How to Visit the English CathedralsSingleton, Esther
History
How to Visit the English Cathedrals
Singleton, Esther
Cathedrals -- England
“This is a series of trefoil headed arcades of three mouldings,
resting on slender Early English shafts, each spandrel having been
filled with carvings which take high rank among the best of the
English school of the Thirteenth Century. They have now been, to a
great extent, restored (by Boulton), and many, including all at the
east end, are entirely new. The best of the old ones are figured by
Aldis; and the most interesting, whether entirely ancient or partly
restored, are as follows, starting from the west wall of the
south-eastern transept:
“Two crusaders fighting a lion. A centaur. An angel weighing a
soul, and the devil pulling down the scale. Devils roasting a soul
in hell. The Jaws of Death. A body borne to burial. Expulsion of
Adam and Eve. An angel leading a righteous soul to heaven. The dead
rising from coffins. Christ enthroned. The archangel blowing the
last trump. An angel holding a cross.
“_South Aisle._--Two monks building. A queen instructing an
architect. Two monks discussing plans. A devil with bird’s claws,
riding on a man’s shoulders. The Crucifixion.
“_Lady-Chapel._--Centaur and crusader. Prophets and Bible subjects
(modern), grotesque.
“_North Aisle._--Bishop offering a model of the cathedral at an
altar (perhaps Bishop Henry de Blois, d. 1236). The Annunciation.
The Visitation. The Nativity.
“_North Transept._--Old Testament subjects. A bishop. A monk
chastising a novice.”--(E. F. S.)
The tracery of the windows in the choir aisles and the Lady-Chapel is
modern, patterned on Early English models. The entire east wall is
modern. The window consists of five lights in two tiers. The glass dates
from 1860 and represents the _Crucifixion_ and the _Ascension_.
In the south aisle of the Lady-Chapel we notice one of the finest
effigies in the building. It is a Fourteenth Century lady, whose left
hand holds the cord of her cloak. A little dog lies at her feet. It is
interesting to compare this with another unknown effigy of a lady of the
Thirteenth Century in the north aisle of the Lady-Chapel. The left hand
holds a glove.
In front of the altar and on the floor of the Lady-Chapel are the
effigies of =Bishop William de Blois= (died 1236) and his successor =Bishop
Walter de Cantelupe= (died 1265). The latter is in higher relief than the
former and was originally set with gems. In the north aisle we must also
note the large effigy of =Sir James de Beauchamp=, in complete armour with
surcoat and long shield of Henry III.’s reign. Beneath the reredos lies
the richly robed figure of =Hawford=, Dean of Worcester in 1553-1557. On
the south side lies =William, Earl of Dudley=, in white marble on arches
of alabaster. The Lady-Chapel is of the same date as the choir.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account