DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6913#0084
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architectural antiquities.
SHROPSHIRE.
BY W. M. MOSELEY, ESQ.
Buildwas Abbey is situated on the southern bank of the river Severn, at the dis-
tance of eleven miles below Shrewsbury. It was founded by Roger de Clinton,
Bishop of Chester, &c. in the last year of the reign of King Henry I. A. D. 1135,*
for monks of the order of St. Savigny; but this society being incorporated with the
Cistercians about the year 1148,f then obtained the designation of "Cistercians
following the rule of St. Benedict."
In an architectural point of view, the present building may be esteemed a curi-
osity of some moment, as there is reason to suppose that it exhibits one of the earliest
and most uniform examples of the "mixed style," now remaining in England. Dr.
Milner, however, contends for the priority of the Church of St. Cross, near Win-
chester. " It is probable," he observes, " that the first open, pointed arches in
Europe were the twenty windows constructed by that great patron of architecture,
Henry De Blois, brother of King Stephen, and Bishop of Winchester, in the choir
of the Church of St. Cross, near that city; which structure he certainly raised be-
tween the years 1132 and 1136." J According to Leland, it was built in the year
1132; but Thomas Rudborne, a monk of Winchester, who lived at the middle of the
fifteenth century, says it was not begun till the year I 136. § Bishop Lowth, who
examined the archives of this foundation, agrees also to the latter date. Admitting
this evidence, as to the era of St. Cross, it will be easy to shew that Buildwas Abbey
was anterior to it in erection ; and thus we shall be enabled to point out a more early
specimen of the " mixed style," in which is exhibited some interesting examples of
pointed arches.
* Chron. Johann. Abb. St. Petri de Burgo. Ann. 1135, &c.
f Hist, des Ord. Monast. torn. vi. p. 112.
j "Treatise on Ecclesiastical Architecture," p. 81. In a note, p. 84 of that work, the reference to Dugdale's
Monasticon, vol. iii. p. 779, should be to vol. i. p. 779 ; and the date of the foundation of Buildwas Abbey should
be A. d. 1135, and not 1136.
§ Anglia Sacra, vol. i. p. 284.
architectural antiquities.
SHROPSHIRE.
BY W. M. MOSELEY, ESQ.
Buildwas Abbey is situated on the southern bank of the river Severn, at the dis-
tance of eleven miles below Shrewsbury. It was founded by Roger de Clinton,
Bishop of Chester, &c. in the last year of the reign of King Henry I. A. D. 1135,*
for monks of the order of St. Savigny; but this society being incorporated with the
Cistercians about the year 1148,f then obtained the designation of "Cistercians
following the rule of St. Benedict."
In an architectural point of view, the present building may be esteemed a curi-
osity of some moment, as there is reason to suppose that it exhibits one of the earliest
and most uniform examples of the "mixed style," now remaining in England. Dr.
Milner, however, contends for the priority of the Church of St. Cross, near Win-
chester. " It is probable," he observes, " that the first open, pointed arches in
Europe were the twenty windows constructed by that great patron of architecture,
Henry De Blois, brother of King Stephen, and Bishop of Winchester, in the choir
of the Church of St. Cross, near that city; which structure he certainly raised be-
tween the years 1132 and 1136." J According to Leland, it was built in the year
1132; but Thomas Rudborne, a monk of Winchester, who lived at the middle of the
fifteenth century, says it was not begun till the year I 136. § Bishop Lowth, who
examined the archives of this foundation, agrees also to the latter date. Admitting
this evidence, as to the era of St. Cross, it will be easy to shew that Buildwas Abbey
was anterior to it in erection ; and thus we shall be enabled to point out a more early
specimen of the " mixed style," in which is exhibited some interesting examples of
pointed arches.
* Chron. Johann. Abb. St. Petri de Burgo. Ann. 1135, &c.
f Hist, des Ord. Monast. torn. vi. p. 112.
j "Treatise on Ecclesiastical Architecture," p. 81. In a note, p. 84 of that work, the reference to Dugdale's
Monasticon, vol. iii. p. 779, should be to vol. i. p. 779 ; and the date of the foundation of Buildwas Abbey should
be A. d. 1135, and not 1136.
§ Anglia Sacra, vol. i. p. 284.