DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47334#0082
56
ok the Borman architecture, but a most instructive series ok examples, illustrating
tbe gradual orange ok st^le which toob place during the reigns ok the three iirst
Henries, till b^ degrees tlie pointed arch had completely superseded tlie semicircle ;
and tlie lieav^ clusters ok tlie Norman pillars liad been polislied into tlie light slrakts
ok tlie earl^ Lnglisli."
'Do Nr. 5^)/r-r we are indebted more kor an enthusiastic attachment to the
ecclesiastical architecture ok our country, and to a chivalrous real in maintaining its
superiority, than kor judgement or discrimination. Dis published illustrations ok
" the Ancient Architecture ok England," and " 8pecimens ok 8culpture and
tainting," are highly usekul and valuable; but the uninitiated antiquary must not rel^'
on an^ ok his dates, respecting Norman edifices, nor on the ages he assigns to earl>
buildings, ^.mong man^ other instances ma^ be noticed bis representation ok the
remains ok the west kront ok the church ok 8t. Augustin, Oanterbur^, which he sa^s
was erected in 605; although the true date ok that building was 1080, as stated bv
Dr. Nilner, and as ma^ be proved b^ satisfactory evidence. Hie nave ok Nalmes-
bur^ ^.bbe^ cburcb, be asserts, is ok tbe date ok 607 ; but we have strong reasons
to conclude that it is ok an age subsequent to the Norman Oonquest. 'Dhe Dointed
arch st^le, he more rationally supposes, arose " krom the common changes attendant
on all scientific pursuits," and was not introduced into Lngland krom tlie east.
Nr. opinion on the source ok the Debited stzde coincides with that
advanced b^ Dr. Nilner; but man^ parts ok bis " Nunimenta ^.ntiqua," respecting
architecture, evince grievous debcienc^ ok taste and judgement, although supported
b^ much misdirected learning. De conceives that the porticoes ok the churches ok
Darkreston, and ok 8t. Nargaret's, Olilk, in Lent, and ok Nalmesbur^ ^bbe^, in
Wiltshire, were built as earl^ as the eighth century ! 8peabing ok the intersecting
arches which ornament the churches ok I'ewbesbur^, in Gloucestershire, and
^Vinburn, in Dorsetshire, he sa^s, " it was undoubtedly this sort ok intersection that
iirst gave the idea ok the pointed arch, long bekore the pointed arch was brought
into general usewhich he supposes to have been about tbe reign ok Ling
8tephen. Dut, in a lew instances, be conceives, that this bind ok arch ma^ be
kound in 8axon edifices raised long bekore that period.
Dr Lbr/e-", in an essa^ already mentioned, has brought within a small compass
much discriminating information on church architecture in general, and on the
" NunilnsntL vol. iv. 1805, pp. 72 ao8 80.
ok the Borman architecture, but a most instructive series ok examples, illustrating
tbe gradual orange ok st^le which toob place during the reigns ok the three iirst
Henries, till b^ degrees tlie pointed arch had completely superseded tlie semicircle ;
and tlie lieav^ clusters ok tlie Norman pillars liad been polislied into tlie light slrakts
ok tlie earl^ Lnglisli."
'Do Nr. 5^)/r-r we are indebted more kor an enthusiastic attachment to the
ecclesiastical architecture ok our country, and to a chivalrous real in maintaining its
superiority, than kor judgement or discrimination. Dis published illustrations ok
" the Ancient Architecture ok England," and " 8pecimens ok 8culpture and
tainting," are highly usekul and valuable; but the uninitiated antiquary must not rel^'
on an^ ok his dates, respecting Norman edifices, nor on the ages he assigns to earl>
buildings, ^.mong man^ other instances ma^ be noticed bis representation ok the
remains ok the west kront ok the church ok 8t. Augustin, Oanterbur^, which he sa^s
was erected in 605; although the true date ok that building was 1080, as stated bv
Dr. Nilner, and as ma^ be proved b^ satisfactory evidence. Hie nave ok Nalmes-
bur^ ^.bbe^ cburcb, be asserts, is ok tbe date ok 607 ; but we have strong reasons
to conclude that it is ok an age subsequent to the Norman Oonquest. 'Dhe Dointed
arch st^le, he more rationally supposes, arose " krom the common changes attendant
on all scientific pursuits," and was not introduced into Lngland krom tlie east.
Nr. opinion on the source ok the Debited stzde coincides with that
advanced b^ Dr. Nilner; but man^ parts ok bis " Nunimenta ^.ntiqua," respecting
architecture, evince grievous debcienc^ ok taste and judgement, although supported
b^ much misdirected learning. De conceives that the porticoes ok the churches ok
Darkreston, and ok 8t. Nargaret's, Olilk, in Lent, and ok Nalmesbur^ ^bbe^, in
Wiltshire, were built as earl^ as the eighth century ! 8peabing ok the intersecting
arches which ornament the churches ok I'ewbesbur^, in Gloucestershire, and
^Vinburn, in Dorsetshire, he sa^s, " it was undoubtedly this sort ok intersection that
iirst gave the idea ok the pointed arch, long bekore the pointed arch was brought
into general usewhich he supposes to have been about tbe reign ok Ling
8tephen. Dut, in a lew instances, be conceives, that this bind ok arch ma^ be
kound in 8axon edifices raised long bekore that period.
Dr Lbr/e-", in an essa^ already mentioned, has brought within a small compass
much discriminating information on church architecture in general, and on the
" NunilnsntL vol. iv. 1805, pp. 72 ao8 80.