Perpendicular, Plate 7,

is

shown the very

elegant arrangement of the inner arch of the doorway in

the tower of

drip-

Lavenham Church, the

richly panelled with quatrefoils.

soffit

of which

is

The EarJyEnglish arch-

ways in Felmarsham Church* are

also very gi*aceftil, with

slender shafts canying a beautiful group of moldings.

* See Parish Churches,

A'ol. II. p.

;i.\M

95.

Church, Bkdfobdsiuek.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

76

Trunipington Church, Cambridgeshire,* has a singularly fine interior arch, with a hood mold

and bold moldings

The

priest's

carried, as in

doorway

Felmarsham Church, on slender

Higham

in

Ferrars

molded

capitals.

Church presents a good example of

internal

moldings on the

a few

arrangement

shafts with

face of the arch, with the stringcourse

continuing as a hoodmold over

are

it,

that are required to produce a very

all

satisfactorj'

and other counties,

shire, Lincolnshire,

where stone
opening

is

Northampton-

In

eftect.

abound,

spires

small

most usually contrived

in

one of the faces of the spu'c to give

access to the parapet
^.^^-^

are

as

in

Weekley Chuece,
nokthamptonshire.

and oc-

managed,

generally well

casionally,

these openings

Weekley Church,

made ornamental

are

features.
HiGHA.M FeERAES CHUECH, NORTQAMPTONSBIEE.

PIERS AND ARCHES.

Chancel Arches.

Higham

Ferrars,

practice to

^With

such rare exceptions as

in

Northamptonshire, and some few other Churches,

mark the termination of the nave and

is

was an universal

it

commencement of the Chancel, by

the

an arch thrown across from one wall to the other.

separation

Ewerby, Lincolnshu-e, Raunds and

In

Norman

early

Buildings

occasionally indicated by a triplet of arches, an arrangement very fi'equently

with in the village Churches of Sussex, as in Piecombe Church, and Ovingdean,

Though sometimes

Brighton.

occurring of extreme simplicity, as in

the Chancel arch of this period was in general highly enriched

of

Add

and Bubwith,

in Yorkshire,

are beautiful examples.

followed closely in the footsteps of their predecessors

Keymer Church,

Plate 5)

St.
:

Mary

the

moldings are

is

outer

The Semi-Norman

considerably

are

slightly

undercut

pointed on plan,

on the east

* All excellent engraving of the interior of this doorway

is

side,

given in

near

Sussex,

architects

the substitution of a pointed for

In the Church of

a good instance of a transition Chancel arch (Section

shafts

met

those in the Chm-ches

a cucular arch being the most important change which they eftected.

Codford

this

and the cap,

Semi-Norman,

I.

band and base

on the contrary, the shaft

"The Churches

of Cambridgeshire," p. 53.

is

PIERS

AND ARCHES.

simply circular, and the arch recessed but

repairs that have recently taken place,

11

molded.

not

It

was discovered that the outer portion of the

it

arch had been remodelled and converted from

Norman

Semi-Norman by pointing

into

and making the other members somewhat to partake of the new

it,

into vogue

but that the inner or east side had been

Certainly the east

will

elevation

be found to

strike the

comparatively unadorned.

nave arches

from the

are

aisles

Tliis

which open into

the

we

its

coming

original

state.

Chancel,

Norman work

the parts

to

find

the

that would

others are

left

be particularly the case with Chancel and

Church, for instance, the arches dividing the Chancel

molded

richly

almost in

are very richly ornamented, while

eye

New Shoreham

in

left

style then

veiy plain and simple, compared with the west, but this

almost always the case in

be

more immediately

is

during some

that

said

is

and

while

carved with

elaborately

those

almost without moldings, and the foliage

sides

which

the

face

altogether omitted.*

is

foliage

on

Chancel

the
aisles

sides

are

That such a practice

was due to some received idea of beauty in composition, and not to that contemptible

spirit

which would seek only to decorate those

more immediately

portions

we may

in sight,

gather from the extreme care with which

eveiy part of the

Building was finished.

In this veiy Church of

window which

New

Shoreham, the

lights the space

between the

roof and the vaulting over the Chancel

aisle,

and which naturally could hardly ever be seen,

is

nevertheless richly ornamented inside with

and

moldings

dogtooth,

while

enough) outside, the opening

plain

(curiously
perfectly

is

being simply once recessed.

Appendix, Plate

1,

(See

Fig. 6.)

favourite and elegant Early English

was to carry the inner rim of the

practice,

Chancel arch on corbels, the other moldings

being most frequently continued

Bunnell
*

;t

The

down

to the ground.

Such

is

the an-angement at Acton

a small foliated shaft carries the inner order of moldings, while the outer order

arches in Felmarsham

Church

are also richly

simply chamfered; see Parish Churches, Vol.

t We

Acton Bunnell, Shropsqire.

are indebted to the kindness of C.

molded towards the nave, while the

sides in the aisles are

II. p. 95.

Hansom, Esq.,

drawings of this elegant example.

Architect, for the use of

some very accurately measured

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

78

broad chamfer, which

dies into a

is

down

continued

Barnwell Church, Northamptonshire,

is

managed, but with a corbel of

similarly

beauty

The Chancel

to the gi-ound.

the shafts

are

arch in

far greater

detached and carried on

a group of notch-heads, which are singularly effecIn Warmington Church, in the same county,

tive.

slender corbelled shafts with foliated caps of ex-

workmanship,

quisite

are

indeed, in this instance,

introduced

also

form quite a peculiar feature

in the internal decoration of the

are

and

Chm"ch,

for

they

employed to support the springers of the groined

roof

Clymping Church, Sussex,* the inner

In

order

is

carried

on a

and the jambs of the

corbel,

archway have small nook

shafts, indicative of their

Norman

very recent emancipation fi-om

Wliitwell Church,

Rutlandshire,

of the Chancel arch

is

In

rule.

the arrangement

yet more simple, the corbels

being dispensed wdth, and the inner moldings dying

into the

jambs on

either side.f

In other instances, and more particularly as

the style advanced, the arch was carried on a regular
cluster of columns, properly
in Skelton

pier

is

period.

Cambridgeshire.

It

is

not a

Preston Church, Sussex, a pure and simple

little

singular, however,

a half octagonal

This, a simple, and always effective

well illustrated in the example fi*om

has a very good and characteristick arch.

practice until the termination of the Decorated

in

is

Church, Yorkshire

a very ordinary arrangement, which continued

Barnwell Church, Northamptonshire.

of treating the Chancel arch,

capped and based, as

(Section

I.

little

Long Stanton Church,

Early English Building,

Early English, Plate

5.)

that in very rich and splendid Churches,

an important feature as the Chancel arch should so fi'equently have been

ornament.

The

arch

* See interior of this

in

Church

t See view of the Chancel

left

Raunds Church, Northamptonshire, a Decorated

in Parish

method

Churches, Vol.

such

devoid of

addition

to

II. p. 75.

arch, in Vol. II. of Parish Churches, p. 85.

X Hartlepool Church, Durham, has a richly molded Chancel arch, carried on beautifully clustered shafts, having

very early foliated caps with square head molds.

Parish Churches, Vol.

I.

p. 33.

See Billing's Durham.

AND ARCHES.

PIERS
the Building,

is

ornamented with a double row of

exception to the general rule

arch,

is

more

far

fi-equently

any particular alteration

in

course accommodated to

more importance than

To resume,

with.

the

mode

new

of treatment

we may remark,

then

down

continuous

most cases the Norman Chancel arch

in

and

rich

on

and was

sculpture,

of considerable

corbels,

introduced

to

the ground.

It

regards

proportions,

their

it

belirjs

and

rules

ever)' vaiiety of size

elegance,

usually

though caived

and Perpendicular

while Decorated

wood induced the

all

builders to transfer to these latter the

have been lavished on the former.

the other arches in the Church, scarcely possible to lay

many

conceive that

and shape

may

its

proportions

Besides,
:

case, to

he possibly might be inclined to lower

display of the artist's talent.

it,

positive

appears to

it

we can

easily

an unusually handsome

naturally induce the builder to heighten his arch

was intended, as was very frequently the

face,

down any

be met with, and in each case

circumstances would influence

^dndow or roof would

As

with the Chancel arch, as with those of the nave, the

is

have been mainly influenced by other parts of the Structure.

west

very

not improbable that the gradual introduction

is

decorations which, had they not existed, would

it

did not assume

itself,

that the Early English was generally, and especially

but veiy rarely

of rich and costly screens of

east

of

were of great simplicity, with the moldings either supported on semi-piers or

arches

exhibit

the moldings and details were

but the Chancel arch

that

quaint ornaments

its

the inner moldings were carried

ornaments were

Even the Perpendicular examples do not

fashion,

on shafts in recessed jambs

carried
if

met

in the preceding style.

then,

was distinguished by

quite an

flower, but this forms

a few simple moldings, or even a recessed and chamfered

the

ball

79

when

or,

Judgment over the

paint the Last

so as to give a wider field for the

In some Churches the height of the Chancel arch piers

corresponds with those of the nave, in which case the moldings are generally identical,
as in

Weekley Church, Northamptonshire

the springing of the Chanoel arch

Norman
gi-eat

size

is

much more

other times, and

quite independent of

and of massive proportions.

Kent

at

frequently,

any other.

were generally circular or octagonal, and in the earUer Buildings, of

piers

Harbledown,
better

is

those

and more graceful

in

Such are the octagonal

Sandridge

outline.

Church,

Herts,

also

In Polstead Church,* Suffolk,

piers

at

St.

of

much

find the pier,

which

octagonal, are

we

Nicholas,

rather a late specimen, subdivided into parts, and considerable effect produced by the

introduction
frequently,

of engaged
as

in

nook

shafts.

Early English piers, octagonal and circular,

Felmarsham, counterchanged

in

the

same Building.

are of extraordinary beauty, with complex arrangement of shafts.

* See Appendix, Plate 6.

are

Other examples

At Boxgi-ove Church,

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

80
Sussex,* those

on the north are most daringly detached ti-om the central

on the south, small channels have been sunk

marble,

richly

polished,

the material

is

ftu'nishes

for their reception

employed.

in

while

pier,

both cases Purbeck

Eaton Bray Church,

Bedfordsliire,

an example of a somewhat similar gi'ouping, and

At

has well carved foliated caps.

