How to Visit the English CathedralsSingleton, Esther
History
How to Visit the English Cathedrals
Singleton, Esther
Cathedrals -- England
“There are two windows toward the east, the soffetes of which are
ornamented with a gigantic ball-flower; and the peculiar foliage on
some of the capitals should be remarked. Under each of the windows
was an altar, the steps and piscinæ of which remain. The altars
were separated by a screen, the marks of which were visible in the
old pavement. Between the chapel and the aisle the wall is pierced
by the peculiar arch of Abbot Knowle; and under it, in the
thickness of the wall, is an altar-tomb much ornamented and
containing five shields charged with the coats of the Berkeley,
Ferrers and De Quincey families. The tomb in its present state is
no doubt that of Thomas, Lord Berkeley (died 1321), whose wives
were of those families; but the lower part, with its very fine
foliage, is of Early English date, and may possibly have been
removed from another part of the church.”--(R. J. K.)
The =Lady-Chapel= is of the same date as the Choir. The east end was
rebuilt about 1280 and a window with geometrical tracery, consisting of
foliated circles, was inserted. Until 1895 it was used as a chancel. It
is 42 feet long and 32 feet broad and consists of two bays. It is
lighted by five windows. The central one is a Jesse window, and each of
the four side windows has a transom with rich tracery below. This rich
tracery we noticed from the street. In a good light relics of the
ancient painting on the walls, representing angels, each with a golden
nimbus, can be seen.
The =Reredos= of the Lady-Chapel is partly Abbot Knowle’s work and partly
Perpendicular. On the first bay of the south side are the =Sedilia=,
restorations of the original cut away to make room for an Elizabethan
tomb of =Sir John Young= and his family. They are in four divisions with
rich canopies of leafage supported by shafts of red serpentine.
The various recesses contain tombs and effigies of dignitaries of the
Cathedral, and, while the general lines of these recesses are similar,
there is much variety in the treatment of details.
The splendid =East Window= is pure Decorated and of great beauty in
tracery and design. Most of the glass is old, which adds another charm
to the lovely effect of the tracery. There is much beautiful silvery
white glass from which the brilliant colours sparkle with great effect,
and we have no difficulty in tracing the _Tree of Jesse_:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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