English Cathedrals Illustrated: Second and Revised EditionBond, Francis
History
English Cathedrals Illustrated: Second and Revised Edition
Bond, Francis
Cathedrals -- England; Cathedrals -- Wales
Another point should be noticed. Although the nave is in nearly all
important respects of late Geometrical design—the exception being some
Curvilinear windows with flowing tracery in the westernmost bays of the
nave—yet the architects were not such purists as to carry out their minor
work in anything but the style of their own day. Even in the choir, the
architecture of which is Geometrical both in character and in date, all
the minor work is developed Curvilinear—_e.g._, the great screen with its
depressed ogee arches, the throne of the bishop, the sedilia.
PERPENDICULAR WORK (1360-1485).—Much minor work remained to do. In the
remaining years of the fourteenth century the west front, which seems to
have been heeling over, was buttressed by the erection of the western
screen. The west and south walks of the cloisters were added. The great
east window was substituted for an earlier Geometrical one which seems
to have fallen into decay. In the fifteenth century the towers were
crowned with battlements and turrets, as we see them now. The upper part
of the chapter-house was rebuilt. Bishop Stafford erected canopies over
monuments in the Lady chapel.
TUDOR WORK (1485-1519).—The Tudor work is exceptional in importance.
It includes the north entrance and other late portions of the western
screen, two exquisite chapels, both built by Bishop Oldham—his own
chantry (St. Saviour’s) on the south side of the retro-choir, the Speke
chantry (St. George’s) on the north—and in addition, Prior Sylke’s
chantry in the north transept. All this work is admirable in design and
execution. In Oldham’s chantry is a charming series of owls, with the
scroll DAM, a rebus on his name, proceeding from the beak of each little
owl. To Bishop Oldham also (1504-1519) is due the grand set of stone
screens—one of the glories of the cathedral—no less than ten, which veil
all the nine chapels and Prior Sylke’s chantry, and add fresh beauty to
the beautiful choir.
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