St. Alban's,

the piers are

magnificently clustered, with four detached and twelve engaged

Even

shafts.
A

in

Early English work, however, the shafts

were not always detached

in

ones, wliich
v.ii.x

^^ ^i^g ^^^g ^ ^j^g principal

fcaturc lu Dccorated piers.

Eaton BEArBloFOBDSHiEE.

fi'om

we may observe

Martin's, Leicester,*

we

between four other and larger

find four small shafts engaged,

St.

are filleted.

may

fillet

applied

became an established

shafts,

We

This

notice

it

Bottisham and Trumpington, (Plates 16, and 27,) and elsewhere.

in the

examples

Morton Church,

Lincolnshire, (Plate 21,) has a simple and elegant pier, the plan being produced by four

half circles apphed to the several

sides of a square.

Church are

All the caps in this

beautifully foliated.

The
the

molded work

occasional absence of

were

extended

itself to

testify'

in

the care that was bestowed upon them.

exceeding, yet beautiful simplicity of the piers and arches in a Decorated Church,
little

in accordance with the taste of the Perpendicular architects,

very rarely copied them, though

a more appropriate substitute.

most usual form

Church, Sussex.
the

style, frequently

which were simply octagonal, and carried plain chamfered arches, even

piers,

Buildings whose details in other respects,

The

in this

plan

is

shown

in

can scarcely be allowed that they replaced them by

it

who consequently

great sameness pervades the piers of this period

Section

Perpendicular, Plate

14,

the

a pier from Lindfield

Afterwards, and especially towards the close of Gothick Architecture,

assumed more of a diamond shape, by being made considerably wider

occasion

to

observe,

one which distinguishes them fi-om

peculiar
all

characteristick of Perpendicular

previous

examples, consists

fi-om

As we have

north to south than from east to west, as in Lavenham Church, Suffolk.

already had

in the

piers,

and

moldings of

which they are composed, being partly continuous from the arch.

Arcades were
their use

generally employed as decorative features to the lower parts of walls

was principally confined to the

with in Parish Churches.

The Norman

interior,

but they are not very commonly met

architects

however

introducing them in their works, and fi-equently enriched with

their towers.

delighted

6.

in

extensively

them the outer

In St. Alban's, a small cloister formerly connecting the

* See Appendix, Plate

Chmxh

walls of

with the

PANELLING.
Abbey

buildings,

wrought,

with

Semi-Norman
Norman,

an

enriched with

is

remarkably

capitals

character,

fi-om

of which

the details

arcade,

quaint

81

and

New Shoreham

variously

Church,

Two

carved.

are

very

are

given

carefully

examples

Section

in

of

Semi-

The Chancel of Stone Church, Kent, a deservedly well-known Early

Plate 2.

English Structure, has a very beautiful arcade both on the north and south sides which,
in

case,

this

appears to answer the purpose of the customary wooden

afterwards used

for

similar position with

Church, given

in

Section

Early English, Plate 28,

I.

is

the arcade occupies

8)

fi'om

Alban's Abbey

St.

rather late in the style

is

it

has

Polebrook Church, Northamptonshire,

highly effective.

some very good arcading

page

(see

The example

regard to the bench table.

veiy beautiful moldings, and

contains

Abbey Chui'ch

In Westminster

height for a seat.

that were

placed immediately over a stone bench table, of a convenient

is

it

stalls

in the north transept

other instances of

its

applica-

tion internally in Churches of this date will be found at Histon Church, Cambridgeshire,

and Thurlby, Lincolnshire.

Chancel

In the

and a portion of an arch may yet be traced,

and

At

alterations.

externally round the greater part of the Church.

at

increased

during the Perpendicular

entirely

There

then erecting.

of receiving this

w^as

carried

Ketton, Rutlandshire

Decorated architecture the arcade was generally omitted,

In

and was

last

is

Arcading was fi'equently a decorative

adjunct to the towers of this period, as at St. Mary's, Stamford

and Raunds, Northants.

capital

up with the Perpendicular additions

built

Stamford, an Early English arcade

Saints Church,

All

Merstham Church. Surrey, a

of

superseded by the introduction of

era,

which

panelling,

and was eagerly introduced

the

in

rapidly

Buildings

no portion of the wall but what was considered susceptible

new enrichment

buttresses,

parapets,

soffits

and jambs of doorways,

windows, and archways, and especially basement moldings, are found profusely ornamented
with

The

it.

Abbot's

tower

Eversham

at

from the basement moldings to the parapet.

a

row

double

of

very

panels,

rich

and

completely

is

covered

with

panelling,

Tichmarch Church, Northamptonshire, has

Those

effective.

from Lavenham Church,

given in Plate 8 of Perpendicular, are of a very unusual character, and in the centres
of

several

of

them

the

are

initials

and mark of the

munificent founder of this noble Structure.

referred,

Coltishall
saint

foliated

panels

In the

abundantly introduced

are

and Hunworth Churches,

in

flint
;

or

Thomas

clothier,

work
in

Norfolk, the crowned

to

Spring,

the

which we have already

their

stead

initial

we

letter

find,

as

at

of the patron

or a cypher, as in Kenninghall Church.

During the Early English and Decorated periods, a beautiful metliod of diapering plain
surfaces w^as very prevalent.
pattern.

We may

notice

This diaper usually consisted of a small flower or geometrical

its

appearance even in

Norman work,

as

over the window

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

82

in Stourbridge Chapel, (Appendix, Plate

of St. Margaret's

at

ClifFe

but

is

it

I.

in

Cathedral and Westminster

Abbey Church,

of this enrichment: the last

named

Dunstable Church

mentioned as an instance of
given in Plate 19 of Section

known specimen

Early English Buildings, such as Chichester

that

we may

Edifice contains

many

and four of Decorated

I.

first

remark the extensive use

beautiful
;

and varied designs.

may

Beverley Minster

In

also be

Four Early English examples are

external application.

its

doorway

in the gable of the west

used externally over the doorway

is

it

and

Fig. 2,)

The

date, in Plate 24.

elegant and well

at Canterbury, is illustrated in Professor Willis's History of the Cathedral.*

Buttresses are distinguishing, as they are also important, members in Gothick Architecture.

They do not occur veiy

fi-equently in

Norman work,

the most usual resemblance to a

buttress being a naiTOw strip of wall, which

corbel table

so that in fact

it

The tower of

ampton, has some very curious angle

plan a cluster of three engaged shafts
east

Norman

St. Peter's

butti'csses,

buttress, semi-circular

weathered heads

Church, North-

they diminish gradually in stages.

is

another small

on plan, with a conical cap.

of Clymping Churchf
;

the

somewhat resembling on

end of the Chancel and under the window

Norman tower

mth

generally flush

was the wall that was made to recess rather

than the buttress to project.

At the

is

The Semi-

some good examples with

has

they are divided midway with a string, but have the

same projection above as below.

In the small Early English village Structures, the buttresses
but secondary features in the design

their projection

they were rarely divided into more than two stages.

heads were gabled, as at Little

Wenham Church,

was very sHght, and

Very frequently

Suffolk

(Section

same

Plate) or with incipient tracery, as in

curious variety occurs in

Chancel
the

it is

^^^^^^yt- Church
MARGARET-s, LEICESTER.

Early

p^^(\

more

in the

^jjgy

Raydon Church, on the north

I.

side

we

Good examples occur

in

of the

find the

FelmarshamJ

Chancel they have a very slight projection, but at the west

gtaud out boldly, aud are well proportioned.

St. Margaret's,

Also beautifully engraved in Bloxam's admirable Principles of Gothick Architecture.

t See Section

the

(Also illustrated in

In larger Buildings of the same date,

fully developed.

(see

Achurch, Northamptonshire.

triangular on plan with a sloping head.

above Plate.)

buttresses

ST.

I.

their

English, Plate 14,) or a small gablet rose from the weathering, and was

sometimes enriched with cusping, as in Raydon Church, Suftblk

Xn

remained

still

Semi-Norman, Plate

X Parish Churches, Vol. II. p. 95.

5,

and Parish Churches, Vol.

II. p. 75.

BUTTRESSES.
Leicester, has a fine arrangement of buttresses

south they are simply weathered

leafy terminations of the lower set-ofFs.

It

those on the north side are gabled, on the

an elegant peculiarity

in the latter

83

may

be observed in the

was during the Decorated era that buttresses

reached to their fullest development of beauty

they were then

always worked in stages, frequently had gabled heads, and were

Very excellent examples,

enriched wdth niches, tracery, &c.

however, are fi'equently met with without the slightest attempt

at decoration

portions.
shire.

deriAdng

Such

beauty fi'om their graceful pro-

all their

Northampton-

are those in Pytchley Church,

Fen Ditton Church, Cambridgeshire, (Section

rated, Plate 17,) has also

of about the same date

some

plain, yet very

^4

throughout

a practice which

during

prevailed

the

yet perhaps

period,

extent that

is

preceding

not to the

generally imagined,

applied

as

least

at

Deco-

good specimens

in this instance the arrises

are chamfered

I.

to

village

In the same plate

Churches.

is

figured a buttress from Holbeach

Church

Decorated

large

and imposing

Structure,

in

which

the buttresses, partaking of the

magnificence of the other parts,

are

gabled and

terminate in a

kind of trefoiled ridge.

(Section

I.

Pytchley Church, Northamptonshire.

In Bottisham Church, Cambridgeshire,

Decorated, Plate 19,) they are also similarly finished,

with the addition of beautifully molded chamfers at the angles,

and a
shire,

trefoiled panel

on the

face.

has some magnificent examples in the Chancel, worked in

two stages with both

set-ofFs gabled,

at the east of All Saints

and enriched with tracery.

In

Debenham Church,

is

an instance of a buttress having a niche with an ogeed and

Suffolk, (Section

trefoliated head, beautifully finialled,

Redgrave chvrch, Suffolk.

Dronfield Church, Derby-

crockctcd buttresscs.

