The Three Choirs: A Handbook to the Cathedrals of Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester: A Complete Description of the Buildings, a History of Each Diocese and Biographical Notices of the BishopsKing, R. J. (Richard John)
Religion
The Three Choirs: A Handbook to the Cathedrals of Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester: A Complete Description of the Buildings, a History of Each Diocese and Biographical Notices of the Bishops
In the chapel above the _south_ transept the Norman windows have been
replaced by Decorated, enriched with the ball-flower. The double piscina
in the small window, and the brackets for figures, with rich canopies,
are Decorated, and deserve notice. Looking toward the transept, the
manner in which it was re-cased is here readily seen. The circular
Norman arch of the triforium encloses a pointed arch, with shafts at the
angles. This arch is crossed by the ribs of the screen-work. In this
part of the triforium is preserved an ancient painting on panel,
representing the Last Judgment. It dates apparently from the end of the
fifteenth century, but is of no very great interest.
The massive piers of the triforium above the choir-aisle remain
unaltered. The arches are crossed with Perpendicular tracery. The
south-east chapel opens
[Illustration: PLANS OF TRIFORIUM AND CRYPT, GLOUCESTER.]
above the corresponding chapel in the aisle: it is plain Norman, with
late windows inserted.
The manner in which the east end of the choir was re-constructed, to
admit of the insertion of the great east window, and to allow of its
being wider than the original walls of the choir, is best seen from this
point. The eastern piers of the choir, and the portion of the triforium
above, were entirely removed; but the Norman eastern chapel
(corresponding to those south-east and north-east) was allowed to remain
entire, both in the triforium and below. The last bay of the choir was
extended laterally, so as to admit the light freely from the great
window; and as access to the eastern chapel was cut off by the removal
of the triforium, it became necessary to construct the passage at the
back of the window, known as the “Whispering Gallery.” Here three flying
buttresses should be remarked, which spring from the outer walls of the
cathedral at the bend of the apse, and meet in a point behind the wall
of the choir. These really sustain the weight above the triforium, so
that the slight Perpendicular pier below (§ XIII.) is not called upon to
do more than half the duty. In the Whispering Gallery much Norman
stone-work has been re-used--a practice of common occurrence throughout
the cathedral. Sound is transmitted through this gallery, which is 75
ft. long, 3 ft. wide, and 8 ft. high, in a remarkable manner. The lowest
whisper, or the slightest scratch with a pin, is distinctly heard from
one end to the other. The chapel into which it opens was part of the
Norman chapel, altered on the building of the Lady-chapel, into which
it looks. In it is a stone altar--perhaps that of the Norman chapel.
[Illustration: Chapel, Triforium]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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