Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of York: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Archi-Episcopal SeeClutton-Brock, A. (Arthur)
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of York: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Archi-Episcopal See
Clutton-Brock, A. (Arthur)
York Minster
#Monuments In The South Transept.#--In the eastern aisle is the tomb of
Archbishop de Grey, who died in 1255. This, one of the two or three
really fine monuments in the church, is Early English in style, and has
been very little damaged. It consists of an effigy, with a canopy
supported by nine pillars above it. The figure of the archbishop is
clothed in full canonicals. In his left hand is a crozier, and his right
is raised to bless. The feet trample on a dragon, into the mouth of
which enters the butt end of the crozier. On each side of the figure is
a shaft ornamented with bunches of leafage at regular intervals. Round
the head of the archbishop is a gable cusped with censing angels on each
side of it.
The pillars supporting the canopy have fine capitals, and above them are
cusped arches, with richly-carved scroll work in their spandrels. Above
is a further tier of arches, supported by short shafts, also having
beautiful capitals. Above these arches are gables covered with crockets,
and on the gables are elaborate finials. These finials are an addition
of the beginning of the century, and are of plaster. They are the work
of an Italian sculptor, Bernasconi by name, and, considering the
circumstances, are unusually good. Round the tomb is a railing,
presented by Archbishop Markham, also of the beginning of the century,
and of very poor design.
[Illustration: Effigy of Archbishop de Grey.]
To the south of this tomb is the large and elaborate modern monument to
Archdeacon Duncombe, which has nothing, either in workmanship or design,
to recommend.
To the north is the tomb of Archbishop Sewall de Bovill, who succeeded
Archbishop de Grey. His sepulchre, says Drake, was much frequented after
his death by the common people, who reported many miracles to be done at
it. The tomb consists of a plain slab of marble, with a cross upon it,
supported by twelve low pillars, with plain capitals, and trefoiled
arches.
#Monuments In The North Transept.#--In the eastern aisle of the north
transept is the beautiful tomb of Archbishop Greenfield, who died in
1315. This tomb belongs to the most fully-developed period of the
Decorated style. It is ornamented with arcading in front, with gables,
each partition divided by buttresses with pinnacles. Above it is a
canopy with a richly-foliated arch, and a gable with crockets,
terminating in an elaborately-carved finial, with a statue of the
archbishop in the act of benediction on the top. On each side are
buttresses, with elaborate pinnacles. The statue of the archbishop is a
modern addition. On the tomb itself are the remains of a brass. In 1735
this tomb was opened, and a ring discovered in it. Close to the tomb was
the altar of St. Nicholas; and the archbishop was buried in this
position because he died on the festival-day of that saint. This tomb is
also remarkable for the fact that the lunatic Martin hid himself behind
it, in 1829, before setting the minster on fire.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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