Church, Colchester.

placed on the side instead of the face.

The

I.

Decorated, Plate 19,)

and flanked by diminutive

Another vcry interesting specimen occurs

At Towcester Church, Northants, the niche

is

buttresses fi'om Redgrave Church, Suffolk, are of

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

84
beauty

perfect

very lofty and rising in graduated stages, they terminate in gables with

trefoiled ridges,

and have very elegant

exquisitely carved.

upper stages, with pedestals

foliated niches in the

during this period (the Decorated), that

It is

notice the habitual practice of placing the corner buttresses, at an angle

first

of 45 with the walls.

This position however has been considered, without

of Decorated work

sufficient grounds, as a distinctive peculiarity

an inspection of some of the

was by no means the

i^M

we may

finest

and purest specimens,

kinds used conjointly in the same group

find both

angle of 45 being uppermost

whereas

show that

will

In tower buttresses

invariable practice.

it

we sometimes

those placed at an

partly dying into the others that are at

right angles with the tower, and partly corbelled out or carried on small

cusped and gabled squinches

as in the rich examples

from

St. Margaret's,

Leicester.

Perpendicular buttresses are generally higher and of greater projection

in proportion to their

more than two

upper

singham Church,

it

from Ryall Church

they are exceedingly

is

of three stages, though very

the

dicular,

Plate

11,)

of the date of
is

its

becomes

interesting,

erection (1430),

outUne, and derives

its

aisle.

New Wal-

lower than that

set

peculiar

it

fi"om the

The

it

is

initials

and the

ofi",

and pleasing
Perpen-

I.

knowledge we have

being stated in an inscription, which

It is

exceedingly simple in

claim to beauty principally from the

ornaments with which

of the north

it

Perpen-

with gabled heads and trefoiled

Mary's, Stratford, (Section

round the basement moldings.

carried

flint

St.

much

on the lower

small gablet

I.

an elegant crocketed niche occupies the

is

The example from

lofty,

engraved a buttress from

diminished width of the upper one, give

character.

nevertheless they are not ordinarily divided into

ridges, as in the previous style

In the same plate

part.

In Ryall Church, Rutlandshire, (Section

stages.

dicular, Plate 24,)

Besthokpe Church.
Norfolk.

width

enriched, in

common

of the two founders,

elaborate

w^th the whole

Edward and Alice

Mors, and the mark of the husband's trade, occur on shields in various
parts

of the

buttresses,

however,
in richness

design.

Blakeney Church, Norfolk, has also some good

worked out of
in

flint

Lavenham Church

and elaborate

detail.

and stone with panelled

far

exceed

(Section

I.

all

faces

previously

keeping with the other poi'tions of this

those,

mentioned

Perpendicular, Plate 12.)

are entirely of dressed stone, with faces variously panelled,

excellent

They

and are

magnificent

in

blakenrviChurch, Norfolk.

Structure.

The

armorial

PARAPETS.

85

bearings of the Veres, Earls of Oxford, and generous benefactors to the Church, appear on

the buttresses.
Pinnacles were sparingly used during the Decorated period, and then, do not appear

much

to belong so

we

instance,

to the design of the entire Building, as to particular parts of

an

fi'equently find

aisle,

the

pinnacled buttresses, while

with

may have been

Chancel

as at Rickenhall Church,

Chancel

enriched with

Suffolk,* highly enriched

of excessive plainness

is

pinnacles,

as

the

or again,

Over Claybrook,

in

For

it.

Leicestershire,

without the other portions of the Church displaying a similar degree of enrichment;

we may

so that

conclude, that these

features were not

elegant

the architecture of the ordinary parish Church, until the

when they became of

pendicular,
is

Chancel only.

of the

buttresses

to

the Chancel and

The tower
elegant

the

into

In

Knowle Chapel, Warwickshire, they

at

buttresses

the

to

similarly enriched.

is

Early English

were

Chm'ches,

spire

At

table.

Stanwick,*

same

the

in

county,

they appear

in a very curious

and unusual manner

no buttresses at
while

in

other,

all

and

such are

far

more

Kent,

Southfleet,*
fi-equent

djing

rather

as well

as

as

in

while at Achurch, they only rise to the

Again, some towers, even

second stage of the tower.

sides,

and

simple

generally

Etton,* Northamptonshire, they are of three stages, the upper one

ornamental accessories, are very low, and are profiled off on the
fi'ont,

out of the

rise

and also out of the embattled parapet to the

aisles,

Louth Church, Lincolnshire,

clearstory.

establishment of the Per-

In Ayston Church, Rutlandshii-e,* pinnacles occur at the

thus enriched with them.

angles

into

Staunton Harold, Leicestershire,

occurrence.

fi-equent

full

usually introduced

St.

Mary,

magnificence and grandeur of outline.

In

all

and

Barnwell,*

Redcliffe,

period,

have

Northamptonshire,

buttresses in towers

cases, the

Donington,* Ewerby,* Worstead,* and

of the Decorated

such as Fleet,*

have never been surpassed

for

these instances the buttresses are placed at

right angles with the walls.

Perpendicular towers are mainly indebted for their grandeur to the noble proportions

of their buttresses,

most usually terminating

in

richly crocketed

pinnacles

very

fine

examples occur in the Churches of Bishops Lydeard,* Beaminster (Dorset), Ludlow (Salop),
the Holy Trinity, Coventry, St. Maiy's, Taunton, Louth, and St. George's, Doncaster.

Martham Church,* they

are

in hexagonal turrets, embattled

The Parapet,
is

rare in others.

as

terminate below the parapet

excellently proportioned, but

with a simple weathered table.

In

In

Deopham Church,* they

and finished

are in six stages

and panelled.

we have elsewhere remarked,

The Norman

architects

as

is

frequent in

seldom introduced

* See engravings and plans of these several Churches in Vols.

A A

I.

and

II.

it

some

into their

parts, as

works

of the Parish Churches.

it

they

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

86

seem to have prefeiTed the corbel table with dripping eaves

many Norman

becoming ruinous owing to

parapets,

very possibly, however,

exposed situation, have been

their

The tower

replaced by others in the style in vogue at the time the restoration occun'ed.

of Clymping Church,* has a plain parapet, apparently original

and carried on a row of

three distinct parts

Lincolnshire, the cornice

Evington

of a

aisle

wall

complete

is filled

with a succession of sunk

may

tracery,

as

similarly enriched,

is

frequently pierced with

is

Heckington Church (Plate 37).

in

with the Perpendicular architects

later

examples

earlier

period.

quatrefoils,

and horizontal position, whereas subsequently

trefoils,

it

is

not at

Ferrars

all

we

unlikely

exhibits

some

universal feature

noticed between the earlier

only employed in

its

legitimate

was made continuous and carried down

it

In the two Churches of

the sides of the battlement.

is

relief.

In this style, also,

Higham

may be

a difference that

that the coping in the former

is,

at Sutterton,

but with the parapet

The embattled parapet became almost an

examples of very early date.

Polebrook

with leaves or flowers in low

notice the positive introduction of battlements, though

first

be divided into

Decorated, Plate 37,) has one over the north

trefoils, filled

that they were used in Churches of an

and

I.

where the cornice

later date,

some flowing

may

the parapet

w^th a variety of ornaments, notch heads, dogtooth, hearts,

In Decorated examples, the parapet wall

or

state,

good examples of Early English character

verjr

in Leicestershire, (Section

little

cai-ved

its

the string or cornice, the parapet wall, and the coping.

Church, Northants, has some

&c.

In

corbels.

chamfered at top,

is

it

Hingham* and Martham,*

in Norfolk,

the distinctive peculiarities of the Decorated and Perpendicular parapet are well contrasted.

In St. Mary's, Stratford, erected in 1430, the legitimate use of the coping

view

in

Lavenham Church, on the

contrary,

the latter, are pierced with a four-centered arch

uj)

it

continuous

is

is

still

held in

the battlements, also in

the opening thus formed, being partly

filled

with a large leaf rising upwards, and the intermediate spaces enriched with boldly cai*ved

foliage in square panels.

By

far

the richest specimens of Perpendicular parapets, however, are to be met with

in the towers of the period.

Bishop's Lydeards*

above which the embattlement

still

of

pleasing,

decoration

flint

much

in

on the four

flint

The parapet

the coping

enriched with

]iarapet

rising

character.

rises

is

very

fine,

with a row of quatrefoils,

in

Badgeworth Church,*

in

Martham Church,*

not returned.

panelUng, and

sides

is

of the tower

In

is

exhibits

Deopham Church,*

surmounted by
;

it

and at Filby,

fine

Cross,

of a
a

simpler,

yet

good specimen

a crocketed gable,
rises

near Yarmouth,

out of the
the

parapet

graduated stages, forms a stepped gable in the centre, with two half ones,

also stepped, abutting against the angle pinnacles.

This stepped parapet

* Engraved in the Parish Churches, Vol. II.

is

a characteristick

CROSSES.
feature

The tower of

Norfolk towers.

in

87
has a remarkably

George's, Doncaster,

St.

rich pierced parapet, with three slender pinnacles rising out of

it,

on each

handsome panelled

Lincolnshire, and Bitton, Gloucestershire, have both veiy

Louth,

side.

parapets, with

pinnacles rising out of each battlement.

The Cross*, the most

natural

and appropriate termination of a gable, was made

From

use of at a veiy early peiiod.

conclude, that even then, they were

of durability in the material,

The

it

is

the testimony of the old

sacrilegiously destroyed

builders of old dehghted in exhibiting the

at

of

Barnack, and worked in

Martham Church.

flint

In

over the

Cranford,

St.

them

at the four angles of the tower,

and

at

enclosed within

Church.

we

Deopham,

(Section

Norman Chancel
within

inscribed

to

many

classify

them

Crosses

4,

Barnwood

of
a

the

circle,

Plate

Clmrch,

varied

barnack cnuEca, noet..ampto.vsuike,

is

badge

of

the

appear generally to have been

Cross,

as

lately

by Lyson

Knights

this

and elegant arrangements.

in the several divisions of

The

'^^

gabled to receive them.

projecting,

mentioned

is

windows of the ancient tower

in

slightly

16.)

