north transept, and see the statues of statesmen in the distance, which
we shall examine later on. The northern rose window was also restored
several times in the eighteenth century, when it entirely lost its
original character under Dean Atterbury's energetic supervision. We are
told that he actually watched the workmen hewing {56} smooth the old
sculptures. Before his exile the Dean chose the subjects for the painted
glass, the colours of which, mellowed by time, compare favourably with
the modern lights below. From where we stand we can see one of the few
existing stone angels blowing trumpets, which formerly filled the
spandrels of the arches, and were part of the angelic choir all round the
church. The arcading immediately under the window still remains, but
lower down the architecture is completely ruined by two monstrous naval
monuments. The eastern aisle is cut off from the rest of the transept
and divided into three small chapels. The western is partially severed
from the main aisle by large cenotaphs.
We turn to the west and see the present choir, which stretches to the
organ screen. The stalls are of no artistic merit, and were designed in
part by Wyatt, early in the nineteenth century; later on they were added
to by Blore, who was also responsible, in 1848, for the wooden casing of
the ancient stone wall between choir and nave. Beneath the
black-and-white pavement, his own gift, lie the remains of Dr. Busby.
* * * * * *
[Illustration: View of the Choir and Nave, Looking West from the High
Altar]
* * * *
VIEW OF THE CHOIR AND NAVE, LOOKING WEST FROM THE HIGH ALTAR
From the high altar we look down to the west end, and see above the choir
screen the painted glass of the west window which was inserted in the
reign of George II. To our right is the tomb of Aymer de Valence, and
the smaller contemporary monument of the first bride ever married in the
Abbey, Aveline, Countess of Lancaster. In the foreground is the ancient
mosaic pavement, which was laid in the thirteenth century, when this part
of the church was built; and beyond the altar rails we see the
comparatively modern stalls of the choir and the still more recent organ
case. The pulpit marks the intersection of the sanctuary with the north
transept.
* * * * * *
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account