DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0182
150 HISTORY OF
which were left abruptly imperfect by the last builders, when the monastery was
dissolved by King Henry VIII.
The west front is very requisite, because the two towers are not of equal height,
and too low ; for the bells are so much lower than the roof, that they are not
heard southward, so well as they would be a mile off. The great west window is
also too feeble, and the gable end of the roof over it is but weather-boards painted.
It was plainly intended originally to have had a steeple, the beginnings of
which appear on the corners of the cross, but left off before it rose so high as
the ridge of the roof; and the vault of the choir under is but lath and plaister,
now rotten and must be taken care of.
Lest it should be doubted whether the four pillars be able to bear a steeple,
because they seem a little swayed inward, I have considered how they may be
unquestionably secured, to bear the greatest weight that need be laid upon them ;
and this after a manner that will add to their shape and beauty.
It is manifest to the eye, that the four innermost pillars of the cross are bended
inward considerably, and seem to tend to ruin in time; while the arches of the
second order above are cracked also. How this hath happened, and how it is to
be secured, I must demonstrate.
I conceive the architect knew very well, that the four pillars above the inter-
section of the cross nave, would not prove a sufficient butment to stand against,
the pressure of so many arches, unless they were much bigger than the other piers;
but that could not be without cumbering up the principal part of the church: but
though these angular pillars could not be made bigger, yet they could be made
heavier, to stand against the pressure of the several rows of arches, which might
prove an equivalent, as may appear thus:
Let ABC be an arch, resting at C against an immovable wall KM, but at
A upon a pillar AD, so small as to be unable to be a sufficient butment to the
which were left abruptly imperfect by the last builders, when the monastery was
dissolved by King Henry VIII.
The west front is very requisite, because the two towers are not of equal height,
and too low ; for the bells are so much lower than the roof, that they are not
heard southward, so well as they would be a mile off. The great west window is
also too feeble, and the gable end of the roof over it is but weather-boards painted.
It was plainly intended originally to have had a steeple, the beginnings of
which appear on the corners of the cross, but left off before it rose so high as
the ridge of the roof; and the vault of the choir under is but lath and plaister,
now rotten and must be taken care of.
Lest it should be doubted whether the four pillars be able to bear a steeple,
because they seem a little swayed inward, I have considered how they may be
unquestionably secured, to bear the greatest weight that need be laid upon them ;
and this after a manner that will add to their shape and beauty.
It is manifest to the eye, that the four innermost pillars of the cross are bended
inward considerably, and seem to tend to ruin in time; while the arches of the
second order above are cracked also. How this hath happened, and how it is to
be secured, I must demonstrate.
I conceive the architect knew very well, that the four pillars above the inter-
section of the cross nave, would not prove a sufficient butment to stand against,
the pressure of so many arches, unless they were much bigger than the other piers;
but that could not be without cumbering up the principal part of the church: but
though these angular pillars could not be made bigger, yet they could be made
heavier, to stand against the pressure of the several rows of arches, which might
prove an equivalent, as may appear thus:
Let ABC be an arch, resting at C against an immovable wall KM, but at
A upon a pillar AD, so small as to be unable to be a sufficient butment to the