How to Visit the English CathedralsSingleton, Esther
History
How to Visit the English Cathedrals
Singleton, Esther
Cathedrals -- England
The Cathedral went through the fate of all English cathedrals in the
Nineteenth Century; and finally, in 1870, a thorough restoration was
undertaken by Dean Liddell and Sir Gilbert Scott, whose conservative
alterations and restorations of windows, etc., have brought all the
parts of the Cathedral into harmony. The windows of Burne-Jones are a
great addition to the charm of the interior.
“The whole church is exceedingly interesting. It fills a niche in
the history of English architecture all by itself. It is not the
early and rude Traditional work of the Cistercians. On the other
hand, it has not yet the lightness and grace of Ripon; still less
the charm of the Canterbury choir, Chichester presbytery, Wells and
Abbey Dore--Gothic in all but name. In spite of a pointed arch here
and there, it is a Romanesque design.
“The work commenced, as usual, at the east, as is shown by the
gradual improvement westward in the designs of the capitals. The
evidence of the vaulting, too, points in the same direction. In the
choir-aisle the ribs are massive and heavy; in the western aisle of
the north transept they are lighted; in the south aisle of the nave
they are pointed and filleted.”--(F. B.)
Owing to its secluded position it is almost impossible to get a view of
the Cathedral; but the tower and spire can be seen from the cloisters.
The =Cloisters= line three sides of the square only, for the west side was
destroyed by Wolsey for the hall staircase, which is surmounted by the
=Bell Tower=, in which the bells from the Abbey of Oseney hang.
“From the same position at the west of the cloister one can enjoy
the best view of the tower and spire of the church. One is close
enough to see all the detail and yet from this angle nothing is
lost of the general effect. On a moonlit evening the effect is
particularly solemn and beautiful. From this point also should be
noticed the difference in the masonry of the south transept. The
lower story is entirely rubble, while the upper story is partly of
good ashlar work.
“On the south side of the cloister is the Old Library, as it is now
called, which was formerly the refectory of the monastery, and is
all that now remains of the conventual buildings. Its large
Perpendicular windows, rising like a clerestory above it, look on
to the cloister, but they were spoilt on the inside by a staircase,
when the building was turned into undergraduates’ rooms. On the
other side, facing the meadow buildings, there is a curious little
oriel window, its lights now walled up, that once contained the
pulpit whence the lessons were read during meals.”--(P. D.)
We may remember, as we stand here, that Cranmer was unfrocked in this
quadrangle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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