“The Normans,” says “William of Malmesbury, “live in large edifices with economy. They _revived_ by their arrival the observances of religion, which were everywhere grown lifeless in England. You might now see churches rise up in every village, and monasteries in the towns and cities--all built after a style previously _unknown_ in this country.” It was soon after the renovation and introduction here mentioned, that the Abbey of <g>Llanthony</g>--though one of the smallest and least known of its class--sprang up in the desert, as a signal to many others, on a more extended and noble scale that quickly followed, and stamped their architectural character upon the age. It was most probably finished before the middle of the twelfth century--so prolific in ecclesiastical edifices. The style is of that period--designated as the transition from late Norman to early English, where the predominant features are Gothic--characterized by the pointed arch; by pillars which are so extended as to lose all trace of classical proportions; by shafts which are placed side by side, often with different thicknesses, and are variously clustered and combined.[342] This style is divided into three distinct periods--besides that of transition between the circular and pointed styles--which lasted through the greater part of the twelfth century, when the circular and pointed arches are frequently--as in the nave and south transept before us--used indiscriminately in the same building. The ornaments, although generally partaking of the earlier style, begin to be better executed, and more elaborate; and the general appearance of the building assumes a lighter character. The first style of Gothic in this country, <g>The Early English</g>, prevailed through the greater part of the twelfth century; and of this style the subject in question is one of the numerous examples that followed its introduction in every part of the kingdom. Among these the variations, in all save dimensions, are so slight and unimportant, that the description of almost any one monastic structure of that century applies to every other of the same style and period. We possess in the ruins of Llanthony a pure example of this style, unchanged by any subsequent additions or alterations; for as the Abbey became reduced both in numbers and revenues, immediately after the establishment of the Abbey at Gloucester, it shared in none of the changes introduced by the decorated style; but has continued to the present day what it was in the middle of the twelfth century. To account for the splendour of conventual churches in general, we have only to remember that personal expense or secular indulgence were highly culpable in a monk; and that whatever was expended in ornamenting the Church was glorifying GOD. * * * * *