DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32038#0069
THORNBURY CASTLE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
37
firmly set in the jambs, cannot be forced out of its place by the weigbt of tbe
window.
Plate XIII. Fire-place in Thornbury Castle.
This fire-place is taken from tbe middle room on tbe ground-floor, and
stands in tbe north wall. It bears a general resemblance to tbat displayed in
Plate VI., with some differences of detail. The armorial badges, with wbich tbe
outer mouldings of tbe former cbimney are studded, are omitted in tbis; but
they are inserted in the panels over tbe mantel-piece. The first panel bears a
device used by King Edward III., and afterwards by Henry IV., Edward IV.,
&c., a white swan, witb its neck encircled by a crown, to wbicb a gold chain is
appendant. The next bears a mantel with cords and tassels dependant. On the
central panel tbe device appears to be the nave of a carriage-wheel, with flames
of fire issuing from it. Tbe next has an escutcheon charged with the Stafi'ord
knot.* On the fifth panel is a cognizance used by King Richard II., viz. a white
hart, collared and chained. All these badges are repeated on the chimney-piece
shewn in Plate VI., as well as on some of the door-cases and other parts of the
castle. The hearth is raised a little above the floor of the room, and is enclosed
by a ledge of stone, for preventing the fire from being spread about. The fuel
in general use at that time was wood, which did not require a grate.f
Plate XIV. Door-case in Tiiornbury Castle.
This door-case stands between the “ Great Chamber ” and the “ Dining
Chamber,” on the first floor. It is extremely elegant, being designed in strict
correspondence with the chimney-pieces, and decorated with the same cog-
nizances. One of these, the swan, is drawn on an enlarged scale. The same
device is repeated in one of the spandrils, with the Stafford knot placed on the
opposite side. The threshold, or sill, is raised above the floor, as is shewn in
the section; this was commonly done in ancient buildings, with the intention of
keeping out the cold wind, as the doors were cut short at the bottom, to give
room for the rushes or other litter with which the floors used to be spread.
* “ Some noble families applied a device, which being composed of simple cords implicated in
a fantastic shape, were called knots. Those of StafFord, Bourchier, and Wake, are the more ancient.”
—Dallaway’s Inquiry into the Origin and Progress of Heraldry, 4to. 1793, p. 396.
f Two very rich chimney-pieces in Windsor Castle, erected only a few years earlier than these
at Thornbury, and of a similar style, are engraved in “ Pugin’s Specimens of Gothic Architecture,”
vol. i., Plate LIII. See also that in tlie episcopal palace at Wells, engraved in the present work.
VOL. II.
G
37
firmly set in the jambs, cannot be forced out of its place by the weigbt of tbe
window.
Plate XIII. Fire-place in Thornbury Castle.
This fire-place is taken from tbe middle room on tbe ground-floor, and
stands in tbe north wall. It bears a general resemblance to tbat displayed in
Plate VI., with some differences of detail. The armorial badges, with wbich tbe
outer mouldings of tbe former cbimney are studded, are omitted in tbis; but
they are inserted in the panels over tbe mantel-piece. The first panel bears a
device used by King Edward III., and afterwards by Henry IV., Edward IV.,
&c., a white swan, witb its neck encircled by a crown, to wbicb a gold chain is
appendant. The next bears a mantel with cords and tassels dependant. On the
central panel tbe device appears to be the nave of a carriage-wheel, with flames
of fire issuing from it. Tbe next has an escutcheon charged with the Stafi'ord
knot.* On the fifth panel is a cognizance used by King Richard II., viz. a white
hart, collared and chained. All these badges are repeated on the chimney-piece
shewn in Plate VI., as well as on some of the door-cases and other parts of the
castle. The hearth is raised a little above the floor of the room, and is enclosed
by a ledge of stone, for preventing the fire from being spread about. The fuel
in general use at that time was wood, which did not require a grate.f
Plate XIV. Door-case in Tiiornbury Castle.
This door-case stands between the “ Great Chamber ” and the “ Dining
Chamber,” on the first floor. It is extremely elegant, being designed in strict
correspondence with the chimney-pieces, and decorated with the same cog-
nizances. One of these, the swan, is drawn on an enlarged scale. The same
device is repeated in one of the spandrils, with the Stafford knot placed on the
opposite side. The threshold, or sill, is raised above the floor, as is shewn in
the section; this was commonly done in ancient buildings, with the intention of
keeping out the cold wind, as the doors were cut short at the bottom, to give
room for the rushes or other litter with which the floors used to be spread.
* “ Some noble families applied a device, which being composed of simple cords implicated in
a fantastic shape, were called knots. Those of StafFord, Bourchier, and Wake, are the more ancient.”
—Dallaway’s Inquiry into the Origin and Progress of Heraldry, 4to. 1793, p. 396.
f Two very rich chimney-pieces in Windsor Castle, erected only a few years earlier than these
at Thornbury, and of a similar style, are engraved in “ Pugin’s Specimens of Gothic Architecture,”
vol. i., Plate LIII. See also that in tlie episcopal palace at Wells, engraved in the present work.
VOL. II.
G