How to Visit the English CathedralsSingleton, Esther
History
How to Visit the English Cathedrals
Singleton, Esther
Cathedrals -- England
Effigies of bishops fill the four Decorated arched recesses on the south
wall of the =south-choir-aisle= and on the north wall, under an arch
opening to the choir, is the tomb of =Bishop De Lorraine=, or =Losinga=
(died 1095). Here is also the monument and tomb to =Bishop Mayhew=, of
Magdalen College (1504-1516); some old windows restored by Warrington;
and the famous =Map of the World=, one of the most valuable relics of
mediæval geography in existence. It was designed about 1314 by Richard
of Haldingham, a Lincolnshire monk. It was discovered more than a
hundred years ago under the floor of Bishop Audley’s Chapel.
The =South-east-transept=, between the retro-choir and the chapter-house,
opens into the latter. The style is in the main Decorated, though the
window tracery is later quite Flamboyant. One single octagonal pillar
separates it from its eastern aisle. From this transept a lovely view of
the Lady-Chapel can be enjoyed.
The peculiar darkness of the =Choir= is due to the arrangement of the
transepts, which prevents the admission of light except from the
clerestory.
“The main arches of the choir are of three orders, and spring from
massive composite piers, with broad, square bases. The capitals of
the semi-detached shafts are enriched with leafage and grotesque
heads. The _triforium_ in each bay consists of one wide Norman arch
circumscribing two smaller, divided by a central shaft, and
springing on either side from two massive semicircular piers, with
small capitals. Both outer and inner arches spring from these
piers. The capitals of the central shafts have square abaci, and
are enriched. The tympana of the outer arches are covered with
scallop, leaf and billet ornament. At the base of the triforium
runs a square string-course, enriched with minute carving. The
lozenge ornament prevails round the main arches of the choir, as
does the zigzag round those of the nave.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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