The Principles of Gothic Ecclesiastical Architecture, Elucidated by Question and Answer, 4th ed.Bloxam, Matthew Holbeche
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The Principles of Gothic Ecclesiastical Architecture, Elucidated by Question and Answer, 4th ed.
Bloxam, Matthew Holbeche
Architecture, Gothic -- England; Church architecture -- England
A. They are either semicircular, or triangular-arched headed, but the
former are more common. In those, apparently the most ancient, the
voussoirs or arched heads are faced with large flat bricks or tiles,
closely resembling Roman work. Doorways of this description are to be met
with in the old church, Dover Castle; in the church of Brixworth,
Northamptonshire; and on the south side of Brytford Church, Wiltshire. The
doorway, however, we most frequently meet with in Anglo-Saxon remains, is
of simple yet peculiar construction, semicircular-headed, and formed
entirely of stone, without any admixture of brick; the jambs are
square-edged, and are sometimes but not always composed of two long blocks
placed upright, with a short block between them; the arched head of the
doorway is plain, and springs from square projecting impost blocks, the
under edges of which are sometimes bevelled and sometimes left square.
This doorway is contained within a kind of arch of rib-work, projecting
from the face of the wall, with strips of pilaster rib-work continued down
to the ground; sometimes this arch springs from plain block imposts, or
from strips of square-edged rib-work disposed horizontally, and the jambs
are occasionally constructed of long and short work.
[Illustration: Anglo-Saxon Doorway, St. Peter’s Church,
Barton-upon-Humber.]
Q. Mention the names of churches in which doorways of this description are
preserved?
A. The south doorways of the towers of the old church at
Barton-upon-Humber and of Barnack Church, the west doorway of the tower of
Earls Barton Church, the north and south doorways of the tower of Wooten
Wawen Church, Warwickshire, the east doorway of the tower of Stowe Church,
Northamptonshire, the north doorway of the nave of Brytford Church,
Wiltshire, and the north doorway of the nave of Stanton Lacey Church,
Salop, though differing in some respects from each other, bear a general
similarity of design, and come under the foregoing description.
[Illustration: Belfry Window, north side of the Tower of Wyckham Church,
Berks.]
Q. How are we able to distinguish the windows of the Anglo-Saxon style?
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