The New Forest: Its History and Its SceneryWise, John R. (John Richard)
History
The New Forest: Its History and Its Scenery
Wise, John R. (John Richard)
New Forest (England : Forest)
nothing remains except the fragments of the outer wall and the entrance
lodge, built by Draper, with his initials still carved on the window
label. A modern house stands on the site of the Refectory; and in
digging its foundations, some tombs of the fourth century were
found.[172] Other traces remain only in the names of the places, as
Paradise Walk, by the side of the mill stream, and the Convent meadows,
where, in an adjoining field, are the sites of the fishponds of the
brethren.
The church stands at the south-west of the town, on a rising ground
between the two rivers, its tower alike a seamark to the ships and a
landmark to the Valley. But the first thing which strikes the visitor is
not so much the tower, as the deep, massive north porch, standing right
out from the main building, reaching to its roof, with its high-recessed
arch, and its rich doorways dimly seen, set between clusters of black
Purbeck marble pillars, and ornamented above with a quatrefoiled niche.
Standing here, and looking along the north aisle, the eye rests on the
Norman work of the transept, the low round arches interlacing one
another, their spandrels rich with billet and fishscale mouldings;
whilst beyond rises the Norman turret, banded with its three
string-courses, and enriched with its arcades, the space between them
netted over with coils of twisted cables.
This is true Norman work, such as you can see scarcely anywhere else in
England. And imagine what the church once was—a massive lantern-tower
springing up from the midst, the crown of all this beauty.
Beyond all this lovely Romanesque work, rises the north choir aisle,
with its quatrefoiled parapet, whilst above gleam the traceried windows
of the choir, with their flying buttresses; and beyond them again stands
the Lady Chapel, surmounted by St. Michael’s loft, ugly and vile.
Entering, and standing at the extreme south-west end, we shall see the
massive Norman piers rise in long lines, lightened by their columns, and
relieved by their capitals, the spaces above each arch moulded with the
tooth ornament. Above springs the triforium with its double arches, some
of their pillars wreathed with foliage, the central shafts chequered in
places with network, and woven over with tracery. Above that again runs
the clerestory, now spoilt, whilst an open oak roof, hid by a ceiling,
but once rich with bosses and carved work, encloses all.
To go into details. The porch and north aisle are Early-English, whilst
a Norman arcade runs the whole length of the south aisle. The tower, and
choir, and Lady Chapel, are Perpendicular, and the nave, as far as the
clerestory windows, Norman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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