DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6910#0129
82
architectural antiquities.
called Grovebury, in this parish. Leighton market is said, by Messrs. Lysons, to
be be one of the most ancient in the county. *
The Cross at Glastonbury, Somersetshire, though a large, and extremely
curious structure of the kind, is scarcely noticed in the topographic annals of this
county: its history is, therefore, perhaps entirely lost, and its portrait, I believe, is
only preserved in the annexed print, and in another view published in Hearne and
Byrne's Antiquities. Since this drawing was taken (1802) the Cross has been suf-
fered gradually to fall in ruins, and about six months back, a part of the central
column only was standing.
There is something peculiarly unique in the shape and ornaments of this building.
A large column in the centre, running through the roof, and terminated with a naked
figure ; clustered columns at each angle, with odd capitals, bases, &c. and gables with
pinnacles of unusual shape, all unite to constitute this one of the eccentricities of
ancient building. From the time of the Norman Conquest, to the dissolution of the
English monasteries, the varied and progressive styles of architecture are satisfac-
torily defined, and a very general uniformity prevails in all the buildings of a parti-
cular era;f but the specimen before us differs from any thing I have yet met with.
Hearne, in his History of Glastonbury, Camden, Willis, and Stevens, are all silent
relating to this building. Hence I am inclined to believe that it was erected at a
time when English architecture was confounded and blended with such incongruity
of ornaments, as may not inaptly be termed the dis-order'd style. In the year 1802
I saw a mutilated inscription on it, with the date 1604, but cannot say that this al-
ludes to the time of its building. There were also some armorial bearings, carved
on different parts of it: among these was the arms (a cross between two cups) of
Richard Beere, the last abbot but one, who died in 1524.|
The building shewn in the back ground of the annexed print, now called the
George Inn, was formerly an hospital for the entertainment of pilgrims who resorted
to the abbey. Its front is curiously ornamented with arms, niches, &c. and had
formerly several statues. Some considerable ruins of the Abbey Church, Abbot's
* For the manorial and parochial history of this town, see Lysons' Magna Britannia : and a print of the
Cross, from a very accurate drawing by Mr. Alexander, is published in Byrne's Britannia Depicta, No. 1.
t This i hope and expect to illustrate in another part of the present work.
% The principal sketches and memorandums that i made at Glastonbury, in 1802, were unfortunately lost
during a journey through Devonshire in that year.
architectural antiquities.
called Grovebury, in this parish. Leighton market is said, by Messrs. Lysons, to
be be one of the most ancient in the county. *
The Cross at Glastonbury, Somersetshire, though a large, and extremely
curious structure of the kind, is scarcely noticed in the topographic annals of this
county: its history is, therefore, perhaps entirely lost, and its portrait, I believe, is
only preserved in the annexed print, and in another view published in Hearne and
Byrne's Antiquities. Since this drawing was taken (1802) the Cross has been suf-
fered gradually to fall in ruins, and about six months back, a part of the central
column only was standing.
There is something peculiarly unique in the shape and ornaments of this building.
A large column in the centre, running through the roof, and terminated with a naked
figure ; clustered columns at each angle, with odd capitals, bases, &c. and gables with
pinnacles of unusual shape, all unite to constitute this one of the eccentricities of
ancient building. From the time of the Norman Conquest, to the dissolution of the
English monasteries, the varied and progressive styles of architecture are satisfac-
torily defined, and a very general uniformity prevails in all the buildings of a parti-
cular era;f but the specimen before us differs from any thing I have yet met with.
Hearne, in his History of Glastonbury, Camden, Willis, and Stevens, are all silent
relating to this building. Hence I am inclined to believe that it was erected at a
time when English architecture was confounded and blended with such incongruity
of ornaments, as may not inaptly be termed the dis-order'd style. In the year 1802
I saw a mutilated inscription on it, with the date 1604, but cannot say that this al-
ludes to the time of its building. There were also some armorial bearings, carved
on different parts of it: among these was the arms (a cross between two cups) of
Richard Beere, the last abbot but one, who died in 1524.|
The building shewn in the back ground of the annexed print, now called the
George Inn, was formerly an hospital for the entertainment of pilgrims who resorted
to the abbey. Its front is curiously ornamented with arms, niches, &c. and had
formerly several statues. Some considerable ruins of the Abbey Church, Abbot's
* For the manorial and parochial history of this town, see Lysons' Magna Britannia : and a print of the
Cross, from a very accurate drawing by Mr. Alexander, is published in Byrne's Britannia Depicta, No. 1.
t This i hope and expect to illustrate in another part of the present work.
% The principal sketches and memorandums that i made at Glastonbury, in 1802, were unfortunately lost
during a journey through Devonshire in that year.