DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0169
EXETER CATHEDRAL.
137
jttost being of open tabernacle work, within which stand different statues of Queen
eanor, but almost all of them are disfigured and broken.37—These were the first
stone crosses erected in the Pointed style; and though others of a far more florid
and ornamental character were raised during the three following centuries, yet but
w exhibited greater taste in design, or superior science in execution than those
already named.
Other examples of this class of Pointed architecture may be found at St. Alban's,
at Exeter, and at Ely, as well, indeed, as at many other places, some of which will be
Particularly described in the ensuing chapter. In the Abbey church at St. Albans,
Sldes a part of the nave which is of a more plain and simple character, there
Remains a very beautiful, though now greatly dilapidated and ruinous specimen of
8 period, in the Chapel of the Virgin, which was built between the years 1308
arid 1326, by Abbot Hugo de Eversden, and the name of William Boyden has been
recorded as the chief architect. Its arches were equilaterally pointed, and all the
^Portions graceful ; but a low wall has been built across the western part, which
as long been closed up from the church, in order to form a passage for the con-
Veniency of the inhabitants of the town. The windows were finely enriched by
tracery expanding into circles, trefoils, quatrefoils, &c. and its ornaments were
eQiually ricl) and appropriate ; round those of the east end (now used as a school-
r°om) are ranges of small figures, which even yet exhibit traces of much elegance,
though most lamentably obscured by whitewash.
Exeter Cathedral, with the exception of the Lady Chapel and of the curious
0l'rnan towers which form the extremities of the transept, is another work of this
Period, and its general uniformity unquestionably proves that it was the result of
°ne grand design, although upwards of seventy years in progress. It was com-
menced by Bishop Quivill, who was promoted to this See on the decease of Bishop
''onescombe in 1280, and progressively continued during the prelacies of Wm. de
utton, or Bytton, Stapeldon, and Grandisson, by the latter of whom it was com-
pleted about the time of his decease in 1369. A great advance (principally referable
to the reigns of Edwards the First and Second) both in intricacy of design and
1* is unnecessary to describe these crosses more particularly, as their general style and character
^ust be known to every antiquary from the numerous engravings by which they have been represented,
j^'ews of each, with sectional plans, &c. and prints of many other crosses erected in different parts of the
nodom, and at different periods, from a very remote date, may be seen in the 2nd volume of the " Archi-
tect>»>-al Antiquities."
137
jttost being of open tabernacle work, within which stand different statues of Queen
eanor, but almost all of them are disfigured and broken.37—These were the first
stone crosses erected in the Pointed style; and though others of a far more florid
and ornamental character were raised during the three following centuries, yet but
w exhibited greater taste in design, or superior science in execution than those
already named.
Other examples of this class of Pointed architecture may be found at St. Alban's,
at Exeter, and at Ely, as well, indeed, as at many other places, some of which will be
Particularly described in the ensuing chapter. In the Abbey church at St. Albans,
Sldes a part of the nave which is of a more plain and simple character, there
Remains a very beautiful, though now greatly dilapidated and ruinous specimen of
8 period, in the Chapel of the Virgin, which was built between the years 1308
arid 1326, by Abbot Hugo de Eversden, and the name of William Boyden has been
recorded as the chief architect. Its arches were equilaterally pointed, and all the
^Portions graceful ; but a low wall has been built across the western part, which
as long been closed up from the church, in order to form a passage for the con-
Veniency of the inhabitants of the town. The windows were finely enriched by
tracery expanding into circles, trefoils, quatrefoils, &c. and its ornaments were
eQiually ricl) and appropriate ; round those of the east end (now used as a school-
r°om) are ranges of small figures, which even yet exhibit traces of much elegance,
though most lamentably obscured by whitewash.
Exeter Cathedral, with the exception of the Lady Chapel and of the curious
0l'rnan towers which form the extremities of the transept, is another work of this
Period, and its general uniformity unquestionably proves that it was the result of
°ne grand design, although upwards of seventy years in progress. It was com-
menced by Bishop Quivill, who was promoted to this See on the decease of Bishop
''onescombe in 1280, and progressively continued during the prelacies of Wm. de
utton, or Bytton, Stapeldon, and Grandisson, by the latter of whom it was com-
pleted about the time of his decease in 1369. A great advance (principally referable
to the reigns of Edwards the First and Second) both in intricacy of design and
1* is unnecessary to describe these crosses more particularly, as their general style and character
^ust be known to every antiquary from the numerous engravings by which they have been represented,
j^'ews of each, with sectional plans, &c. and prints of many other crosses erected in different parts of the
nodom, and at different periods, from a very remote date, may be seen in the 2nd volume of the " Archi-
tect>»>-al Antiquities."