DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6910#0016
ST. BOTOLPIl's CHURCH, ESSEX.
5
even those before, displaying a more advanced style of architecture ; as may be
seen in the ancient chapel of the Tower of London, in Rochester Castle, Cathedral,
&c. erected by Bishop Gundulph, and in parts of Durham Cathedral, built by
William de St. Carilepho, about 1093. The columns, mouldings of arches, and
general ornaments of all these structures, exhibit more skilful finishing. Mr. Carter
observes, that St. Botolph's Church was " erected about the end of the eleventh
century; and, like the Abbey Church at St. Albans, was built out of the ruins of
some neighbouring Roman edifice, with the same kind of materials, and much in the
same style, with this difference, that the column here is the principal feature."*
In examining and describing the remains of this structure, we remark that
simplicity and solidity seem to have been the governing principles of the architect.
The walls are thick, firm, and strong; externally supported or strengthened with a
kind of pilaster buttress, and in the western front, where the greatest height was
required, and weight given, its strength was increased by numerous arches con-
structed in the wall, like some in the Pantheon, and in other buildings, at Rome.
The tiers of intersecting arches, however, could not have been intended merely for
utility, but must have been appropriated and considered as ornamental. This is
more particularly apparent in the grand central entrance door-way, which had five
three-quarter columns on each side, supporting sculptured capitals, and springing
from these were five semi-circular mouldings of stone, four of which were cut into
the projecting zigzag shape, and the fifth, or outer, was a sort of plain torus moulding.
Two other door ways, with arched mouldings, wholly of brick, opened into the ailes ;
and between these and the central one are two blank arches. Above this tier
appear three others ; the two lower of which are ornamented with a series of inter-
secting arches springing from square piers. Each pier is composed of a double row
of Roman bricks, which, uniting at the point of intersection, forms the true pointed
arch. Some learned writers contend that the intersecting arch is not to be found in
any Roman, or pure Saxon building. Though not fully prepared to refute this
opinion, I think it not irrelevant to notice the following circumstance. In the
Gentleman's Magazine for 1801, p. 1161, is a description by R. Uvedale, accom-
panied by an engraving, of a Roman tesselated pavement, which was discovered at
Louth, in Lincolnshire. It is composed of circular compartments, one of which is
ornamented with a series of columns and intersecting arches, resembling those on
Ancient Architecture of England, part I. p. 17,
5
even those before, displaying a more advanced style of architecture ; as may be
seen in the ancient chapel of the Tower of London, in Rochester Castle, Cathedral,
&c. erected by Bishop Gundulph, and in parts of Durham Cathedral, built by
William de St. Carilepho, about 1093. The columns, mouldings of arches, and
general ornaments of all these structures, exhibit more skilful finishing. Mr. Carter
observes, that St. Botolph's Church was " erected about the end of the eleventh
century; and, like the Abbey Church at St. Albans, was built out of the ruins of
some neighbouring Roman edifice, with the same kind of materials, and much in the
same style, with this difference, that the column here is the principal feature."*
In examining and describing the remains of this structure, we remark that
simplicity and solidity seem to have been the governing principles of the architect.
The walls are thick, firm, and strong; externally supported or strengthened with a
kind of pilaster buttress, and in the western front, where the greatest height was
required, and weight given, its strength was increased by numerous arches con-
structed in the wall, like some in the Pantheon, and in other buildings, at Rome.
The tiers of intersecting arches, however, could not have been intended merely for
utility, but must have been appropriated and considered as ornamental. This is
more particularly apparent in the grand central entrance door-way, which had five
three-quarter columns on each side, supporting sculptured capitals, and springing
from these were five semi-circular mouldings of stone, four of which were cut into
the projecting zigzag shape, and the fifth, or outer, was a sort of plain torus moulding.
Two other door ways, with arched mouldings, wholly of brick, opened into the ailes ;
and between these and the central one are two blank arches. Above this tier
appear three others ; the two lower of which are ornamented with a series of inter-
secting arches springing from square piers. Each pier is composed of a double row
of Roman bricks, which, uniting at the point of intersection, forms the true pointed
arch. Some learned writers contend that the intersecting arch is not to be found in
any Roman, or pure Saxon building. Though not fully prepared to refute this
opinion, I think it not irrelevant to notice the following circumstance. In the
Gentleman's Magazine for 1801, p. 1161, is a description by R. Uvedale, accom-
panied by an engraving, of a Roman tesselated pavement, which was discovered at
Louth, in Lincolnshire. It is composed of circular compartments, one of which is
ornamented with a series of columns and intersecting arches, resembling those on
Ancient Architecture of England, part I. p. 17,