Dm-ing the Early Enghsh period

Jerusalem.
led

Early Enghsh,

I.

arms

the

distinct

find

for symbolical reasons)

or with

circle,

not

which

aisles,

the same county, they crown the centre battlement, which

The earhest Crosses (probably

faith,

they

John's,

In a Church near Norwich,

roofs.

symbol of their

windows

belfi-y

occupy the N.E. and S.E. angles of the

have lean-to

ravages

the

would become a commanding and

it

Crosses, carved in low rehef, over the

find

many which

unhai'med.

left

only on gables, but in every position where

We

owing to the want

hardly hkely that any have lasted to the present day.

of time would longer have spared and

object.

introduced, though

invariably

fanatical violence of the Puritans,

The Church

Saxon MSS. we may

in

Edith Western

destroyed,
as

Hospitallers

Cross

of

over the

St.

patee

John

of

form was considerably modified, and

For facihty of examination we would

Simple Crosses

2,

Wheel Crosses

3, Floriated

Tracery Crosses.

In Simple Crosses the arms

sometimes

are

merely chamfered,

as

in

Churchdown

Church, Gloucestershire, or engrailed, as at Badgeworth Church, in the same county,

or cusped,

as

at

Tinwell,

the arms trefoiled, as

in

(Section

St.

I.

Decorated, Plate 28,) or with the

Maiy's Church, Stamford

or

again,

we sometimes meet

with them ornamented with a small flower raised on the face of each arm.
perfect
*

extremity of

fine

and

example of a wheel Cross occurs over the east gable of the nave of Oadby

The authors

ample account of

are

now preparing

this beautiful feature.

illustrations of a series of

Gable Crosses, to which they would refer for a more

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

88

Church, Leicestershire;

Whitwell Church, Rutland, has also a

a small flower in the centre.

example.

The Cross from Helpringham Church,

Plate 16,)

may Hkewise be

influence in the design

is

Early English

Early EngUsh,

included in this class, for though the circle

very

I.

is

omitted,

its

In floriated Crosses small branches diverge from

visible.

Norfolk, (Section

from

fine

(Section

Lincolnshire,

a very beautiful manner, as at

the arms of the Cross, gi'ouping the whole together in

Hingham Church,

radiating

has eight spokes with trcfoilcd terminations,

it

Decorated, Plate 33,) or at Peterborough. (Plate 28)

Cley Church, Norfolk, probably possesses the finest example of this class in the kingdom.
Tracery Crosses are generally of great beauty and richness
Decorated, Plate 33,)

met with

hitherto

out of which

it

Crosses,

fi-equently to

Morton,

(Section

in Section

Other

we would

In this class

be found in Norfolk
Plate

Two

include

such

15,)

the very rich

those

are

Ludham,

this

class

may

varieties

Such

Wilts, (Section

occasionally be noticed which

I.

is

given

are not so easy to classify

yet

we have been

the simple and effective Cross over the Chancel of Wichford Church,

Early Enghsh, Plate 16,) and

Norwich. (Decorated, Plate 33.)

is

ai*e

and

Decorated, Plate 28, fi-om Peakirk and Methwold.

I.

they are in reality, but quaint modifications of one or other of the classes

examining.

eight-armed

and Trunch

33,)

and exceedingly elegant examples of

early

(Barnack)

Stoke Ferry and

fi-om

(Plate

I.

that the authors have

its class

owing to the durable material

remains very perfect,

Perpendicular,

I.

Stody. (Plate 21.)

most magnificent of

certainly the

worked.

is

it

is

that at Hasingfield, (Section

enriched counterpart fi-om St. Mary's,

its

Over the north transept of Gunthorpe Church, Norfolk,

one which would be classed with tracery Crosses, had not the usual an-angement been

whimsically departed fi-om in the lower part, and cusps substituted for the two secondary
branches.

On some
at

Oakham;

Cross
is

its

is

Crosses

we

(Section

I.

Perpendicular,

round the arms

Plate 21,) while at

upon the

inclosed within a circle sunk

beautifully twined

Our Saviour carved on one

find the figure of

and

at

larger one.

Little

of the faces, as

Casterton a smaller

At Louth

Crown of Thorns

Godeby Maureward, the Cross has

(or

outer circle cut into teeth like a saw, symbolizing thereby the martyi'dom of

had)

some

of the early Saints of the Church.

The Cross was

generally let into the saddle stone to the depth of five or six inches,

and fixed with a leaden

many

beautiful

the thin

examples

socket,

joint,
;

the Cross

hope we may now

depended of course

for,
is

a practice which has probably caused the destruction

in

course of time,

loosened, and

say) in former days,

in a great

was

it

the expansion

finally

set

up

drops
again.

down

of the

of

metal bursts

and very rarely

The thickness of

measure upon the strength of the stone employed

(we

the Cross
generally

CROSSES FONTS.
fi'om four

to

Humberstone Church,

now

may be

inches

five

considered a

stem of the Cross was

Leicestershire, the

ways

in

work

this

which the Cross

Two

place of the departed faithful.

Church

incised or

is

Barnack stone.

many

adjuncts

its

interest,

and to exhibit

At

variety of beautiful specimens, render

relief,

different

we

will

we can

I.

while the

slab.

of view, will be

in so high a degi-ee the

architectural

hardly conclude without

same time the great number, and exceeding

the

give an illustration, even of the

impossible to

it

in

sesthetical point

character of the times in which they were executed, that

at least directing attention to them.

cai-ved

is

sunk in the

an

regarded merely in

if

that

all

is

and appropriate use in marking the resting

fi-om Barnwell

Church of Dublin,

much

is

of

aisle

elegant examples of floor Crosses are given in Section

The one

Ancient Fonts,* even

found to possess so

the material

forbid om* entering into a description of the

therefore, merely refer briefly to its beautiful

other, fi'om the Cathedral

the socket

(for

introduced into the sacred Building and

is

Early Enghsh, Plate 25.

Over the south

average.

fair

remains) only five inches by two and three quarters

The Umits of

89

types of the different fonts used during the three grand periods of

Go thick

The examples

must be considered,

good

as

therefore,

introduced,

of

characteristicks

specimens

of

theu"

several

they represent.

the dates

an illustration of a

give

each illustrating one of these epochs,

Norman

font,

for

but

eras,
It

has

would be rather

it

met with

The two
the
a

cube

earliest

forms of

the former,

still

Norman

fonts,

presei-ving

the latter was most usually raised on a

Early English fonts

and Shiere,

occasionally

also

English, Plate

made use

27,)

it

this

character,

is

many which

one
are

is

west for the priest, which

of,

as

central stem, suiTOunded

fashion was

a simple
is

in

was

raised

aftei'wards

on

engi'aved in the " Baptismal Fonts"), while

preserved

have excellent specimens of this

Sun-ey,

in

select

very beautiful example of this arrangement

(a

occurs in Shefford Church, Berkshire, and

many

the

to

to

appear to have been the tub-shaped and

cu'cular

its

low stem with molded cap and base

In

inexpedient

difficult

among

decided

as

very quaint, and some elaborately and beautifully enriched.

all

means

no

been considered

only (and the Umits of the work forbid a greater number)

constantly

by

architecture.

the

font

by four small

Churches of Merstham

the

The

class.

Weston Church

in

and elegant design,

shafts.

single

stem was

(Section

I.

and has a broader step

Early
at

the

not shown in the plate.

In the shape of Decorated fonts, gi-eater license seems to have been used than at

any other time

angle

at

shafts

at

Galway the font

Orchardleigh,

it

is
is

square, earned
circular

* For a brief yet interesting account of ancient fonts

by Van Voorst, and

illustrated

by many

and

we would

excellent woodcuts.

B B

on a

central stem,

cup-shaped
refer to the

and

at

and four small

Ewerby

"Baptismal Fonts,"

is

an

lately published

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

90

hexagonal font, with the sides richly diapered.

we

first

shafts,

find the richly crocketed canopy,

as

Redgrave Church; (Section

at

Hedon Church,

small pinnacles, as at

It

in

is

the fonts of this period that

and the octagonal stem with slender engaged

I.

divided by

Decorated, Plate 32), or panels

Yorkshire.

Perpendicular fonts, though frequently richer than the previous ones, exhibit never-

They were

sameness and repetition of design.

considerable

theless

generally eight-sided

and raised on a molded stem, though at Hurley Church, Berkshire, the font

is

a simple

octagonal block, tapering downwards, with panelled sides, and buttresses at the angles
in

Cornwall some extraordinary and anomalous forms are occasionally met with.

decorations were then very prevalent

stem, while the basin

Church,

has

Norfolk,

very

highly interesting fi-om

the

animals, especially lions, frequently suiTound the

beautiful

of

date

its

and

execution

(1544)

this

Walsoken

description,

rendered

upon

together

being cut
octagonal

are

shaft

and pinnacles, and on the

at the angles, buttresses

of

font

rich

Both bowl and

with the names of the donors.*

while

Sculptured

supported by rows of angels with extended wings.

is

it,

the former has

sides are crocketed ogee arches sup-

ported by brackets formed of foUage and angels, and which are occupied by the Crucifixion

and the seven sacraments of the Church of Rome.

The

angels.

shaft

is

ornamented

in the

The

same manner

as the bowl, but the niches contain

and displajnng much

figures of saints, very well carved

the Crucifixion occur in shields placed round the base.

Church, though very

fi'om CljTnping

buttresses, also, are supported by

artistick

The emblems of

skill.

The example given

in Plate 28,

inferior in point of richness, is nevertheless a pleasing

specimen; of good proportion, with some very well executed foUage.

Fonts of
circular,

or

quatrefoils

dates were not unfrequently raised on a series of steps, either square,

all

In

octagonal.
as

in

the

later

shape of the font.

the risers are

of Walsingham

the Churches

these instances the upper step

examples,

in the

is

frequently enriched

and Worstead,

in

Norfolk.

In

with

both

form of a Cross, while the lower one follows the

kneeling stone, consisting of a raised block or step at the west

of the font, for the use of the priest, was

a very

usual

appendage

it

is

met with

even in early fonts, though more commonly in those of a later date.

