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
The design first seen in the transition Norman portion of each bay of
the nave--one arch below, two in the triforium, and three in the
clerestory, (see § IV.)--was followed in this Early English work, as it
was in all the later portions of the cathedral. The octangular piers of
the choir have large shafts of Purbeck marble, alternating with white
stone; the Purbeck shafts ringed half way up. The shafts have foliaged
capitals; and the dog-tooth ornament is used (as at Salisbury) in the
mouldings of the main arches. The triforium in each bay consists of two
large arches, each enclosing two smaller, divided by a slender shaft,
with a plain capital of Purbeck. The groups of shafts between and at the
sides of the larger arches have capitals of leafage worked in oolite,
with Purbeck above. In the spandrils or tympana above the small central
shafts are sculptured figures. At the back of the outer triforium arches
is a wall, covered by an arcade with semi-detached shafts, so arranged
that the crowns of the arches are nearly on a level with the capitals of
the shafts in the main arcade. A very rich and intricate effect is thus
produced, which may be compared with that of the double arcades in the
choir-aisles of Lincoln Cathedral,--in all probability part of St.
Hugh’s work. The triforium passage itself, which extends over the
aisles, is shut out, by this arcaded wall, from the choir, which was no
doubt rendered much warmer by this arrangement. The clerestory has in
each bay three sharply-pointed arches; that in the centre being much
higher than the two others, with slender shafts and capitals of Purbeck
marble. The windows at the back, which had been filled with mean
Perpendicular tracery, have been restored to their original Early
English condition. A single vaulting-shaft of Purbeck rests on a
corbelled head at the intersection of the main arches, and terminates
in a capital of leafage at the base of the triforium. A second shaft
rises through the triforium stage, and terminates in a small capital at
the base of the clerestory. The vaulting itself is quadripartite, with
carved bosses.
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