DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0045
32 architectural antiquities.
would be relieved from doubt: and be no longer perplexed respecting the ages and
classes of numerous churches, and parts of edifices, which contain parallel, or nearly
similar styles. Charters of foundation, however, are insufficient evidence in such
cases ; because new endowments were formed, or grafted on former, and later
erections were raised on the sites of preceding buildings. Indeed, during the de-
solating wars between the Saxons and Danes, and these again with the Normans,
we are assured that the greater part of the religious houses were either wholly, or
partly destroyed. Respecting the present edifice, we have no other document ad-
duced, but Edward the Confessor's charter ; this merely alludes to the monastic
foundation, not to the erection of a church ; and the opinions, above quoted, seem
to be wholly derived from that very equivocal authority. These do not satisfy my
mind; because the public life and reign of Harold were not sufficiently extended or
settled, to warrant the commencement and completion of such a large and handsome
building as Waltham Church. Besides, the monastic dwellings would be first com-
menced, and afterwards the east end, or choir of the church : at least this was the
usual order of procedure. The nave would be the last part erected, and it is well
known that the western ends of collegiate and cathedral churches were often finished
more than 100 years after the commencement of the eastern portions. Judging from
the style of arches, mouldings, and decorations of the building, now under consider-
ation, I cannot persuade myself that it was erected before the Conquest; but am
rather inclined to attribute it to a period posterior to the reign of William the First.
As already remarked by Mr. Burdon, it resembles the nave of Durham Cathedral,
in its three tiers of arches, in the shapes and ornaments of the columns, piers,
mouldings, &c. and also in its exterior elevation. That part of Durham Church is
generally attributed to Bishop de Carilepho, who began it in 1093, and as it was
most likely designed and built by Normans, so, I presume, was the nave of
Waltham-Abbey Church.
Reference to the Plates.
Plate I. Ground Plan of the present edifice, with Plans of the columns, No. 2
and 5 : and piers, 1 and 4, to a larger scale: figs. 6 and 7 shew the plans of the
southern door-way, and two of the original windows. The elevations of these are
given in Plate 2. These have long slender columns, supporting mouldings,
with semi-circular arches. At the western end is a large square tower, A ; beneath
would be relieved from doubt: and be no longer perplexed respecting the ages and
classes of numerous churches, and parts of edifices, which contain parallel, or nearly
similar styles. Charters of foundation, however, are insufficient evidence in such
cases ; because new endowments were formed, or grafted on former, and later
erections were raised on the sites of preceding buildings. Indeed, during the de-
solating wars between the Saxons and Danes, and these again with the Normans,
we are assured that the greater part of the religious houses were either wholly, or
partly destroyed. Respecting the present edifice, we have no other document ad-
duced, but Edward the Confessor's charter ; this merely alludes to the monastic
foundation, not to the erection of a church ; and the opinions, above quoted, seem
to be wholly derived from that very equivocal authority. These do not satisfy my
mind; because the public life and reign of Harold were not sufficiently extended or
settled, to warrant the commencement and completion of such a large and handsome
building as Waltham Church. Besides, the monastic dwellings would be first com-
menced, and afterwards the east end, or choir of the church : at least this was the
usual order of procedure. The nave would be the last part erected, and it is well
known that the western ends of collegiate and cathedral churches were often finished
more than 100 years after the commencement of the eastern portions. Judging from
the style of arches, mouldings, and decorations of the building, now under consider-
ation, I cannot persuade myself that it was erected before the Conquest; but am
rather inclined to attribute it to a period posterior to the reign of William the First.
As already remarked by Mr. Burdon, it resembles the nave of Durham Cathedral,
in its three tiers of arches, in the shapes and ornaments of the columns, piers,
mouldings, &c. and also in its exterior elevation. That part of Durham Church is
generally attributed to Bishop de Carilepho, who began it in 1093, and as it was
most likely designed and built by Normans, so, I presume, was the nave of
Waltham-Abbey Church.
Reference to the Plates.
Plate I. Ground Plan of the present edifice, with Plans of the columns, No. 2
and 5 : and piers, 1 and 4, to a larger scale: figs. 6 and 7 shew the plans of the
southern door-way, and two of the original windows. The elevations of these are
given in Plate 2. These have long slender columns, supporting mouldings,
with semi-circular arches. At the western end is a large square tower, A ; beneath