DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0175
%\)t grijoors Cotoer,
OXFORD.
No city or town in England contains such a number and variety of interesting
ancient edifices as Oxford. Throughout all the stages, and progressive changes of
style, during the course of nearly nine centuries, some specimens, I believe, may be
seen in the buildings of this renowned seat of science and literature. The Church
of St. Peter's in the east has an ancient, curious crypt, and also an equally curious
chancel, which some antiquaries contend were built by St. Grymbald in the ninth
century. The School's-Tower is a great contrast to this; for, as St. Peter's
Church may be regarded among the most ancient examples of the ecclesiastical
architecture of England, the latter may be considered as' the very decline—the
glimmering—the last struggle of an old and long respected style, with a new rival
and opponent. The facade, represented in the annexed print, is perhaps the most
heterogeneous assemblage of styles, orders, and parts, to be seen in England. It is
certainly an architectural curiosity, and therefore entitled to notice and delineation:
it may also be regarded as an emblem of the taste, science, and caprice of the age
when it was erected. This design, however, is chaste and harmonious, in comparison
to that of the south porch of St. Mary's Church, in the High-street; but both, like
discord in music, are offensive and harsh to the senses of hearing and seeing.
According to Hearne, the Public Schools were begun in 1613, from a design by
Thomas Holte, of York ; who, it is supposed, also designed the south side of the
large quadrangle of Merton College. The principal architectural feature of the
Schools is the central tower-gateway, on the eastern side of the quadrangle. This
consists of five stories or divisions in height; and to each story is attached four
columns, with corresponding bases, friezes, &c. intended to display, what is commonly
called the five orders of Grecian and Roman architecture ; the Tuscan, Doric,
Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite. But the skilful professor of classical architecture
will readily discover as many departures from the best examples of Grecian and
Roman buildings, in this affected and pedantic imitation, as are to be seen in several
modern imitations of the pointed style. As James the Eirst, in whose reign it was
built, was a weak, vain coxcomb, the architect chose to flatter his vanity, by placing
a statue of him beneath a canopy, near the top of the building. On his right hand
OXFORD.
No city or town in England contains such a number and variety of interesting
ancient edifices as Oxford. Throughout all the stages, and progressive changes of
style, during the course of nearly nine centuries, some specimens, I believe, may be
seen in the buildings of this renowned seat of science and literature. The Church
of St. Peter's in the east has an ancient, curious crypt, and also an equally curious
chancel, which some antiquaries contend were built by St. Grymbald in the ninth
century. The School's-Tower is a great contrast to this; for, as St. Peter's
Church may be regarded among the most ancient examples of the ecclesiastical
architecture of England, the latter may be considered as' the very decline—the
glimmering—the last struggle of an old and long respected style, with a new rival
and opponent. The facade, represented in the annexed print, is perhaps the most
heterogeneous assemblage of styles, orders, and parts, to be seen in England. It is
certainly an architectural curiosity, and therefore entitled to notice and delineation:
it may also be regarded as an emblem of the taste, science, and caprice of the age
when it was erected. This design, however, is chaste and harmonious, in comparison
to that of the south porch of St. Mary's Church, in the High-street; but both, like
discord in music, are offensive and harsh to the senses of hearing and seeing.
According to Hearne, the Public Schools were begun in 1613, from a design by
Thomas Holte, of York ; who, it is supposed, also designed the south side of the
large quadrangle of Merton College. The principal architectural feature of the
Schools is the central tower-gateway, on the eastern side of the quadrangle. This
consists of five stories or divisions in height; and to each story is attached four
columns, with corresponding bases, friezes, &c. intended to display, what is commonly
called the five orders of Grecian and Roman architecture ; the Tuscan, Doric,
Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite. But the skilful professor of classical architecture
will readily discover as many departures from the best examples of Grecian and
Roman buildings, in this affected and pedantic imitation, as are to be seen in several
modern imitations of the pointed style. As James the Eirst, in whose reign it was
built, was a weak, vain coxcomb, the architect chose to flatter his vanity, by placing
a statue of him beneath a canopy, near the top of the building. On his right hand