How to Visit the English CathedralsSingleton, Esther
History
How to Visit the English Cathedrals
Singleton, Esther
Cathedrals -- England
On the north side of the =Presbytery= we pause to look at the chantry =Tomb
of Abbot Parker=, where the carving of vine and grapes on the stone
screen is fine. The curious cross in the form of a growing tree at the
foot of the tomb is also striking. Parker, who died in 1539, was buried
elsewhere. Then we pass to the more famous =Tomb of Edward II.=, erected
by Edward III. The alabaster figure is probably the earliest of its kind
in England. The tomb was opened in 1855 to satisfy curiosity as to
whether the king was really buried there after his murder in Berkeley
Castle nearby.
“Though it awakens our recollection of a feeble-minded king, and
his barbarously brutal murder, it also compels our admiration at
the beauty of the work. It has been restored, renovated or
re-edified, but in spite of that, appeals to us from the wealth of
very highly ornate tabernacle work, the richness, and at the same
time the lightness and elegance of the whole. The details too are
well worth careful examination. It may be, judging from the
expression of the face, that there has been some attempt at
portraiture, but repair and restoration have practically made it
impossible to settle what would otherwise be an interesting
question. The superb canopy has suffered much at the hands of
restorers--e.g. in 1737, 1789, 1798 and in 1876.”--(H. J. L. J. M.)
The next monument is to =King Osric=, erected in “late dayes,” _i.e._ in
the time of Abbot Parker, whose arms are in the spandrels of the canopy
(1514-1539).
The Norman piers, cut away to receive the tomb, are decorated on their
capitals with the white hart chained and gorged, with a ducal coronet,
the device of Richard II. Osric is represented as clad in tunic, laced
mantle and a fur hood or collar, bearing the model of a church in his
left hand.
The next tomb westwards is, as Leland says, that of “=King Edward of
Caernarvon= (who) lyeth under a fayre tombe, in an arch at the head of
King Osric tombe.”
The transepts and ambulatory of the choir are usually entered through
the iron gateway in the south aisle of the nave.
These =Ambulatories=, or aisles, have nothing uncommon in their form or
arrangement below, but above occurs the great peculiarity of this
church. The upper range of chapels surrounding the Choir is perhaps not
to be met with in any other church in Europe.
Another peculiarity of the Choir is its six-light west window. This was
rendered necessary by the difference in height of the Nave and Choir;
for the vaulting of the choir is about twenty feet higher than that of
the Nave. The glass consists chiefly of patchwork from other windows in
the Cathedral. It represents a figure of our Lord, with angels on either
side. Below angels play musical instruments.
The =Triforium= of the Choir is considered by some critics the finest in
existence.
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