The Sedilia,

or

seats

frequently of great beaut}^

and Perpendicular, Plate

the

sedilia,

as

in

in

St. Martin's,

in

the

Great

9.

Examples

The

priests,

are given

Sometimes the

Wenham

Leicester.

same design

the officiating

for

siU

in

always south of the Altar, were

Section

of the

I.

G,

window was lowered to form

Church, Suffolk; (Appendix,

piscina or water drain,

Early English, Plate

Plate

2,

Fig.

14,)

and

was very frequently incorporated

as the sedilia.
* Engraved in the Baptismal Fonts.

IL OF WOODWORK AND METALWORK.

SECTION

ROOFS*
TIMBER

roof of the fifteenth century, with

m'ought and molded,

of

carved figures
exquisite

its

truly

Such

art.

Of

excellence, however,

a sight,

as

was but very

all

its

ornamented cornice,

profusely

a grand triumph

is

it

in beautifully

and traceried spandrels,

enriched panelling

its

and above

Norman work,

unquestionably

massive timbers elaborately

rows of hammer beams terminating

angels,

bosses,

glorious

as

its

its

the

of

carpenter's

gi'adually accomplished.

very few specimens indeed remain

judging fi'om

them, we would conclude that the construction of that period, was as unscientifick as

These early roofs may, perhaps without exception, be

was rude.

The one over the Chancel

head of tie-beam roofs. t

this

description,

and appears original

braced together by collars

down on

are carried

similar construction
is

fi'om
is

the

them

at

Adel

the tie-beam, which

these

into the tie-beam,

continuous plate inside

external

All

practice.

wall,

in

struts

also

is

much

are

to

into

is

the

principals,

are

and

of the weight

part

a roof of a somewhat

itself carried

on

struts

strengthened by smaller

further

of

lower down, and immediately under

is

framed into
ones,
roof.

fi-amed

There

and another would probably be found, almost flush with

accordance with what

seems to have been then a very general

more extensive and

indeed,

be able to lav before the publick the

its

consideration

the present principle by which the king post

is

down on

employed

to

to tie

off

the

it

it

the work

is

now

projecting

" Analysis"
in the press,

fruits of their researches.

ancient roofs the tie-beam was employed to hold the walls together;

the greater part of the weight, which was brought

cutting

careful illustration than the limits of the

the authors have therefore devoted a separate volume to

all

tenoned

thus receives a great

the timbers are very roughly worked;

and they hope very shortly

f In

are

and following very nearly the rake of the

* Such au important subject requires a

permitted

struts

supports the rafters, and

:

is

the principals pitch on to the tie-beam, and

the collar, however,

a purlin, which

the beam, as

slanting

it

classed under the

all

of Adel Church, Yorkshire,

Over the nave of Wliitwell Church, Rutland,

of the roofing.

it

to

is

and in addition generally carried

by the king post and

up.

struts

being the reverse of

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

92

knobs and branches seems to have been

Yet even

them.
of

evincing careful workmanship

embellishment,

one

roof remains in Old Shoreham Church, Sussex, and

and other instances are occasionally found

The next advance

in

into the

Plate

24,)

had a

collar,

or,

two opposite

each

and halved

rafters,

tenoned into

assume the shape of a

wall on which

it

triangle,

foot of each rafter

midway

the wall, the

in

central

any

thus

fi-equently only
it

but

as at Heckington, with

or,

and an internal one molded, and forming a

plate,

hold

being halved upon

feet of the rafters

and

to the thickness of the

These roofs have

sometimes they occur with an internal and external plate

collar,

was so framed, as to

contrivance obtained an excellent

this

danger from spreading was almost entirely obviated.

plate, placed

Woodwork,

II.

of considerable span, each rafter

roofs

whose base generally was equal

and by

rested,

The

underside.

its

in

at the intersections,

(Section

sometimes by

rafter,

by braces sometimes crossing above the

stiffened

molding

billet

in various parts of the country.

was more usually the case

as

and was further

at other times

one

enriched with a

is

degi'ee

beams of the Norman

the

of

the example over the porch of Stuston Church, Suffolk

in

been bestowed upon

meet with a certain

the framing of roofs, was to truss

means of cross braces pinned

as

that has

finish

we sometimes

very early examples

in

the

all

slightly

projecting

cornice.

Neither ridge pieces or purlins ever occur, and when they are not boarded, w'hich
very frequently the case,

have held up so long.

it

is

becomes quite a matter of surprise how such roofs should

Wlien not boarded, however, the trusses

are generally out of the

perpendicular, inclining either to the east or the west.

In the earUer instances of this

kind the tie-beam was

intervals

roof;

as

in

the

still

retained,

and introduced

the tie-beam with similar moldings

tie-beam

the

in

example over the Chancel of Sandridge Church,

molded cornice projecting from the wall and

Chancel, with

at

fi-amed.

is

carried

was

altogether

favourite style of roofing with

omitted

and

the

Herts, which

It

rafters,

ties in

averaging about five inches by four.

two

feet

was not long, however, before

simply

continued

trussed,

from centre to centre

The

rafters

their scantling

Remaining examples of these roofs are more numerous

than any others, but in most cases they have been lathed and plastered.
original state they

the length of the

the Early English and Decorated architects.

are generally from one foot six inches to

has

on notch heads, and into which

There are two

about twelve rafters between each.*

length of the

the

That

were occasionally boarded appears extremely probable; though

in their

after all, for

picturesqueness and beauty, nothing can exceed the view of the rafters intricately crossing.

Sometimes a trussed
*
plates,

The

rafter roof spans

both the nave and

roof over the nave of Clymping Church

and occasional tie-beams.

is

See au engraving of

aisles, as in

St. Michael's,

Long

an Early Enghsh construction, with internal and external wall

it

in the Parish

Churches, Vol.

II. p. 75.

ROOFS.

Stanton, Cambridgeshire

and terminating

in the usual triangularly

far fi-om

framed

down on

to tiie side walls,

foot.

being always of this simple description, are fi-equently

constructive knowledge in the framing of their

of great beauty, and display considerable

They may be considered under the two heads of tie-beam and

principals, ridge, purlins, &c.

The

93

the rafters to the nave being continued

Decorated roofs, however,

collar roofs.

;
;

former, perhaps, are the most frequent

an excellent example remains

Adderbury Church, Oxfordshire, enriched with good and characteristick moldings.

framing

may be

in
Its

described as a tie-beam supporting a king-post, from the four sides of which

spring braces framed into the principals and ridge

produce an excellent

both principals and braces being fohated,

Other curved and molded braces are framed into the underside

effect.

of the tie-beam, forming a pointed arch, and serving to bring the weight of the roof lower

down on the

walls.

Higham
the tie-beam

framed into

Ferrars Church, Northamptonshire, also, has a good roof of Decorated date

it,

much cambered, and forms an

very

is

and spring

arch with the curved braces which are

and bases

fi'om small shafts with caps

tie-beam, with braces supporting the ridge

The

similar braces caiTy the purlins.

equally interesting specimen

is

small struts also rest on the tie-beam, and with

Wimmington Church,*

the roof over the nave of

aS^yminston," who died

tlUS!

almost entirely as

designed, and unquestionably the roof

first

of a cambered

sists

the ridge

is

beam with

foUated braces, can'ied as in

also supported in the

An

cornice and principal timbers are simply molded.

by "Softer Clirtfys

tie

a king-post rests on the

same manner

The Church remains

1391.

in
is

Beds, built

of the same period.

Higham

con-

It

Ferrars on small shafts

as in this last-named Church,

and so low

is

the pitch in this example, that the purlins rest directly on the tie-beam without any intervening
strut.

The

spandi'cls

Of Decorated
south

aisle of

between the beam and the curved braces are pierced with

roofs without tie-beams, there

consists of a pair of principals,

collar also
*

a simple yet beautiftil example over the

is

Knighton Church, Leicestershire.

It is

of very bold consti'uction

which pitch on to a molded cornice-plate

molded, with small curved braces framed from

For an engraving of

t Ancient

roofs,

this roof, see Parish

though

perhaps the most usual for

Norman

roofs, while

or angle of 60*^

with some, so remarkably low as to rival the

English Church at Warmington, Northants

The Decorated

a rise of only four.

tects gradually

The

it

each truss

about midway

into the principal

on the

by no means invariably

so

collar

an angle of 90 was

Early English ones, although acutely pointed, are nevertheless rarely

:

indeed,

flattest

in

of the

this

and the succeeding

Perpendicular roofs

style

we

meet

occasionally

such are those over the Earlv

the interesting e.\ample from Polebrook Church, in the same county,

roof over the south aisle of St. Martin's, Leicester, has a span of twenty-one

roofs in

is

II. p. 93.

characteristically acutely pointed, were

found of an equilateral pitch,

also very low.

Churches, Vol.

trefoils.

Wimmington and Higham

Ferrars are both verj'

lowered their roofs, though in Norfolk and Suffolk

C C

many

flat.

feet,

The Perpendicular

is

with

archi-

beautiful examples remain of noble pitch.

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

94
lies

which

tlie purlin,

further strengthened and kept in

is

There

tenoned into the principal.

a carved flower under the centre of the collar, and carved

is

heads projecting from the wall at the foot of each principal.

similar construction over the Chancel of St.

Martin's Church,* in the same town,

is

construction

Its

and following the rake of the

rafters

is

a roof of a

is

somewhat

Over the

large south aisle of St.

roof of very early Decorated character, and

simply an enormous

the underside

There

Mary's Church, Leicester, with the addition,

however, of wall pieces, into which the braces are fi-amed.

exceedingly interesting.

place by small curved braces,

its

is

beam

rising

up

to the ridge,

slightly curved in the centre, the curve

being completed by means of the braces, so as to produce almost a semi-circular arch.

braces,

These

and that part of the beam which enters into the curve are beautifully molded, as are

likewise the ridge and cornice plates

which also are framed the

into the tie-beam, into

stopped with foliage

the spandrels are

feature in this roof are the figures

curved braces
expression

the former

filled

paiily carried on corbel heads tenoned

the moldings at the junction being

latter,

with tracery.

and interesting

peculiar

which are carved out of the wall pieces and carry the

they are about four feet in

is

we might suppose them

height, exceedingly well carved,

some of the

to be emblematical of

and

full

of

principal virtues,

Humility, Patience, &c.

