DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0156
i44
FOUNTAINS ABBEY.
with a motto which reveals the origin of the abbey’s name.—
BScneUfn'te fontcs Uomtno.
In the choir only the external walls remain; but on the two
upper greces of the High Altar have been relaid a portion of
that “ painted floor” recorded to have been beftowed on the
choir by the abbot, John de Cantia, in the thirteenth century,
confifting of teflerae of red, black, yellow, and grey. There
is alfo a ftone coffin, faid to be that of Lord Percy of Alnwick,
who was buried before the high altar in 1315; and a huge
black marble graveftone of the abbot, John de Ripon. In the
fide chapels of the tranfept are other remains, particularly of
the tomb of Abbot Burley : and on each fide of the great
tower, above and below the belfry windows, are infcriptions
in Tudor black letter boldly relieved. The infcriptions above
the windows are all different, but the fame individual motto
ferves for the lower infcription on all four fides.—“ Soli deo
honor et gloria in fecula feculorum. Amen.” The Cloifter
Court remains furrounded by the church and its accompanying
buildings. It is one hundred and twenty-five feet fquare. On
the weft of it are the cloifters themfelves, ftill perfect, and
prefenting a double arcade of arches. It is lighted by windows
looking into the court, but prefents a folemn and fombre
twilight fcene; and when the imagination raifes the figures of
the ancient monks, in cowls and frocks, taking their exercife
here in winter, the impreffions of their life and times come
vividly before us. So narrow is the valley here that a great
part of thefe cloifters are built over the river, the floor being
laid on arches. Over the cloifters was the dormitory of the
monks, divided into about forty cells.
In November, 1848, a great difcovery was made of the
foundations of the Abbot’s houfe, which was fituated to the
fouth-eaft of the Lady Chapel, and alfo built on arches over
FOUNTAINS ABBEY.
with a motto which reveals the origin of the abbey’s name.—
BScneUfn'te fontcs Uomtno.
In the choir only the external walls remain; but on the two
upper greces of the High Altar have been relaid a portion of
that “ painted floor” recorded to have been beftowed on the
choir by the abbot, John de Cantia, in the thirteenth century,
confifting of teflerae of red, black, yellow, and grey. There
is alfo a ftone coffin, faid to be that of Lord Percy of Alnwick,
who was buried before the high altar in 1315; and a huge
black marble graveftone of the abbot, John de Ripon. In the
fide chapels of the tranfept are other remains, particularly of
the tomb of Abbot Burley : and on each fide of the great
tower, above and below the belfry windows, are infcriptions
in Tudor black letter boldly relieved. The infcriptions above
the windows are all different, but the fame individual motto
ferves for the lower infcription on all four fides.—“ Soli deo
honor et gloria in fecula feculorum. Amen.” The Cloifter
Court remains furrounded by the church and its accompanying
buildings. It is one hundred and twenty-five feet fquare. On
the weft of it are the cloifters themfelves, ftill perfect, and
prefenting a double arcade of arches. It is lighted by windows
looking into the court, but prefents a folemn and fombre
twilight fcene; and when the imagination raifes the figures of
the ancient monks, in cowls and frocks, taking their exercife
here in winter, the impreffions of their life and times come
vividly before us. So narrow is the valley here that a great
part of thefe cloifters are built over the river, the floor being
laid on arches. Over the cloifters was the dormitory of the
monks, divided into about forty cells.
In November, 1848, a great difcovery was made of the
foundations of the Abbot’s houfe, which was fituated to the
fouth-eaft of the Lady Chapel, and alfo built on arches over