How to Visit the English CathedralsSingleton, Esther
History
How to Visit the English Cathedrals
Singleton, Esther
Cathedrals -- England
Fifteenth Centuries, yet it is from the ground to the roof the original
Norman building begun by Walkelyn. The extreme western part was rebuilt
by Edington, who began the transformation of the Nave from the Norman to
the Perpendicular, and continued by his successor William of Wykeham
(1366-1404).
At Wykeham’s death in 1404 the south side of the Nave was finished and
the north begun. The work was continued and finished by his successors,
Cardinal Beaufort and Bishop Waynflete (1404-1486). The arms on the
bosses of the vault of the nave are those of Wykeham, Cardinal Beaufort
and John of Gaunt (the latter’s father); the chained white hart is the
device of Richard II. and the lily that of Bishop Waynflete.
Students may compare the Nave of Winchester with the Choir of
Gloucester, which is also Norman in plan, “overlaid with a veneer of
masonry in the Pointed Style.” The Gloucester Choir is, however, of
later date, and instead of showing an amalgamation of the two styles, as
at Winchester, the Pointed is added to the Round-arched style.
The curious black basaltic stone =Font= was probably the gift of Bishop
Henry de Blois (1129-71), and some antiquarians think that it was
brought from Constantinople during the Second Crusade. The carvings
represent St. Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of children, and much
honoured by the Normans.
“Within the walls the most striking object of interest is
undoubtedly the famous Norman font of black basaltic stone, which
was probably placed in the church in the days of Walkelyn; it
portrays in bold if rude relief the life and miracles of St.
Nicholas of Myra. Next after the font may perhaps be noted the
fine carved spandrels, Fourteenth Century work, of the
choir-stalls, with the quaint _misereres_ of the seats; then Prior
Silkstede’s richly carved pulpit of the Fifteenth Century, and the
very interesting and valuable Renaissance panels of the pews, put
in by William Kingsmill, last prior and first dean, in 1540. The
chantries and tombs in this church are of unusual beauty and
interest.”--(G. W. K.)
At the west end of the north aisle a square stone gallery called the
tribune is part of Edington’s work. It was used as a =Minstrels’ Gallery=
on great occasions.
The nave =Pulpit= was a gift from New College, Oxford, in 1885.
In the north aisle there is a monumental brass in memory of =Jane Austen=,
the authoress, and near the south-west door are fixed the flags of the
97th Regiment and memorials of the Crimean War. The west window of the
south aisle is filled with stained glass to their memory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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