The roof over the nave of Capel

the examples

we have

St Mary's Church, Suffolk, shows a great advance upon

Here we may

already examined.

distinguishing feature of the Suffolk roofs, the

exactly at an angle of 90

pins

is

is

is

In this instance, the pitch

is

also fi'amed into the

hammer-beam.

it

and Norfolk,

hammer-beam,

it

may

be di\aded into three parts

to which

it

affords

* St. Martin's

Church has two south

down over the

aisles

smaller aisle, which

an additional

ornamented,

with panelling or otherwise

arc continued

In these roofs the

generally sei-ved as a plate for the rafters to pitch upon.

consisting of a molded plank of three to four inches in thickness,

pierced

a cui-ved brace in

altogether differently constructed, and answers a distinct purpose fi-om that of

roofs of Suffolk

to

tenoned into the undersides of the collar and principal, and fixed with wooden

previous examples, where

beam

is

placed very high up, supports a

which the principals and ridge are framed

and the foot of the brace

cornice

notice the introduction of that

hammer-beam.

the embattled collar, which

strut or small king-post, into

two pieces

first

is

not

tenoned fi'om hammerthe centre one

unfrequently

the roof over the larger oue

covered by a lean-to.

the lower one, usually

is

lateral tie

The

is

In the

with

is

angels

either

having

a sjiau roof, and the rafters from

parishioners have lately, in the

it

same

hearty spirit which actuated their ancestors, reconstructed entirely, and with similar worthy materials, these two
roofs, as well as that over the

Chancel (a very

fine

and rich Perpendicular example)

having been minutely copied, as to scantlings and details.

been richly coloured

why

in

both cases, the originals

The old timbers on being taken down, were found to have

not fully carry out the restoration, and extend this enrichment to the new roofs

ROOFS.

'

expanded wings, as

at

Knapton Church, Norfolk

95

while the upper part like the lower

is

usually molded, and sometimes, as in Capel St. Mary's, becomes in fact an additional purlin,

We may

being in every respect similarly treated.

a peculiarity in these

two counties already referred

where eaves were used, the hammer-beams and

some

easily trace the origin of these cornices to

to,

namely, the absence of parapets

rafters

were carried very

for

and

far back,

in

cases quite to the outer face of the wall, thus leaving a considerable space inside

between the wall plate under the hammer-beam, and the

of the rafters.

soffit

space with masonry would not only be a piece of useless construction, but

much

to destroy the beauty of the design as a whole,

adopted as affording a legitimate

giving

mode

this

also tend
fi-om

open, or the cornice was

left

of further enriching the roof, and at the same time

In Old Basing Church, Hampshire, in a Perpendicular

greater lateral strength.

it

would

fill

by separating the hammer-beam

This space was therefore either

the remainder of the roof.

it

To

roof of rather peculiar construction, a similar difficulty has been met by the use of upright

panelhng

the

effect,

however,

is

very inferior to the Suffolk arrangement.

The example over the north

work, Plates 17, 18,

most usual way of

is

bedded on a

Church, Norfolk,

hammer-beam roof

19,) exhibits the

may

in its fullest

(Sect. II.

WoodThe

development.
a

hammer-beam

and extends sometimes almost to the outer face of the

wall, while in-

fi-aming these roofs

plate,

Wymondham

of

aisle

be briefly described as follows

ternally its projection varies perhaps fi'om one-fifth to one-sixth of the width of the opening

a wall piece

a corbel

is

framed into

underside, and

its

hammer-beam

the weight on the

cun^ed or spandrel brace, wliich

similar

manner

is

is

tenoned and pinned to the

principal,

by curved braces which bind

it

which

The Wymondham roof

strut rising fi-om the extreme

tied in

is

summit

by the

is

the tracery in the spandrels

being of exceeding beauty

notice the

pattern

is

crowned M.

collar,

and further strengthened

the whole framing

is

is

is

thus

rather

a large wedge-Hke piece of wood, into which

and

ridge.

compartments by three purUns and an intermediate

:

on

end of the

presents a curious variety, for the collar

are tenoned the extremities of the principals

foliated panels

necessity, canned

of the former, and in a

soffit

and supporting strut

to the collar

daringly dispensed with, and at the

into

though not of

brought down to the wall piece by means of the

also fixed to the latter.

hammer-beam, supports the

perfectly secured.

is

generally,

is

The

sides of the roof are divided

and are enriched with

principal,

also very varied,

eight specimens are given in plate

many
1

of the designs produced

in

one of them we

may

These tracery panels rarely exceeded an inch in thickness, and the

merely pierced through, or with the edges chamfered, as in the examples before us,

but with no eyes to the cusps.

principal timbers.
stiffening the

Veiy

In this roof

comice and wall

beautifully carved bosses cover the intersections of the

we may

pieces.

notice the introduction of wall braces, uniting and

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

96

In Grundisburg Church, Suffolk, (Section

II.

Woodwoi-k, Plates 26 and 27,) we

double range of hammer-beams, one above the other

ever,

is

the principle of the construction, how-

wrought into

figures of angels with

expanded wings are placed at the

The

hammer-beams.

outspread wings, and others also with

and

feet of the wall pieces,

at the extremities of the lower

produced by this host of angels, leaning forward fi'om their airy

effect

grand and solemn almost beyond description.

is

Church, which

hammer-beam

also a double

is

roof,

In the example over

the angels representing the heavenly

Church, also in Norfolk, has a magnificent roof over the nave, without a

pit

by the curved braces

Church,

in Suffolk, has a

profusely ornamented

hovering midway in the

worked into

known

air

niches,

tlie

on

extremities of

tlie

their extended wings.

filled

Wool-

richness.

The splendour

it

is

rows of strawberry leaf

the hammer-beams, seem

all

Tlie lower parts of the

with figures of saints, over whose

waU

pieces are

heads are suspended

of the roof of St. Mary's, at Bury,

more

fi-equently

met with

in the

example occurs

Midland Counties, and

in Cirencester Chui'ch

tie-beam

itself is finely

is

too

As the Perpendicular

also in

Devon-

consti-uctive feature.

the braces under the tie-beam are

the wall braces are of the same elaborate descrip-

molded with a deep casement

every part susceptible of enrichment has received

itself in

being merely

most glorious double hammer-beam roof;* every part of

double-cusped and have foliated spandrels

;

most elaborate

and Somersetshire, the tie-beam once more becomes an important

liighly enriched

tion

collar,

Trunch

to need description.

In another kind
shire

tracery spandrels are of the

the rafters and purlins are richly molded

elaborately carved canopies.

well

its

and angels, applied to

divide the cornice,

also

Knapton

hands instruments of musick, or some holy texts or symbols.

choir, hold in their

tied in

The king-posts

precisely the same, but with a proportionate increase in rich effect.

are beautifully

lieight,

find a

it

filled

with flowers

and

in fact

in a high degi'ee.

period drew to a close, the expiring genius of Gothick art exhibited

the roofs no less than in

all

They were then made

other parts of the sacred Edifice.

and what was missing

in constructive skill

was sought to be remedied and

replaced by crowded, but frequently ill-executed, ornament.

Such an example occurs over

exceedingly

flat,

the north chapel of Wellingborough Church, Northamptonshire.

Many
we have

other specimens of roofs might be adduced, for the variety

already exceeded the limits which

interesting subject

and

we proposed

thei'cfore, in conclusion,

we

1st,

points concerning these ancient constructions

in the present

will briefly

Norman specimens
*

are not wanting

For an engraving of this

almost

work

sum up

we may be sure

would prove Decorated and Early Enghsh roofs to be yet remaining

and that even

is

infinite,

but

to devote to this

the most striking

that a vigilant search

in tolerable

abundance,

2nd, that their pitch varied from an angle

roof, see Parish

Churches, Vol.

I.

p. 49.

WOODWORK.

of 90'^ to one of 60, rarely exceeding the

examples, very

much below

different periods

latter,

common

Ipng over the

principals, as in a

with

lie

still

leaving the subject,

to the roofs of

the

and pinned together

modern

roof, are invariably

flush with the tops of the principals

Perhaps even now, most examples,

present some lingering marks of their past splendour.

we would

all

and

the other accessories of a Church, these elaborate and

all

splendid works were richly coloured and gilded.

examined, would

common

3rd, that the various timbers were simply tenoned

framed into them, thus allowing the rafters to

that in

but not unfi-equently, even in Early English

the former, and that tie-beams are

4th, that the purlins, in lieu of

finally,

97

closely

if

And, before

our humble voice, urgently pleading for the careful

fain raise

restoration of these truly national glories

for after

all,

none other than our own oak-bearing

land can boast of roofs such as those that abound with us, either in beauty or boldness of

But while we would urge

execution.

their restorations as peculiarly national works, let not

None but

the pressing necessity of such a course be forgotten.

those

who have devoted

close

attention to the subject, climbing the ladders and bestowing a careful and minute inspection,

can form an idea of the

produced by

must assuredly witness the

years
roofs,

pious

The
fi'om

effect

neai'ly four centuries

of neglect and decay.

many most

restoration, or total destruction, of

few

exquisite

legacies of our forefathers.

general arrangement of the old seats in our Churches will be sufficiently understood

an examination of the plates

for notwithstanding that they

were frequently profusely

ornamented, the actual construction and disposition ever remained the same, and consisted
of a continuous

sill

laid along the floor, into

which the bench ends were stubbed, the seats

being supported on brackets placed at intervals, with the backs either terminating level with
the seats, or carried
seat,

and never slanting

Great

to the floor
it

this instance

case,

The top

of the bench ends

finish level with

find the

down

I.

of Section

some very

a selection of the
is

Several

higher than the

when not

good preservation

Woodwork.

The

excellent tracery panels,

sill is

in use.
;

their

molded

is

all

in

varying more

given in Plates 2 and 3.

capped with a molding, also carried round the backs which

seat,

but very

In

Comberton Church, Cambridgeshire, we

much more

to the floor, and framed into a cross

still filled

II.

most beautiful

generally adopted in Devonshire and Somersetshire.

