DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0171
ELY CATHEDRAL.
139
and completed in 1343.'10 These works appear to have been all executed by one
architect, namely, Alan de Walsingham, who was the sub-prior and sacrist of this
°nventual establishment. The originality and boldness of the design, and the
Consummate sk ill displayed in the execution of the octagon tower, reflect the highest
^redit upon Walsingham's talents, whose ideas of the additional resistance which
Us form of building afforded against the thrust, or pressure, of vast masses of
tnas°nry tending to one centre were evidently similar to those which influenced the
^Ind of Sir Christopher Wren when designing the central dome of St. Paul's
athedral, and without the least intention to derogate from the great abilities of
e latter architect, we must unquestionably give the praise of priority of con-
^eption, if not 0f effective execution, to Walsingham, whose work has already
aved the ravages of time for nearly five hundred years, and is still substantial and
rttl- The octagon lantern at Ely, which is built at the intersection of the nave
nd transept, occupies the place of a square tower, that gave way through the
.neclua]ity 0f pressure, and fell eastward on the 12th of February, 1320. Almost
Jftfnediately afterwards the restoration was commenced by Walsingham, at the
xPense of the convent, and the recurrence of a similar accident was effectually
Warded against by apportioning the area into an octagon, and erecting eight
ardies in place of four, so that both the lateral pressure, and the incumbent weight
e fully counterpoised. The octagon is not a regular one, the four larger arches,
J those which open to the nave, choir, and transept, being in the proportions
^ ten to six to the smaller ones, which open obliquely into the aisles to
c east and west of the transept. All the arches are supported by clustered
0j. Conjoined columns, the capitals of which are ornamented with wreaths
t| flowers and foliage. The principal arches are very lofty, and nearly of
0 e°iUilateral proportion, but the others are much lower, and conform to the
&eneral height of the side-aisles : to make up, however, for this deviation, the
e above each is occupied by a very ingeniously-designed window, acutely
P°inted, of four lights below, and divers smaller ones, bounded by flowing
2 Cery> in the upper part. Each of these windows, also, towards the top, is
^Ced by a ]-ul(j Qf ]attiCe, or trellis-work, in stone tracery. In the arrangement of
•sid Sma^ Mustered shafts, and spreading groins which support the lantern, con-
erable skill and elegance is displayed, and the lantern itself, which is a regular
kiV We Bentham's " History, &c. of Ely Cathedral," vol. i. p. 159, 2nd edit. The new choir was
°?Un to be erected in 1338." St. Mary's, or the Trinity Chapel, was " not finished till 1349." Ibid.
T 2
139
and completed in 1343.'10 These works appear to have been all executed by one
architect, namely, Alan de Walsingham, who was the sub-prior and sacrist of this
°nventual establishment. The originality and boldness of the design, and the
Consummate sk ill displayed in the execution of the octagon tower, reflect the highest
^redit upon Walsingham's talents, whose ideas of the additional resistance which
Us form of building afforded against the thrust, or pressure, of vast masses of
tnas°nry tending to one centre were evidently similar to those which influenced the
^Ind of Sir Christopher Wren when designing the central dome of St. Paul's
athedral, and without the least intention to derogate from the great abilities of
e latter architect, we must unquestionably give the praise of priority of con-
^eption, if not 0f effective execution, to Walsingham, whose work has already
aved the ravages of time for nearly five hundred years, and is still substantial and
rttl- The octagon lantern at Ely, which is built at the intersection of the nave
nd transept, occupies the place of a square tower, that gave way through the
.neclua]ity 0f pressure, and fell eastward on the 12th of February, 1320. Almost
Jftfnediately afterwards the restoration was commenced by Walsingham, at the
xPense of the convent, and the recurrence of a similar accident was effectually
Warded against by apportioning the area into an octagon, and erecting eight
ardies in place of four, so that both the lateral pressure, and the incumbent weight
e fully counterpoised. The octagon is not a regular one, the four larger arches,
J those which open to the nave, choir, and transept, being in the proportions
^ ten to six to the smaller ones, which open obliquely into the aisles to
c east and west of the transept. All the arches are supported by clustered
0j. Conjoined columns, the capitals of which are ornamented with wreaths
t| flowers and foliage. The principal arches are very lofty, and nearly of
0 e°iUilateral proportion, but the others are much lower, and conform to the
&eneral height of the side-aisles : to make up, however, for this deviation, the
e above each is occupied by a very ingeniously-designed window, acutely
P°inted, of four lights below, and divers smaller ones, bounded by flowing
2 Cery> in the upper part. Each of these windows, also, towards the top, is
^Ced by a ]-ul(j Qf ]attiCe, or trellis-work, in stone tracery. In the arrangement of
•sid Sma^ Mustered shafts, and spreading groins which support the lantern, con-
erable skill and elegance is displayed, and the lantern itself, which is a regular
kiV We Bentham's " History, &c. of Ely Cathedral," vol. i. p. 159, 2nd edit. The new choir was
°?Un to be erected in 1338." St. Mary's, or the Trinity Chapel, was " not finished till 1349." Ibid.
T 2