The Cathedral Church of Peterborough: A Description Of Its Fabric And A Brief History Of The Episcopal SeeSweeting, W. D. (Walter Debenham)
History
The Cathedral Church of Peterborough: A Description Of Its Fabric And A Brief History Of The Episcopal See
Sweeting, W. D. (Walter Debenham)
Peterborough Cathedral
The =Porch= and =Parvise= beneath the middle arch was inserted, as has
been previously stated, as a support to the two great piers. It is
vaulted in two bays, the first being of the same dimensions as the inner
width of the portico; the western bay (of the same size) thus reaches
beyond the two great piers, and the corner turrets and buttresses in all
project about seven feet. This gives a very substantial support to the
piers. The whole composition is very fine, and quite worthy of the great
portico to which it is an adjunct. It must be left to each spectator to
decide for himself if it improves or diminishes the effect of the
whole. It is of late Decorated date, highly enriched with profuse
carving. The staircase turrets, as well as the great window are
embattled. Possibly there may have been pinnacles now lost. The spaces
north and south, and within the portico, have tracery on the walls
similar to the window. The groining is very fine. One of the central
bosses has a representation of the Trinity. The Father is represented as
the Ancient of Days, with a Dove for the Holy Spirit above the shoulder,
and the figure of the Saviour on the Cross in front. Freemasons are
recommended to look for a special symbol which they alone can understand
and appreciate.
The floor of the portico is paved with gravestones, some apparently in
their original position. This place was at one time appropriated as a
burial place for the Minor Canons.[23] Some of the stones, however, are
of mediaeval date, and it can be seen where the brasses have been
wrenched from them: some of these have been used again for later
inscriptions. One stone bears an incised cross originally filled with
some coloured composition. Some of the marble wall-shafts had fallen,
and their places had been filled by stone substitutes. Others had been
cheaply replaced by wood. The stone shafts still remain, but the wooden
imitations have all been replaced by new marble which was specially
quarried for this reconstruction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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