DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6911#0021
12
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
elsewhere : i. e. a series of about forty-eight basso-relievo figures, representing a
peculiar sort of bottle, running round the arch, and in the centre is a key stone, with
an angel's head and thistle sculptured on it. The abacus, &c. of the capitals is
figured with triangular indentations, like the impression of the point of a trowel on
elay or mortar. Some of the other capitals, both under the tower, and in the chancel,
are ornamented with representations of foliage, &c. The entrance up the tower, or
to the belfry, is now from the outside of the church, on the north side, though it
was formerly by a stair-case leading through the north-west pier which supports the
tower. The exterior of the upper part of this stair-case, shown in Plate I. projects
from the north-west angle of the tower, and is terminated with a small spire.
Plate III. A. represents the intersecting arches on the eastern wall within-side
the tower : these are all adorned with the zigzag mouldings, and each semicircular
arch embraces two columns, and forms three acute pointed arches. The capitals
are all ornamented with figures resembling the volutes of the Ionic capital, and the
abacus of each is peculiarly thick. This arcade appears to have extended all round
this story of the tower, parallel with the roof of the church, and it was formerly open
to the floor of the church. B. shows an elevation of the southern transept, where
the original pilaster-buttresses still remain at the angles ; but the buttress which
attached to the centre has been cut, and two semicircular-headed windows have
been closed, to admit a large window with two mullions and tracery.
The elevation of the eastern front of the tower* at C. displays the two upper
tiers of this part of the building. In the lower compartment are two semicircular-
headed windows, having a mullion with tracery in each ; the cinque-foil and quatre-
foil dressings to which, clearly imply that they were much posterior to the original
window. This compartment is separated from that above by a cable, and plain string
moulding; and in the upper tier are five semicircular arches, two of which only are
opened as windows. At each angle of the tower is a kind of three-quarter column,
and at the top are square pinnacles with crockets.
* In analysing the separate parts, and different features of cathedrals, and smaller churches, we find that the
tower, as it constituted the most prominent object of the exterior, was subject to repeated alteration in shape,
situation, and ornament, during the progressive improvements and enrichments that were made in ecclesiastical
architecture. In a subsequent portion of this work, I propose to bring into one point of view a series of examples
calculated to illustrate and explain this progression, as manifested in several towers of different ages.
END OF THE ACCOUNT OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, DEVIZES.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
elsewhere : i. e. a series of about forty-eight basso-relievo figures, representing a
peculiar sort of bottle, running round the arch, and in the centre is a key stone, with
an angel's head and thistle sculptured on it. The abacus, &c. of the capitals is
figured with triangular indentations, like the impression of the point of a trowel on
elay or mortar. Some of the other capitals, both under the tower, and in the chancel,
are ornamented with representations of foliage, &c. The entrance up the tower, or
to the belfry, is now from the outside of the church, on the north side, though it
was formerly by a stair-case leading through the north-west pier which supports the
tower. The exterior of the upper part of this stair-case, shown in Plate I. projects
from the north-west angle of the tower, and is terminated with a small spire.
Plate III. A. represents the intersecting arches on the eastern wall within-side
the tower : these are all adorned with the zigzag mouldings, and each semicircular
arch embraces two columns, and forms three acute pointed arches. The capitals
are all ornamented with figures resembling the volutes of the Ionic capital, and the
abacus of each is peculiarly thick. This arcade appears to have extended all round
this story of the tower, parallel with the roof of the church, and it was formerly open
to the floor of the church. B. shows an elevation of the southern transept, where
the original pilaster-buttresses still remain at the angles ; but the buttress which
attached to the centre has been cut, and two semicircular-headed windows have
been closed, to admit a large window with two mullions and tracery.
The elevation of the eastern front of the tower* at C. displays the two upper
tiers of this part of the building. In the lower compartment are two semicircular-
headed windows, having a mullion with tracery in each ; the cinque-foil and quatre-
foil dressings to which, clearly imply that they were much posterior to the original
window. This compartment is separated from that above by a cable, and plain string
moulding; and in the upper tier are five semicircular arches, two of which only are
opened as windows. At each angle of the tower is a kind of three-quarter column,
and at the top are square pinnacles with crockets.
* In analysing the separate parts, and different features of cathedrals, and smaller churches, we find that the
tower, as it constituted the most prominent object of the exterior, was subject to repeated alteration in shape,
situation, and ornament, during the progressive improvements and enrichments that were made in ecclesiastical
architecture. In a subsequent portion of this work, I propose to bring into one point of view a series of examples
calculated to illustrate and explain this progression, as manifested in several towers of different ages.
END OF THE ACCOUNT OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, DEVIZES.