Churches are

little

and the bench ends are ornamented with small buttresses,

the underside of the seats.

same description of

continued

in Plate

cut out of the solid, and

or less one from the other

the book board was placed but

retains almost all its old seats in very

shown

details are

was almost always the

was, in fact, simply a ledge to lay the book on

Waltham Church

arrangement and
as

down

highly enriched
sill.

II.

Bishop's Lydeard, Trull, and

Woodwork,
D D

here the backs are

The square bench end was

with very beautiful seats, though they are

examples are given in Section

all

Plate 31.

also

Crowcombe

of late workmanship.

The

date of those in

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

98

Crowcombe Church (1534)

carved on one of them in conjunction with some

name

probably reference to the

having

initials,

of the donor.

times, and especially in Noi'folk and Suffolk, the bench ends were ogeed, and

At other
with

finished

is

affording

finials,*

the

carver

opportunities

the

for

freest

of

display

his

imagination, which indeed appears to have been most wonderfully prolifick, for not only

were two
different.

St.

patterns;

nor

The

30.

found alike in the same Church, but even the two sides were generally

finials rai-ely

Mary's Stratton, in Norfolk, would furnish nearly one hundred distinct

is

this a

common

peculiar form

the fleur de

lis,

more

head, the

Thirteen varieties are given in Plates

solitary case.

to

most

finials is

and

supposed by somef to be derived from

both a religious emblem and a royal heraldick charge.

correct term for designating these

6, 16, 20,

Poppy, or poppy

wooden "Crops," would appear

to be

derived from the frequent custom of working the terminations into figures of priests, warriors,

Ketton Church, Rutland, furnishes many beautiful specimens of

&c.

one instance a bishop

fine

is

represented in his pulpit.

Grundisburgh Church,

examples of ogeed bench ends richly panelled, though of rather

The bench ends

declining taste.

most elaborate splendour

either side

by

figures, while

The Chancel screen,

many

St.

and worthy of

To

gilding.

its

it

all its original

the resources of his wonderful art,

purpose, until

essential.

and exhibiting a

a no less beautiful than necessary appui'tenance, yet remains in

chromy, eagerly acknowledged

was considered

late date

has some

another figure occupies a niche in the panel.

it

still

was

it

splendour.

Though

not considered com-

had been made to glow with the richest colours and

same time supplying the

to deprive the design of a principal part of

is

Suft'olk,

in all parts of the

its

beauty

the aid of poly-

Scriptural texts were constantly introduced in the cornice,

and

On

the

filled

the casement.

But

lower panels were customarily painted the holy Apostles, or other Saints and Martyrs.
a few specimens of screens have been given, for, to do

* This

word

is

et altitudo a le gargayle

usque

le

crojj is

crop qui

Ages.

t See

its

original

Ecclcsiologist, Vol. V. p. 209.

justice, a

will

corrected.

whole work should be

soon be undertaken,

and proper meaning

we must almost despair of seeing the abuse

presented the entire pinnacle, while the

"

them

and we much hope that such a one

singularly degenerated from

so universally adopted, that

rich

Church, in the case of screens more especially,

sometimes, as in Bishop's Lydeard, the whole of the Creed

devoted to the subject

in

they are ogeed and finished with a poppy head, supported on

delineate the delicacy of the tracery, without at the

tints of the colour,

desci'iption

Mary's Wiggenhall, Norfolk, are of the

of the remote village Churches of Norfolk in almost

the carver exhausted on

plete

Church of

in the

this

its

one

present sense however

is

in

now

The ancient " fynyall " always

re-

the legitimate term for the bunch of foliage terminating the fynyall

finit le

stone-work 31 pedes," see Willis's Nomenclature of the Middle

WOODWORK.
which

be depicted, not only the architectural beauties, but also the polychromatick

shall

An

effects.

99

from Waltham Abbey Church

interesting examjjle of a Decorated screen

in Section II.

Woodwork,

Plate 7;

proportions are exceedingly massive, and

its

is

given

moldings

its

Other examples of Decorated woodwork, selected from screens

very characteristick.

Bottisham Church, Cambridgeshire, are given

in Plate

remarkable for the beauty and triangularity of

14

in

a spandrel piece in this plate

In Plate 21,

is

is

a selection of

panel heads from a veiy beautiful screen lately in Chester Cathedi'al, but which

we understand

its

design.

to have been destroyed since our drawings were made.

(Section II.

Woodwork,

Barton Church, Cambridgeshire,

Plate 10,) has a very beautiful Chancel screen in good preservation,

the doors alone being missing.

The carving

some of the

and cusps terminations are given

crockets, spandrels,

in this

example

panels of the doors to the screen in Wells Cathedral (Section

some very
is

rich tracery, in

which the equilateral

particularly well executed

is

II.

triangle, as the

in Plate 11.

Woodwork,

The lower

Plate 8,) have

gi'oundwork of the formation,

made veiy apparent.

The construction of the Doors was always of the most

solid description

early examples

however, never display any carved work, owing to the general practice of those times of intro-

ducing ironwork in the design

Norman

at once a strengthening

doors are yet existing

their framing

is

and a

is

deal.*

Lincolnshire, (Section

Towards the

I.

Noi'man, Plate

close of the Early

into disuse, although tracery

EngUsh

6,)

Such

out of the soUd.

inside,

say,

began to

fall

These panels are strengthened and

Mimms

I.

Church, (Section

example, where the head brace

and

details are

in Section

I.

is

it

consists of battens slightly

is

tied together

the entire thickness

is

I.

three inches and a half.

is

similarly

Rushden Church, Northamptonshire, has a Decorated

elegantly shaped into an ogeed trefoil.

minutely described, and

Decorated.

ribs cut

by cross pieces placed

Decorated, Plate 25,) the door

a beautiftil and perfect specimen of Decorated

* Only one other instance has

will

The south door of

woodwork

its

fi'aming

be best understood by reference to the Plate 10,

Stoke Church, Suffolk, has a magnificent door, probably un.

come under the

notice of the authors, where this material has been preferred to

oak, namely, the doors to the chapter house at York,

work.

Decorated, Plate 14,) has a door precisely of this descrip-

framed, but without the raised panels.

Holbeach Church

Margaret's Chapel, Herts, has

St.

which are tongued into each other, and divided by molded

and nailed through to the outer face

In North

the example in Sempring-

period, ornamental ironwork

was hardly yet introduced.

Milton Church, Kent, (Section

tion.

is

where the material, strange to

a very good and perfect specimen of an early Decorated door

raised towards the centre,

Some few

enrichment.

exceedingly rude, and they derive their great

strength from the ironwork with which they are banded.

ham Church,

beautiftil

which are of

later date,

but also profusely enriched with iron-

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

100

surpassed in richness

of the most

all

workmanship, cover the entire surface.

costly

Many

is

one of them

of Perpendicular

St.

instances will be found in Section

Section

Woodwork,

II.

Perpendicular, Plates 6,

I.

the one

Alban contains many beautiful Perpendicular

represented at large in

is

remain

doors

and has some good flowing tracery

transitional fi-om Decorated,

The Abbey Church of

the head.
;

elaborate examples

and

perfect

Deopham Church

mens

and canopies,

tracery, moldings, figures of saints,

and

17, 20,

in

in

speci-

Other

Plate 4.

in Section

I.

Early

English, Plate 23.

Porches were frequently built of oak, and Decorated and Perpendicular examples are

now

even

Section

I.

The south porch

very numerous.

Woodwork,

Plates

and

12,

sufficiently explain the construction,

13.

of

Aldham Church,

Essex,

is

The accompanying plans and

which was very similar

illustrated

in

sections will

in all cases.

Plates 9, 25, 28, and 30, illustrate different specimens of strings, bosses, spandrels, and

cusps terminations,

all

exhibiting in a high degree the talent

bosses from Haslingfield Church, in Plate 28, are situated at

and

tlie

The

taste of the artificer.

intersections of the principal

timbers of an interesting Decorated roof, remarkable for the beauty of

moldings.

its

METALWORK.
NDIFFERENCE

and cupidity on the one hand, and the ravages of time on

the other, have despoiled our Churches of the greater part of their ancient

ironwork

enough remains, however, to show that

difficult as it is to

branch of

The Norman
In St. Alban's

art.

straj)

continued quite through and

commencement of the
of a serpent
is

in

high

this de\'ice,

relief,

and

in the

scroll

all

other materials entering into the composition of

Abbey Church

are engraved in Plates

it,

tiie

Architects frequently displayed the greatest ingenuity in this

them

which only now remains

treatment of

work, the same care and patient attention was devoted as

was bestowed upon

sacred Fabrick.

in the

9,
is

some hinges of that

are

of Section
finished with

II.

Metalwork.

The knob

That

in Plate

two of
has the

an ornamental termination, a portion of

second example, in Plate

work.

early period

at the

9,

the strap terminates with the

welding point

is

fashioned into the head

with jaws extended, also occurs at the ends of some of the

scrolls,

and exceedingly well executed considering the nature of the material.

both these examples the surface

is

In

enriched with a kind of chevi'on, easily produced with the

METALWORK.
chisel

the thickness of the metal

gradually brought

specimen of
entire door

down

to be found in

is

represented in Section

larger scale in Plate 5 of

I.

Norman,

work

early

and between the two hinges

is

most valuable and

is

perfect

The

Lincolnshire.

Plate 6, and a portion of the ironwork to a

the design

top and bottom hinge, in which, as at St. Alban's,

heads

commencement, and

Sempringham Church,

The north door of

Metalwork.

some very

also covered with

is

three-eighths of an inch at the

to one-eighth towai-ds the exti'emity.

Norman u-onwork
is

is

101

is

Margaret's Chm'ch, Leicester,

St.

rather fantastick, and consists of

we may

notice the terminating serpents'

a radiating centre-piece of eight branches

the whole

being enclosed in an ornamental border, as in Sempringham.

