The Somerset CoastHarper, Charles G. (Charles George)
History
The Somerset Coast
Harper, Charles G. (Charles George)
Somerset (England) -- Description and travel
The great church of Dunster, whose choir was in ruins until Mr. Luttrell
undertook its restoration, about 1856, contains tombs of the Luttrells
and others, and a very fine rood-screen. It is quite in character with
the legendary and often muddled character of local history in England
that the altar-tomb and alabaster effigies of Sir Hugh Luttrell and his
wife, 1428, the first Luttrells of Dunster, were until recent times
always shown as those of Sir John and Lady Mohun.
A curious example of architectural adaptation is to be seen here, in a
fifteenth-century enlargement of an Early English doorway, by which the
jambs were cut back for some two-thirds of its height, leaving the upper
part as before. This “shouldered” arch, as architects would technically
style it, forms a striking object.
One of the finest views of Dunster church is that in which, looking from
the south, you get the great tower rearing majestically above the
churchyard, and in the foreground the ancient alcove in the churchyard
wall, formerly the home of the stocks.
Some sweet chimes play from the old tower, at one, five and nine p.m.,
daily; with a change of tune for every day of the week. Sunday, “O, Rest
in the Lord”; Monday, “Drink to Me only with Thine Eyes”; Tuesday,
“Home, Sweet Home”; Wednesday, “Disposer Supreme”; Thursday, “The Blue
Bells of Scotland”; Friday, “The old 113th Psalm”; and Saturday, “Hark,
hark! my Soul.”
[Illustration: DUNSTER CHURCH, FROM THE SOUTH, SHOWING OLD ALCOVE IN
CHURCHYARD WALL FOR THE STOCKS.]
Not many visitors climb to the belfry chamber of Dunster church: the
wealth of interest in Dunster makes too great a demand upon their
energies for every corner to be explored; and as a rule, the interior of
one belfry is very like that of another. There are the usual pendant
bell-ropes, a few chairs, two or three oil lamps with tin reflectors,
and various notice-boards of the Incorporated Society of Bell-Ringers,
setting forth the appalling number of “grandsire triples” and
“bob-majors” rung by those misguided persons who are so deaf to music
that they consider bell-ringing to be harmonious. Education cannot be
yet very far advanced while the barbarism of ringing church-bells for an
hour at a stretch can be permitted these few fanatics, to the discomfort
of the many; and justice and consistency are outraged at the ringing of
the perambulating muffin-man’s tinkling bell being held an illegal
nuisance, while tons of heavy metal are permitted to be set in motion in
church-towers, to the misery of villagers and townsfolk, who have,
apparently, no legal remedy.
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