DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0123
CHAPEL OF OUR LADY ON THE MOUNT.
73
those who came from the northern and central parts of the kingdom, must have
passed very near, and within sight of this chapel, it would naturally attract their
notice, and share in the liberality of their donations. In the compotus of George
Elyngham, prior of St. Margaret in the first year of Henry VIII. he accounts for
£16. lO.v. as the profits and offerings of the chapel of the Virgin Mary at the mount:
when the offerings at St. Nicholas chapel were only £6. 4s.; and at St. James's
£2. 6s. 9d. Resources of this kind seem to have led the way to the erection of the
present edifice, about the reign of Henry VI. or Edward IV. upon the base of some
more ancient and much more humble building. The coarse red brick, of which the
outer walls and lower apartments are built, was now no longer used ; and every part
of the chapel itself was newly raised with hewn stone, of a very close grain, though
not capable of being "polished," as Grose says it is. The advantage, however,
which the new building derives from the ancient base, in point of elevation, is more
than counterbalanced by the danger to which it is thereby exposed; for though the
cross is much smaller in all its dimensions than the external octagon, yet in several
places it overhangs the base on which it actually stands; and on the west by the
whole thickness of the wall.* An arch was, therefore, turned to support this wall;
but the outer buttresses having been decayed and given way to the lateral pressure,
the arch itself has almost fallen in ; and the whole west end of the chapel is fearfully
suspended in the air, by the mere strength of the corner stones. From the striking
similarity in the various ornaments and groining of this roof, to those of the chapel
of King's College, Cambridge, it is impossible to refer it to any other period of
English architecture ; and it is highly probable that, during some of the interruptions
which took place in the erection of that magnificent fabric, the same workmen might
employ their time and talents on this diminished scale. It is said in the Norfolk
Tour, that Edward IV. upon his retreat before the Earl of Warwick, in October,
1470, was lodged in this building, "which (it is added) the historian erroneously
calls a castle." And Mr. Richards, in his History of Eynn, (p. 554) infers that
this was " once a small fortress, or fortified and castellated place ; so that it might,
without much impropriety, be denominated a castle." I know not what historian is
here particularly referred to, but Rapin (vol. 1. p. 608) gives us no reason to believe
that the King was lodged here at all; for his words are, "he encamped near Eynne,
and lodged in the castle." But that this was ever a place of military strength, is a
* See the section.
73
those who came from the northern and central parts of the kingdom, must have
passed very near, and within sight of this chapel, it would naturally attract their
notice, and share in the liberality of their donations. In the compotus of George
Elyngham, prior of St. Margaret in the first year of Henry VIII. he accounts for
£16. lO.v. as the profits and offerings of the chapel of the Virgin Mary at the mount:
when the offerings at St. Nicholas chapel were only £6. 4s.; and at St. James's
£2. 6s. 9d. Resources of this kind seem to have led the way to the erection of the
present edifice, about the reign of Henry VI. or Edward IV. upon the base of some
more ancient and much more humble building. The coarse red brick, of which the
outer walls and lower apartments are built, was now no longer used ; and every part
of the chapel itself was newly raised with hewn stone, of a very close grain, though
not capable of being "polished," as Grose says it is. The advantage, however,
which the new building derives from the ancient base, in point of elevation, is more
than counterbalanced by the danger to which it is thereby exposed; for though the
cross is much smaller in all its dimensions than the external octagon, yet in several
places it overhangs the base on which it actually stands; and on the west by the
whole thickness of the wall.* An arch was, therefore, turned to support this wall;
but the outer buttresses having been decayed and given way to the lateral pressure,
the arch itself has almost fallen in ; and the whole west end of the chapel is fearfully
suspended in the air, by the mere strength of the corner stones. From the striking
similarity in the various ornaments and groining of this roof, to those of the chapel
of King's College, Cambridge, it is impossible to refer it to any other period of
English architecture ; and it is highly probable that, during some of the interruptions
which took place in the erection of that magnificent fabric, the same workmen might
employ their time and talents on this diminished scale. It is said in the Norfolk
Tour, that Edward IV. upon his retreat before the Earl of Warwick, in October,
1470, was lodged in this building, "which (it is added) the historian erroneously
calls a castle." And Mr. Richards, in his History of Eynn, (p. 554) infers that
this was " once a small fortress, or fortified and castellated place ; so that it might,
without much impropriety, be denominated a castle." I know not what historian is
here particularly referred to, but Rapin (vol. 1. p. 608) gives us no reason to believe
that the King was lodged here at all; for his words are, "he encamped near Eynne,
and lodged in the castle." But that this was ever a place of military strength, is a
* See the section.