How to Visit the English CathedralsSingleton, Esther
History
How to Visit the English Cathedrals
Singleton, Esther
Cathedrals -- England
“The WEST FRONT consists of an eight-light canopied Perpendicular
window, with a band of elaborate tracery succeeded by ordinary
tracery of the period in the head, set between two banded octagonal
turrets, which are battlemented. The west door is peculiar; it
consists of an arch under a square head, with foliated spandrels
and a range of angels in the mouldings, deeply recessed under a
larger arch with another square head. On each side are four
crocketed niches, with pedestals denuded of their statues. To the
west is a four-light canopied window, under a panelled band and
flanked by a rich but empty niche on either side.
“The door of the SOUTH PORCH is Tudor with two-light, square-headed
windows and a canopied niche, and an intervening rich band. The
windows of the aisles and clerestory of the nave are Perpendicular;
the parapet is shallow. The SOUTH TRANSEPT, as long as the choir
and as broad as the nave, has a Perpendicular clerestory and south
windows, the former of four lights and with two transoms. The
windows of the aisle are Late Decorated and of four lights
separated by buttresses. This description applies to the south side
of the choir, but the aisles are extended within one bay of the
east end of the Lady-chapel, which has Perpendicular windows; the
great east window is of the same date. Traces of Early English
architecture appear in the north side of the choir and
Chapter-house. The north window of the transept and windows of the
nave are Perpendicular.”--(Wal.)
We can enter, as we prefer, by the west door, or the south porch. The
=Nave= is uninteresting. It consists of six bays, the piers are groups of
attached shafts terminating in foliage capitals. The roof is modern.
Decorated windows light the =South aisle=. The =North aisle= contains some
old Norman work. Here we find an ancient Italian font, presented in
1885, and an old piece of tapestry that has been in the Cathedral since
1668.
The =North transept= is small, owing to the monastic buildings on this
side. Here we find Norman work. Some of the windows exhibit
Perpendicular tracery. The roof is Perpendicular.
Until 1881 the =South Transept= was, as we have said, the Parish Church of
St. Oswald. It has Decorated windows. Perpendicular windows light the
west aisle.
We now enter the =Choir=. The screen is modern and by Sir G. Scott.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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