Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Durham: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Espiscopal SeeBygate, Joseph E. (Joseph Emanuel)
Religion
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Durham: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Espiscopal See
Bygate, Joseph E. (Joseph Emanuel)
Church of England. Diocese of Durham; Durham Cathedral
The #South Doorways.#--There are two doorways into the south aisle,
one, known as the Monks' Door, opening from the western portion of the
cloisters and immediately opposite the north porch just described. On
the cloister side this shows a Norman arch resting on double shafts,
which are enriched with a lozenge pattern. On the inner or aisle side
there are two orders, with shafts in the recesses, which are also
decorated with the lozenge. The inner arch is carved with chevrons, and
the outer with conventional foliage and medallions. The capitals are
richly carved with foliage and grotesques. On the abacus and arch of
this doorway occurs a leaf pattern strongly suggesting the Byzantine
influence which at one time was found in Norman decoration. Here again,
on the door itself, we have a fine specimen of very elaborate and
characteristic Norman iron-work. The second, known as the Priors' Door,
opens into the south aisle from the eastern alley of the cloister, is
also Norman. The outer or cloister side is of the time of Bishop Pudsey,
and has an arch of four orders, with three shafts in the recesses on
either side. Its once elaborate sculpture is now much decayed, not
enough remaining to suggest that in its original state this doorway must
have been a noble specimen of the architectural design of its period. On
the inner side it exhibits work of Carileph's time, with an early arch,
cushion capitals, and shafts.
[Illustration: Ornament On South Doorway.]
The #Western Doorway.#--The exterior of this great doorway is now within
the Galilee chapel. It was built by Flambard (1099-1128), and is
comparatively plain. On the Galilee side it consists of an arch of four
orders ornamented with chevrons. The inner face is very similar to the
outer, but is shallower, having only two orders. The shafts and capitals
are without decoration, and the arch ornamented with chevron and a leaf
pattern with medallions carved with grotesque animals. In order to
reopen this doorway and make a carriage road up to it, Wyatt proposed
pulling down the Galilee chapel.
[Illustration: The Cloister.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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