DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0145
86
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
the Quarterly Review, August 1809, observes, that towers or steeples, were intro-
duced into Britain about the era A. D. 974, and that the first examples are, Ramsey-
Abbey, and St. James's, at Bury; but the authorities just stated seem to point to a
period for the erection of this gateway upwards of a century subsequent to the date
here given.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWER, WITH REFERENCE TO THE ANNEXED
PLATES, by J. B.
Plate I. Elevation of the eastern front, with Plans.—The former displays four
divisions or stories, in height, with an embattled parapet crowning the whole. In
the lower story is a large gateway with a semi-circular arch. The bases of the side
columns are about five feet six inches beneath the surface of the ground; * and as
this ground is level with the lowest streets, and adjacent church-yard, it shews that
a vast accumulation of rubbish and earth must have been made in this part of the
town since the present tower was erected. In the adjoining church of St. James,
the basement, I believe, is not two feet beneath the surface. Between the lower
and next story, is a horizontal fascia, or string-course, with the chevron moulding;
and between the second and third divisions is another moulding, with the nebule
ornament. The mouldings of the three arches between the fasciae, are curious, and
of rather unusual character. In the next or third story, are three arched divisions,
having three openings in the upper part, with six blank arcades beneath :—see
corresponding plan C. The fourth or upper story, has also three windows, and
three circular panels ; the plans of which are shewn A. and B. The ground plan
displays the thickness of the walls, the projections and width of the buttresses, the
mouldings and columns at the eastern and western archways, and the entrance to
the stair-case from the north side, close to the abbey-wall. There is no appearance
of a groove for portcullis to the outer or western gate ; nor are there any columns
or trusses at the inner angles of the tower, indicative of an arched floor to the first
story: yet it is evident there was originally a floor, parallel with the first string-
course, as there are two door-ways, through the north and south walls, leading to
* Mr. I. A. Repton caused the earth to be removed near the side pier, to ascertain this fact.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
the Quarterly Review, August 1809, observes, that towers or steeples, were intro-
duced into Britain about the era A. D. 974, and that the first examples are, Ramsey-
Abbey, and St. James's, at Bury; but the authorities just stated seem to point to a
period for the erection of this gateway upwards of a century subsequent to the date
here given.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWER, WITH REFERENCE TO THE ANNEXED
PLATES, by J. B.
Plate I. Elevation of the eastern front, with Plans.—The former displays four
divisions or stories, in height, with an embattled parapet crowning the whole. In
the lower story is a large gateway with a semi-circular arch. The bases of the side
columns are about five feet six inches beneath the surface of the ground; * and as
this ground is level with the lowest streets, and adjacent church-yard, it shews that
a vast accumulation of rubbish and earth must have been made in this part of the
town since the present tower was erected. In the adjoining church of St. James,
the basement, I believe, is not two feet beneath the surface. Between the lower
and next story, is a horizontal fascia, or string-course, with the chevron moulding;
and between the second and third divisions is another moulding, with the nebule
ornament. The mouldings of the three arches between the fasciae, are curious, and
of rather unusual character. In the next or third story, are three arched divisions,
having three openings in the upper part, with six blank arcades beneath :—see
corresponding plan C. The fourth or upper story, has also three windows, and
three circular panels ; the plans of which are shewn A. and B. The ground plan
displays the thickness of the walls, the projections and width of the buttresses, the
mouldings and columns at the eastern and western archways, and the entrance to
the stair-case from the north side, close to the abbey-wall. There is no appearance
of a groove for portcullis to the outer or western gate ; nor are there any columns
or trusses at the inner angles of the tower, indicative of an arched floor to the first
story: yet it is evident there was originally a floor, parallel with the first string-
course, as there are two door-ways, through the north and south walls, leading to
* Mr. I. A. Repton caused the earth to be removed near the side pier, to ascertain this fact.