DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0129
COLLEGE GATEWAY, BRISTOL. 77
Brown Willis* gives the date of 1148, as being affixed at the end of this inscrip-
tion ; and Dr. Thomas Smith, in a letter communicated to Dr. Wallis, says, the date
was 1140 :f but both these theoretical antiquaries are mistaken, as there is no date
inscribed, and probably never was.
Admitting that the lower part of the gateway was erected about the middle of
the twelfth century, it affords us a most interesting specimen of the prevalent style
of decorating arches, vaultings, and side walls. The age of the upper story is less
doubtful: for not only the styles of architecture and sculpture are evidences of the
time when designed, but history is more specific. It was either wholly built, or
materially altered, by Abbot Newland, alias Nailheart, J and Robert Eliot, his
successor, both of whose armorial bearings are affixed to different parts of the
building. The arms of the first is a heart pierced with nails : and those of the latter,
a chief charged with two mullets. The two lower statues on the south side, with
the shields thus marked, are presumed to represent those abbots. The upper story,
as finished by them, was very highly enriched with niches, canopies, statues, and
various armorial insignia: among the latter are the arms of the Berkleys, § those of
the monarch, with roses, crowns, &c. The accompanying plate, (View of the south
side,) displays these features. Instead of the sash windows, which now disfigure
both fronts of this very curious gateway, the spaces between the niches, on both
sides, were occupied by bay, or bow-windows, supported on trusses. Each of these
windows was adorned with six shields of arms.j| On the eastern side of the gateway
was a circular stair-case surmounted by a turret: and on the western side was a
smaller gateway or postern, over which were the dwelling rooms of the warden, or porter.
* This writer, to whom we are certainly indebted for the preservation of much useful matter respecting
ecclesiastical antiquities, has impeached his knowledge of ancient architecture, by saying thi3 " noble gatehouse
was built in King Henry VIII.'s time," though it appears evidently to be the work of two distinct and distant eras.
t See Archseologia, Vol. XIII. p. 132.
X He was chosen Abbot, April 6, 1481. Henry the Seventh employed him in foreign embassies. Emulating
his monarch in the gorgeous buildings of the times, Newland made several alterations and additions to the
cathedral. He also laudably employed his leisure time in writing a history of his church ; and another of the
Berkley family, both of which MSS. are said to be preserved. He was called the "Good Abbot." See Wood's
Athenae Oxomensis, I. 639.
§ These are a chevron between ten crosses pattee; but the crosses were not used in the Berkley arms before the
9th of Edward I. when Thomas succeeded to the barony.
|| A view of the north front is published in Barrett's History, with the bay window, arms, &c. but he justly says,
that "it gives but an imperfect idea of the building." There i3 no name of draftsman or engraver, nor is any
authority adduced for such representation. Still there is no reason to question the existence of such window ; for
it strictly corresponds with the style of the age.
L. VOL. III.
Brown Willis* gives the date of 1148, as being affixed at the end of this inscrip-
tion ; and Dr. Thomas Smith, in a letter communicated to Dr. Wallis, says, the date
was 1140 :f but both these theoretical antiquaries are mistaken, as there is no date
inscribed, and probably never was.
Admitting that the lower part of the gateway was erected about the middle of
the twelfth century, it affords us a most interesting specimen of the prevalent style
of decorating arches, vaultings, and side walls. The age of the upper story is less
doubtful: for not only the styles of architecture and sculpture are evidences of the
time when designed, but history is more specific. It was either wholly built, or
materially altered, by Abbot Newland, alias Nailheart, J and Robert Eliot, his
successor, both of whose armorial bearings are affixed to different parts of the
building. The arms of the first is a heart pierced with nails : and those of the latter,
a chief charged with two mullets. The two lower statues on the south side, with
the shields thus marked, are presumed to represent those abbots. The upper story,
as finished by them, was very highly enriched with niches, canopies, statues, and
various armorial insignia: among the latter are the arms of the Berkleys, § those of
the monarch, with roses, crowns, &c. The accompanying plate, (View of the south
side,) displays these features. Instead of the sash windows, which now disfigure
both fronts of this very curious gateway, the spaces between the niches, on both
sides, were occupied by bay, or bow-windows, supported on trusses. Each of these
windows was adorned with six shields of arms.j| On the eastern side of the gateway
was a circular stair-case surmounted by a turret: and on the western side was a
smaller gateway or postern, over which were the dwelling rooms of the warden, or porter.
* This writer, to whom we are certainly indebted for the preservation of much useful matter respecting
ecclesiastical antiquities, has impeached his knowledge of ancient architecture, by saying thi3 " noble gatehouse
was built in King Henry VIII.'s time," though it appears evidently to be the work of two distinct and distant eras.
t See Archseologia, Vol. XIII. p. 132.
X He was chosen Abbot, April 6, 1481. Henry the Seventh employed him in foreign embassies. Emulating
his monarch in the gorgeous buildings of the times, Newland made several alterations and additions to the
cathedral. He also laudably employed his leisure time in writing a history of his church ; and another of the
Berkley family, both of which MSS. are said to be preserved. He was called the "Good Abbot." See Wood's
Athenae Oxomensis, I. 639.
§ These are a chevron between ten crosses pattee; but the crosses were not used in the Berkley arms before the
9th of Edward I. when Thomas succeeded to the barony.
|| A view of the north front is published in Barrett's History, with the bay window, arms, &c. but he justly says,
that "it gives but an imperfect idea of the building." There i3 no name of draftsman or engraver, nor is any
authority adduced for such representation. Still there is no reason to question the existence of such window ; for
it strictly corresponds with the style of the age.
L. VOL. III.