The Seven Periods of English Architecture Part 4

The CAPITALS consist still of a square block, moulded down to the circular form below; with this difference, however, that the lower part of the capital is hollowed down to the circle, instead of being left as in the Norman Period, full and round; the latter showing a _convex_, and the former a _concave_ profile. Both the larger and the smaller Capitals have also very frequently an ornament peculiar to the Period, which consists of a small volute, forming the curled end of a plain leaf, which enfolds the bell of the Capital. This volute may be looked upon as one of the most characteristic features of the Period. The abacus of the capital is invariably square in plan, and has its upper edge (except in a few of the latest examples) also square in section.

In the later buildings of the Period, foliage, exhibiting considerable freedom of design, is occasionally to be seen.

The _Pointed Arch_ first made its appearance in the Transitional Period; in the earlier buildings it is used in the _Arches of Construction_ only, or those const.i.tuting the framework of the building, such as the Pier-arches and the Arches of the Vaulting, and of the Crossing; whilst the Circular Arch is used in the _Arches of Decoration_ only, or those which may be said to const.i.tute the panel-work, such as the windows, the arcades, the doorways, and such like. In the later buildings of the Period, however, the Pointed Arch is frequently found in some of the smaller arches also.

The PIER-ARCHES, therefore, are almost invariably pointed, in the earlier examples obtusely, and in the later examples often acutely; the mouldings, which have become much lighter, are few and plain; carrying usually a roll, or a pear-shaped moulding, at the angle of each order of the arch: they frequently have no HOOD-MOULDING. All the usual rich ornaments of the Norman Style disappear, but the Chevron occurs occasionally, and another ornamental moulding somewhat resembling it, but peculiar to this Period, is frequently seen.

The STRING-COURSES do not usually carry any ornament, and have commonly a simple section peculiar to the Period.

The VAULTING or ROOF-SHAFT has usually a pear-shaped section.

The TRIFORIUM-ARCADE has usually Circular Arches, but in the later examples the two forms of arch are frequently intermixed. The Shafts are of a much lighter character, and carry arches of simple mouldings.

The Pointed Arch, if found anywhere in the arches of Decoration, is generally to be seen in the CLERE-STORY, the highest part of the building, and consequently the latest in point of construction.

Plain pointed quadripart.i.te VAULTING not unfrequently covers the side-aisles, and sometimes the centre-aisle.

The contrast presented by the discriminate use of the two forms of arch before mentioned, is sometimes strikingly exhibited in the side-aisles, where it is by no means uncommon to find a large plain circular window placed immediately under an acutely pointed wall rib, forming part of the contemporaneous pointed VAULTING of the side-aisle.

PRINc.i.p.aL BUILDINGS

OF

THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.

MALMESBURY Abbey Church Nave.

NORTHAMPTON St. Sepulchre's Church Nave.

FOUNTAINS Abbey Church Transepts, Nave.

KIRKSTALL Abbey Church Choir, Transepts, Nave.

BUILDWAS Abbey Church Choir, Transepts, Nave.

KELSO Abbey Church West Transept.

ELY Cathedral Church West Transept.

PETERBOROUGH Cathedral Church West Transept.

ST. CROSS Abbey Church Choir, Transepts.

FURNESS Abbey Church Transepts, Nave.

LONDON Temple Church Nave.

RIPON Cathedral Church Choir, Transepts, Nave.

BRINKBURN Cathedral Church Choir, Transepts, Nave.

LLANTHONY Abbey Church Choir, Nave.

OXFORD Cathedral Church Choir, Transepts, Nave.

DURHAM Cathedral Church Galilee.

ROCHE Abbey Church Choir, Transepts, Nave.

NEW Sh.o.r.eHAM Abbey Church Choir, Transepts.

SELBY Abbey Church Nave.

BYLAND Abbey Church Choir, Transepts, Nave.

JEDBURGH Abbey Church Nave.

HARTLEPOOL Parish Church Chancel, Nave.

GLAs...o...b..RY Abbey Church Choir, Transepts, Nave.

GLAs...o...b..RY Abbey Church St. Joseph's Chapel.

CANTERBURY Cathedral Church Choir.

CANTERBURY Cathedral Church Trinity Chapel, Becket's crown.

CHICHESTER Cathedral Church Choir, North Chapel.

WELLS Cathedral Church Transepts, Nave.

CHAPTER VII.

LANCET PERIOD.

PRINc.i.p.aL CHARACTERISTIC.

THE LANCET WINDOW USED SINGLY, IN COUPLETS AND TRIPLETS, AND ARRANGED IN GROUPS OF FOUR, FIVE, AND SEVEN.

_Exterior Compartment._

The b.u.t.tRESSES have considerable projection, are divided into stages, and have usually a plain pyramidal capping, and sometimes a plain pinnacle.

The BASE-COURSE Has also more projection and importance, and its upper members are frequently moulded.

FLYING-b.u.t.tRESSES often span the roof of the side-aisle to support the main vaulting.

The WINDOWS in the earliest examples stand alone as single windows; they are also sometimes placed singly in a continuous arcade; later still in triplets under one arch, the centre one being the tallest, and in some instances two lancets are coupled under one arch,--the spandrel between them being frequently pierced with a quatrefoil, or other opening.

The PARAPET has occasionally sunk ornaments upon it, and is carried by a cornice having a few deep mouldings, with a flower, or other ornament at intervals, or by a trefoiled Corbel-table, or by a series of blocks.

_Interior Compartment._

The PIERS consist most commonly of a cl.u.s.ter of shafts, disposed in a circular form. These shafts sometimes stand entirely free, and surround a large circular or octagonal column, and are banded in the middle.

The CAPITALS have sometimes one or two rows of stiff projecting leaves, of a bulbous form, which appear to grow out of the neck of the capital, and sometimes a single or double series of minute deeply cut mouldings; the square form of capital, both in the plan and in the upper edge of the abacus, entirely disappears.

The BASES consist almost invariably of a deep small hollow, set between two rounds, standing on a square-edged plinth; and greatly resemble the ordinary Attic base.

The PIER-ARCHES usually show three orders, of small deeply cut mouldings of alternate rounds and hollows, the number and depth of which give an exceedingly rich and characteristic appearance to all the arches of this Period. The peculiar ornament called the _dog-tooth_, which is formed by hollowing out the sides of a series of contiguous pyramids notched out of an angular projection, occurs constantly in the arch-mouldings, as well as in almost every other part of buildings where an opportunity of carving it presents itself.

The HOOD-MOULDING, resting on small and elegant heads or bosses, is an almost invariable accompaniment of arches of every description.

The VAULTING-SHAFT sometimes rises from the floor in front of the princ.i.p.al Pier,--but more usually from a corbel-shaft, resting on a large ornamental corbel, placed immediately over the pier; it consists generally of a triple cl.u.s.ter of small elegant shafts, with hollows between them.

The TRIFORIUM-ARCH generally covers two smaller arches; but occasionally, a pair of princ.i.p.al Triforium-arches cover two pair of subordinate arches, which are sometimes plain, and sometimes trefoiled; the spandrel wall above them being ornamented with foliage, or a sunk trefoil, and sometimes pierced through with a quatrefoil or other opening. Sometimes, indeed, one large primary arch covers two secondary arches, which again contain two small tertiary arches; thus fully developing the principle of subordination in this part of the building.

The princ.i.p.al TRIFORIUM-PIERS generally exhibit a row of light shafts on the face of a solid pier, carrying arch-mouldings of three orders, and separated sometimes by a line of dog-tooth moulding, or stiff foliage.