DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32038#0036
4
MERTON COLLEGE CHAPEL, OXFORD.
PLATE 7, 8.
MERTON COLLEGE CHAPEL, OXFORD.
The curious piece of timber-framing, which forms the subject of the two following
Plates, is situated within the tower of Merton College Chapel, immediately
under the bell-chamber. It was evidently a part of the original architecture of
the tower, which appears to have been erected in the fifteenth century. This
ornamental and appropriate ceiling was shut out from public view by one of
those improvements which have disfigured most of our ancient churches, when a
floor, with a flat ceiling, was placed below the spandrils, for the accommodation
of the ringers, whose labours had been made the subject of scientific study.*
Plate I. No. 1 gives a vertical section of the whole frame, shewing the
arched spandrils, and the inclined sides of the circular lantern in the centre.
This lantern was designed to be occasionally uncovered, so as to admit the
passage of a bell whenever it was necessary for any of the peal to be removed.
Circular openings for the same purpose may be observed in vaults of stone
under the towers of some churches.f
No. 2 shews the plan drawn to a reduced scale.
Plate II. No. 1 displays one quarter of the roof, upon a large scale, as
viewed from the floor below it.
No. 2 gives a horizontal representation of the interior of the lantern.
The principal mouldings are shewn in the other figures on this Plate, their
respective places being pointed out by letters of reference to the plans and
sections.
* This barbarous alteration was probably made when the five old bells were recast into a peal
of eight. See page 2 of the First Volume of “ Examples.”
f The vaulted ceiling in the tower of Louth church, in Lincolnshire, which is beautifully ribbed
and groined with stone, has a circular aperture in the ce«tre. A ringers chamber, with a fiat
ceiling, which had been built under the arched roof in modern times, was lately removed, and the
interior of this beautiful strueture restored to view.
MERTON COLLEGE CHAPEL, OXFORD.
PLATE 7, 8.
MERTON COLLEGE CHAPEL, OXFORD.
The curious piece of timber-framing, which forms the subject of the two following
Plates, is situated within the tower of Merton College Chapel, immediately
under the bell-chamber. It was evidently a part of the original architecture of
the tower, which appears to have been erected in the fifteenth century. This
ornamental and appropriate ceiling was shut out from public view by one of
those improvements which have disfigured most of our ancient churches, when a
floor, with a flat ceiling, was placed below the spandrils, for the accommodation
of the ringers, whose labours had been made the subject of scientific study.*
Plate I. No. 1 gives a vertical section of the whole frame, shewing the
arched spandrils, and the inclined sides of the circular lantern in the centre.
This lantern was designed to be occasionally uncovered, so as to admit the
passage of a bell whenever it was necessary for any of the peal to be removed.
Circular openings for the same purpose may be observed in vaults of stone
under the towers of some churches.f
No. 2 shews the plan drawn to a reduced scale.
Plate II. No. 1 displays one quarter of the roof, upon a large scale, as
viewed from the floor below it.
No. 2 gives a horizontal representation of the interior of the lantern.
The principal mouldings are shewn in the other figures on this Plate, their
respective places being pointed out by letters of reference to the plans and
sections.
* This barbarous alteration was probably made when the five old bells were recast into a peal
of eight. See page 2 of the First Volume of “ Examples.”
f The vaulted ceiling in the tower of Louth church, in Lincolnshire, which is beautifully ribbed
and groined with stone, has a circular aperture in the ce«tre. A ringers chamber, with a fiat
ceiling, which had been built under the arched roof in modern times, was lately removed, and the
interior of this beautiful strueture restored to view.