How to Visit the English CathedralsSingleton, Esther
History
How to Visit the English Cathedrals
Singleton, Esther
Cathedrals -- England
“It is filled with delicate and beautiful flowing tracery, which
has been compared to the fibres of a leaf. Rickman considers it to
be the richest remaining example of its period. It is enclosed
within a kind of arch formed by two rows of openwork quatrefoils;
an open frame-work of a similar nature is often to be seen round
circular windows in French cathedrals. The glass consists of
fragments from other windows, chiefly of the Early English period.
Although the pieces are placed quite at random, forming no subject
whatever, yet the effect of the colouring is good, especially when
seen from the opposite end of the transept. Of all the modern
windows in the minster, with their elaborate subjects, it may
safely be said that not one can be compared in effect with this
mass of glowing colour.”--(A. F. K.)
The four lancet windows below contain Early English glass, collected
from various parts of the Cathedral.
Near the Bishop’s Eye =John de Dalderby’s= shrine was situated. This was
of “massey silver” incrusted with diamonds and rubies. John de Dalderby,
Bishop of Lincoln from 1300 to 1320, was reverenced as a local saint.
Henry VIII. removed his altar-tomb, fragments of which may be seen near
the =Galilee Porch=, situated at the corner of the south arm of the
western transept, different in position to the Galilees of both Durham
and Ely. Lincoln’s was built about 1230 for the bishop’s state entrance.
The south and west ends are open; and it may, therefore, be entered from
either. Two enormous oak doors open from the east side into the
transept. The porch is vaulted and ornamented profusely with the
dog-tooth. The Perpendicular parapet running along the top of the porch
is, of course, a later addition.
Retracing our steps--no great hardship in a place of such beauty and
interest--we walk up the south-choir-aisle to the =Eastern Transept=,
where we have two semicircular chapels on the right hand, and on the
left the =Dean’s Chapel=. We are now at St. Hugh’s earliest work; and his
double arcading is again seen in the north wall leading to the
cloisters. Here also we find on two of the columns crockets that were
novelties at this period. They occur at Wells, the work of Jocelin. The
name of Dean’s Chapel is a misnomer--no one knows what it was used for
originally. It has been suggested that it was the original burial-place
of St. Hugh.
Two semicircular chapels also border the eastern side of the south end
of this transept, and the =Choristers’ Vestry= occupies the corresponding
corner to the Dean’s Chapel. A stone screen (Decorated) separates it
from the south aisle of St. Hugh’s Choir. The double arcading and
sculptured angels are constantly seen. Two other vestries lie beyond,
towards the south wall.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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