The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 2/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 2/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
The beauty of the vaulting of the central aisle is particularly
noticeable when contrasted with that of the side aisles. The eastern or
extended bay of the choir aisles, being new, has been vaulted with
groined vaulting in the same manner as the central aisle, but the old
portions of the aisles are vaulted with what nearly approaches to a
domical form (Fig. 840). Each bay has the usual transverse and diagonal
ribs, but the surfaces of the vault are domed up above the wall rib at
the side walls, so that the height to which the windows may be carried
is greatly reduced from what it might be with groined vaults, similar to
those of the central aisle. The difference of this style of vaulting
from the true groined vaulting used in the eastern compartment is most
marked, and its effect on the height of the windows is distinctly
observable in the different divisions of the aisles.
[Illustration: FIG. 838.--St. Giles’ Collegiate Church. Boss in Choir.]
[Illustration: FIG. 839.--St. Giles’ Collegiate Church. Cap of Vaulting
Shaft in Choir.]
The vaulting of the nave remained at this time unaltered at its
comparatively low level, and over the vault of the central aisle there
existed an attic story, which formed the house of the bell-ringer, and
contained several rooms. The vaulting of the aisles of the nave (as
above mentioned) had already been altered, and several chapels had been
extended northwards from the north aisle. These projected beyond the old
Norman porch, and thus placed it in a recess. The central crossing, with
its vault, was left unaltered, and still remains in the same position,
with its vaulting at the level it was raised to about 1400. It thus
forms a break between the nave and choir, in both of which the vault
has been raised (see Fig. 836).
[Illustration: FIG. 840.--St. Giles’ Collegiate Church. South Aisle of
Choir.]
3. The transepts were extended, their original length being marked by
breaks in the roof, where the vaulting terminates. The extension is
[Illustration: FIG. 841.--St. Giles’ Collegiate Church. Junction of
Vault of South Transept.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account