The

art of

working

metal, however, was as yet but in

tliis

Architects rapidly improved

it,

and, perhaps, brought

Ages

attained during the Middle

as in subsequent periods, the

in

is

the Early English

for if the finish of the

workmanship was not quite so great

freedom and beauty of the design were incomparably superior.

a very perfect

state

it

elegant scroll

The example from

work of

St. Marj'^'s,

this

border, which

No

here restricted to a very nan'ow strip, nailed at intervals.

Norwich,

we have

less beautiful

the work on the south door of Eaton Bray Church, Bedfordshire (Plate 11).

House

spread over the doors of the Chapter

at

York,

is

The design and execution of

being kept quite distinct.

worthy of the extreme beauty of the Building to which

the closing ring
St.

is

veiy ingeniously managed

The doors

Maiy's, Norwich.

They

ironwork.

The

manship.

merely used as a

work

details

is

most

noticed,

and perfect

is

That which

is

stifFener,

the hinges

this example, (see Plate 6,) are quite

it is

attached.

The

raised boss for

the narrow border strip occurs here as in

to a closet in Chester Cathedi'al belong also to this class of

are divided into four panels, which division

designs of the scroU

age are yet

represented in Plate 8, with several of the

is

The broad and enriched Norman

ornamental parts at large.

to the highest degree of perfection

remaining in diiferent parts of the country.

and

infancy

it

Numerous examples of doors covered with the

excellent,

its

they are

all

is

made apparent

in the different

exceedingly gracefiil, and of the most finished work-

which are appended,

(see Plate 4,) exhibit

some of the

varieties of the

terminations, and also the junctions of the several scrolls, which are cleverly managed, a leaf
generally lapping over to hide the welding point.

In

all

these examples

that the small branches invariably proceed from the outer side of the scroU

the scroll
it

as in

is

sometimes raised to an

an-is, as in

we may remark,
;

the section of

Chester Cathedi'al, or with a channel sunk on

York Chapter House.

Many

plainer examples of hinges are dispersed thi'oughout the

very good one from Market Deeping

is

engi-aved in Plate 9.

accompanying plates

In the same plate

is

given a

very elaborate stifFener from Tunstead Church, and also one of a plainer description from

Great Casterton Chm'ch.

Sometimes the closing ring was so enlarged

E E

as to

answer both as a

ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

102

ring and a tie to the door

Mary's, Norwich, (Plate 8)

The

examples from Aldham Church, Essex (Plate

as in the

and Filby Church. (Plate

closing ring, or door latch,

abundant

they generally consist of three parts

surface of the door

through the door,

the handle or ring

is

the

The

fixed to the latch inside.

plate

all

kinds are very

or washer, fixed to the outer

flat plate

and the spindle to which

when the

enriched, even

less

Examples of

quite plain.

left

St.

13.)

was generally more or

remainder of the ironwork to the door was

5)

attached, which, passing

it is

susceptible of great richness, and

is

occurs fi"om the simply indented pattern in the Churches of Diss, and Bapchild, (Plate 7,) to

Eye and Martham Churches,*

the highly ornamented examples in

most usual construction

shown

is

in Plate 5,

to allow of the handle hanging clear, has

surface

and the whole

keeping with the

tracery.

The

it

Alban's two

serpents

as at

assumes a

it

Floore Church (Plate

The

Martham, the washer

was elongated,

Leger's,

St.

very fi-equently

it.

shape and

good

is

effect

slightly

was

Even the key

art.

was

plate

fi-equently

very elaborate specimen enriched with tracery

(Plate 2),

consisted simply of a

it

(Plates 7

and 12)

produced,

fi-equently

at

ornamented, while at

and

in Diss

is

St.

as

at

an extraordinary specimen of

made an ornamental

to carry out the general richness of the whole door.

good specimens

its

by simply forming the ring out of a square bar of iron twisted.

closing ring in Plate 12, fi-om St. Nicholas, Gloucester,

the smith's

the centre,

further enriched by being pierced with

is

Exton and Haconby Churches

trefoiled

twine round
9),

flat plate, slightly raised in

The

12.)

firmly fixed to the door with nails having heads ornamented in

In

rest.

and

two rims of metal variously enriched applied to

ring was not so generally ornamented

plain circle, or

Ashby,

is

where a

(Plates 5

feature,

At Martham Church

and helped

(Plate 13,)

is

Westminster Abbey Church has also some

Church, Norfolk, (Plate

shape, and finished with serpents' heads at the angles.

7,)

there

one of a triangular

is

The termination of the stancheon

in

the ironwork of the windows was occasionally ornamented, sometimes being finished with a

kind of fleur de

same

plate), or

lis,

as at

Rushden

(Plate 13), or with tracery heads as at Potterspury (in the

with a bunch of oak leaves and acorns, as at Eyworth Church, Bedfordshire,

or simply twisted as at Rothley, Leicestershire.

The few examples

that remain of the railings round

Some specimens

tick of the time of their erection.

Church.

The tomb of the Black Prince

enriched with various devices.

Queen

monuments,

of this kind are

at Cantei'buiy also

Eleanor's

though removed

When enriched with

better to

show

tracery, a piece of crimson cloth

;

this cloth

retains

preserved in Arundel
its

original railing

pi'otected

by a most

and flowers, peculiar to the

fi'om its proper position, this

off the design of the foliations

still

tomb was formerly

costly and elaborate piece of metalwork, consisting of scrolls

period (1292)

are generally characteris-

beautifiil

work of

was frequently placed between the door and the

sometimes remains.

art

still

plate, the

METALWORK.

remains in the Abbey.

The doors

into tiie

Chantry

of iron bolted together at each intersection

preservation in St. Alban's

the same plate

is

ot

103

Henry

V., were formed of cross bars

a screen of this description remains in good

Abbey Church, a portion of which

is

hi

represented in Plate 13.

given another piece of screen work also fi'om St. Alban's.

In thus bringing the Analysis to a close, w^e will candidly admit that our researches have
ftirnished us

with

many more

subjects that

we would most

gladly have transferred to

its

pages, had our prescribed limits pei'mitted.

For the sake of various beautiful examples, we would fain have extended our work into
greater detail

and more elaborate

illustration,

but we have borne in mind the terms of our

prospectus, and have endeavoured to adhere to

session of the

most voluminous

something more than books

title,

is

collection of

necessary.

it

Examples
Let him

will

never

who would

make

inquirer

Church, however unpretending, but

;

will

furnish

" Yet do the structures of our fathers' age

the weak efforts of art's latest stage."

THE END.

pos-

Church Architect

there

some information

for,

Shame

tlie

aspire to the honourable

go and minutely examine and study the Buildings themselves

village

Besides,

as closely as possible.

is

hardly

to the diligent

SECTION

iflMt

^^

PLATE

Tvcalgl

^a,ft

o^

ChaneeZ

Darent

Ciurei

AN ANALYSIS

OF

JCunt

GOTHICK

ARCHITECTURE.

fef?
SECTION

PLATE

I,

*So^^Z

^oor

pram

/'Saru

Jtfmja.aien.

Courch

Hfal&ri

C-lcucfT^pTjinTe

u4rc6

-meuLdinf-r

/'A'" scale

Scale

."

1^

AN ANALYSIS OF

GOTHICK A RGHlTEaTU

fcE.

4.

SECTION

kmm s/^

I.

from

'S'J

PLATE

Mary J^a^daitn^s C* Wooften

Clatter sf^rj'hire.

from Waliham

AUioti

CAupcA, fsict.

f/-om 4'f ^ll-ak'^ Ahbe^

Cf*

J/cr/t

mwmmfi

AN ANALYSIS OF

COTHICK

ARCHITECTURE

S.

SECTION

Sechon

PLATE

I.

/"

arci

moulaings,

^ ^caif

Section

iS'euih f^ntTance io

AN ANALYSIS OF

SfTnhrtija/jani

Church. Ijinctlnshirf

G-OTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

oj

taviD

mould. L scale.

6.

SECTION

PLATE

AN ANALYSIS

OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE

SECTION

^\m\

I.

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*fcelsoH

^ioa/(/cn^-s

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SECTION
plate:

AH AHALVSIS

OF

COTHICK

ARCHITECTURE.

SECTION

Mm\
I

J*ol'^-e

/rv/M

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ANALYSIS

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PLATE

S'uJ'-i'cx.

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ARCHITECTURE:.

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AN ANAD'SIS

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PLATE

Ornaaunl

OF GOTHIC K ARCHITECTURE.

rcand

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^/,

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an

ixei.

J.

,-^S*^.

SECTION.

PLATE

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AN

ANALYSIS

OF

GOTHICK

jli-r/e,

ARCHITECTURE

SA>/f<r Pegr/j

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SECXI ON

plate:
.

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o/

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AN

ANALYSIS

OF

COTHICK

CH T C CT U
I

2.

SECTION

PLATE

P/^csij deer.

S.tJ! C^ariee/

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C/jurcAi

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ni B. ^ft

19^3
fctft ofi

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AN

ANALYSIS

OF

GOTHICK

y^"-

ARCHITECTURE

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ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE

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^yf^''^''*-'^'

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AN ANALYSIS

jferlioR

ir

II

iJ_l_l

i
I

of -Pucina .from Wivtlifi'eU ttarei

fl
I

-A

OF C-OTHICK ARCHITECTURE

Stttrtx

South Cka.pti
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6.

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AN ANALYSIS OF

&OTHICK ARCHITECTURE

8.

SECTION

PLATE 1:

7>y.i/

AN

ANALVSI5 OT

Ea^t

GOTHICK

of

Chancel.

ARCHITECTURE.

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PLATE

AN ANALYSIS OF COTHICK ARCHITECTURE

10.

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AN ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

PLATE

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SECTION

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AN

AN AUYSrS or GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

on

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tilp

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Windoa,

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SutMk
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AN ANALYSIS OF GOTHiCK ARCHITECTURE.

on line

C.C,

7J

SECTION

ah

I.

^uitrC'Tser

(mm Chancel

of

Aaudon. C%

S'utfolk

PLATE

^ttTlTCj-jes, hrcru

AN ANALYSIS OF GOTHICK ARCHITECTURE.

Little

M^nham

Ch.S'uffolk-

/^.

SECTION

pip Mfe|!A4"^

I.

PL-\TE

Section

o/(

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the

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