DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0162
130
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
The space of time included by the first period may, in general terms, be
stated at one hundred and forty years, or from the commencement of King-
Stephen's reign until that of Edward the First; and thus comprising the interme-
diate reigns of Henry the Second, Richard Cceur de Lion, John Lackland, and
Henry the Third.
Second Division of the Pointed Style.
In tracing the progress of Pointed architecture, it would be desirable that each
of its divisions should be included under a scientific and distinctive denomination,
but this seems impossible to be done in regard to the Second Order, for not a single
phrase has hitherto been applied to it, but what is liable to strong objections; and
none more so, perhaps, than ' Pure Gothic,' and ' Decorated English,' both which
have been very frequently used to characterize buildings of the period and class
now intended to be described.27 That period will comprehend about one hundred
and five years, or from the accession of Edward the First till that of Richard the
Second, and thus include the long reign of Edward the Third ; during which,
perhaps, for grace, and elegance of proportion, for richness of decoration without
exuberancy, and for scientific skilfulness of execution, the Pointed style received
its greatest improvements.28 Were the subject, indeed, to be limited to the time
of that monarch, there could be no impropriety in naming this division the
Triangular-arched order, as the form of the arch which was then principally in
vogue admitted of an equilateral triangle being precisely inscribed between the
crowning point of the arch, and its points of springing at the imposts.
The remarks of Dr. Milner on this division of the Pointed style are extremely
apposite; except perhaps, that at the outset, he limits its improvement too imme-
diately to the time of Edward the First instead of extending it through the two
17 Pure Gothic savours so much of absolute nonsense that it requires no argument to determine its
absurdity, and the term Decorated English is almost equally appropriate, as it would apply to nearly all
the principal buildings in the Pointed style from the latter part of Henry the Third's reign till the final
disuse, or extinction of the order in Bath Abbey church during that of James the First.
18 Although the above reigns have been chosen as marking the limits of the commencement and
termination of the second division of Pointed architecture, it is impossible, in the absence of original
documentary evidence, precisely to ascertain the exact eras, but the dates given will enable us to
approximate to the truth, as nearly perhaps as the subject will admit.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
The space of time included by the first period may, in general terms, be
stated at one hundred and forty years, or from the commencement of King-
Stephen's reign until that of Edward the First; and thus comprising the interme-
diate reigns of Henry the Second, Richard Cceur de Lion, John Lackland, and
Henry the Third.
Second Division of the Pointed Style.
In tracing the progress of Pointed architecture, it would be desirable that each
of its divisions should be included under a scientific and distinctive denomination,
but this seems impossible to be done in regard to the Second Order, for not a single
phrase has hitherto been applied to it, but what is liable to strong objections; and
none more so, perhaps, than ' Pure Gothic,' and ' Decorated English,' both which
have been very frequently used to characterize buildings of the period and class
now intended to be described.27 That period will comprehend about one hundred
and five years, or from the accession of Edward the First till that of Richard the
Second, and thus include the long reign of Edward the Third ; during which,
perhaps, for grace, and elegance of proportion, for richness of decoration without
exuberancy, and for scientific skilfulness of execution, the Pointed style received
its greatest improvements.28 Were the subject, indeed, to be limited to the time
of that monarch, there could be no impropriety in naming this division the
Triangular-arched order, as the form of the arch which was then principally in
vogue admitted of an equilateral triangle being precisely inscribed between the
crowning point of the arch, and its points of springing at the imposts.
The remarks of Dr. Milner on this division of the Pointed style are extremely
apposite; except perhaps, that at the outset, he limits its improvement too imme-
diately to the time of Edward the First instead of extending it through the two
17 Pure Gothic savours so much of absolute nonsense that it requires no argument to determine its
absurdity, and the term Decorated English is almost equally appropriate, as it would apply to nearly all
the principal buildings in the Pointed style from the latter part of Henry the Third's reign till the final
disuse, or extinction of the order in Bath Abbey church during that of James the First.
18 Although the above reigns have been chosen as marking the limits of the commencement and
termination of the second division of Pointed architecture, it is impossible, in the absence of original
documentary evidence, precisely to ascertain the exact eras, but the dates given will enable us to
approximate to the truth, as nearly perhaps as the subject will admit.