DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0224
192
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
Cathedral was commenced by Prior Guymond in Henry the First's reign;65 and
the general style of the architecture of the eastern division of Romsey Church
(including the transept) will fully warrant our assigning it to the early part of the
same reign, although it was probably designed, if not commenced, in that of Rufus,
Henry's immediate predecessor. Now, assuming that the architect of Romsey
Church had begun the erection of the nave at the time that Christ Church was in
progress, may we not infer, without any infringement of the laws of probability,
that from a wish to assimilate a part of his own edifice to the design of the latter
building, he raised the cylindrical columns in question; but being dissatisfied
with the effect, or from some other unknown cause, he immediately afterwards
reverted to his original plan, and pursued it till the completion of the fabric ?
The pointed arches of the clerestory and west end of the nave must not be adduced
in contravention of this hypothesis, for they have evidently been altered into their
present form at a subsequent period, most probably at the commencement of
Henry the Third's reign, when the Pointed style had obtained that entire ascen-
dancy over Anglo-Norman architecture, which led to its universal adoption. The
triplicated triforium arch, seen in Piute No. 35, having a small column under the
head of the including sweep, is nearly similar to those of the choir; but the mould-
ings of this are plain, whilst those are surrounded by the zigzag and other orna-
ments. The upper tier of arches, represented in the same print, have been altered
into their present form from the ancient Norman arches, as shewn in the left com-
partment of Plate No. 36, as have also all the others in the same line on both sides
of the nave ; but those of the choir remain in their original state. In the same
compartment is exhibited the horse-shoe arch opening to the south aisle, with its
several ranges of zigzag and billet mouldings,63 together with the chequer-like
string course beneath the triplicated arch, and which is common, in the same
situation, to all the unaltered parts throughout the church. The adjoining division
is particularly remarkable for its three-fold Anglo-Norman window, which is
evidently an approach towards the lightness of Pointed architecture, and the
lancet-pointed arcade, below it, adds much to the interest, as this part partakes of
the character of both styles, and thus shews the gradual transition of the one into
the other. In the attached shafts which partially surround the great piers, and
62 See " Cathedral Antiquities," Oxford Cathedral, p. 16.
63 Similar arches are used in the aisles, both of the nave and choir; they appear to have been introduced
to give elevation to the openings, which are rather narrow.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
Cathedral was commenced by Prior Guymond in Henry the First's reign;65 and
the general style of the architecture of the eastern division of Romsey Church
(including the transept) will fully warrant our assigning it to the early part of the
same reign, although it was probably designed, if not commenced, in that of Rufus,
Henry's immediate predecessor. Now, assuming that the architect of Romsey
Church had begun the erection of the nave at the time that Christ Church was in
progress, may we not infer, without any infringement of the laws of probability,
that from a wish to assimilate a part of his own edifice to the design of the latter
building, he raised the cylindrical columns in question; but being dissatisfied
with the effect, or from some other unknown cause, he immediately afterwards
reverted to his original plan, and pursued it till the completion of the fabric ?
The pointed arches of the clerestory and west end of the nave must not be adduced
in contravention of this hypothesis, for they have evidently been altered into their
present form at a subsequent period, most probably at the commencement of
Henry the Third's reign, when the Pointed style had obtained that entire ascen-
dancy over Anglo-Norman architecture, which led to its universal adoption. The
triplicated triforium arch, seen in Piute No. 35, having a small column under the
head of the including sweep, is nearly similar to those of the choir; but the mould-
ings of this are plain, whilst those are surrounded by the zigzag and other orna-
ments. The upper tier of arches, represented in the same print, have been altered
into their present form from the ancient Norman arches, as shewn in the left com-
partment of Plate No. 36, as have also all the others in the same line on both sides
of the nave ; but those of the choir remain in their original state. In the same
compartment is exhibited the horse-shoe arch opening to the south aisle, with its
several ranges of zigzag and billet mouldings,63 together with the chequer-like
string course beneath the triplicated arch, and which is common, in the same
situation, to all the unaltered parts throughout the church. The adjoining division
is particularly remarkable for its three-fold Anglo-Norman window, which is
evidently an approach towards the lightness of Pointed architecture, and the
lancet-pointed arcade, below it, adds much to the interest, as this part partakes of
the character of both styles, and thus shews the gradual transition of the one into
the other. In the attached shafts which partially surround the great piers, and
62 See " Cathedral Antiquities," Oxford Cathedral, p. 16.
63 Similar arches are used in the aisles, both of the nave and choir; they appear to have been introduced
to give elevation to the openings, which are rather narrow.