DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32039#0033
VICARS’ CLOSE AT WELLS.
11
college and delineated in the following Plates. But, alas, how lamentably the
reverse of this has been the case ! for no one, who was not intimately acquainted
with the peculiarities of the various styles of Gothic architecture, and able to
discover from the present ruinous condition of the exquisitely carved work
what it originally has been, would persuade himself that these were faithful re-
presentations of the Vicars Close. The Chapel he would find in disuse, and
filled with lumber ; the ceiling of the Hall hanging down in large patches; the
rooms under converted into a malting-house; the houses modernised with
common sash-windows, bastard Italian doors, and plain parapets; and a com-
mon shop-front within a few short weeks inserted under the beautiful little
oriel window shewn in Plates V. and VI., at the very entrance to the Close
from the street: ancl this by one of their ozvn body, as if in positive defiance of
the advocates of good taste and a proper feeling of reverence. The elegant
pinnacles and panelled parapet of the gallery over the Chain-Gate, are so com-
pletely decayed and ruinous, that the loose stones threaten danger to the passers
by, and the profiles of the mouldings are hardly discernible. On a visit to
Wells, in May last, the author could not but congratulate himself that his
lamented friend, Mr. Pugin, had so opportunely snatched, as it were, the
beauties of this example of Gothic art from utter oblivion, and that he should
have been the means of thus handing thern down to posterity. He knows it will
be advanced by the participators in this reckless spoliation, that in Catholic
times, when celibacy was enjoined, their predecessors, not having to provide for
families, could better afford repairs; but when some of the founder’s statutes
and injunctions are acknowledged, all should be equally in force, and one of
them provides for the repairs of each house by its respective inhabitant vicar.
It is under the head of “ The Office and Power of tJie Principals,” and runs thus :
“ Moreover they shall yearly see and oversee the defaults of every man’s house
situate within the said Close, and shall judge and esteem the reparation thereof,
and shall admonish the said vicars, that, within a certain time by them appointed,
they shall sufficiently repair and amend all such faults in and upon their houses
under certain pains, to be moderated by the arbitrement of the said principals.”
The original number of thirteen was augmented greatly before Beckington’s
time, and we may presume kept pace with the augmentation of the prebends, as
his executors provided forty-two houses ; which number corresponds with the
number of prebendaries at present attached to the cathedral who are not resi-
dentiary. By Elizabeth’s charter, as before stated, their number was restricted
to twenty ; consequently, many of the houses have been thrown into one and
11
college and delineated in the following Plates. But, alas, how lamentably the
reverse of this has been the case ! for no one, who was not intimately acquainted
with the peculiarities of the various styles of Gothic architecture, and able to
discover from the present ruinous condition of the exquisitely carved work
what it originally has been, would persuade himself that these were faithful re-
presentations of the Vicars Close. The Chapel he would find in disuse, and
filled with lumber ; the ceiling of the Hall hanging down in large patches; the
rooms under converted into a malting-house; the houses modernised with
common sash-windows, bastard Italian doors, and plain parapets; and a com-
mon shop-front within a few short weeks inserted under the beautiful little
oriel window shewn in Plates V. and VI., at the very entrance to the Close
from the street: ancl this by one of their ozvn body, as if in positive defiance of
the advocates of good taste and a proper feeling of reverence. The elegant
pinnacles and panelled parapet of the gallery over the Chain-Gate, are so com-
pletely decayed and ruinous, that the loose stones threaten danger to the passers
by, and the profiles of the mouldings are hardly discernible. On a visit to
Wells, in May last, the author could not but congratulate himself that his
lamented friend, Mr. Pugin, had so opportunely snatched, as it were, the
beauties of this example of Gothic art from utter oblivion, and that he should
have been the means of thus handing thern down to posterity. He knows it will
be advanced by the participators in this reckless spoliation, that in Catholic
times, when celibacy was enjoined, their predecessors, not having to provide for
families, could better afford repairs; but when some of the founder’s statutes
and injunctions are acknowledged, all should be equally in force, and one of
them provides for the repairs of each house by its respective inhabitant vicar.
It is under the head of “ The Office and Power of tJie Principals,” and runs thus :
“ Moreover they shall yearly see and oversee the defaults of every man’s house
situate within the said Close, and shall judge and esteem the reparation thereof,
and shall admonish the said vicars, that, within a certain time by them appointed,
they shall sufficiently repair and amend all such faults in and upon their houses
under certain pains, to be moderated by the arbitrement of the said principals.”
The original number of thirteen was augmented greatly before Beckington’s
time, and we may presume kept pace with the augmentation of the prebends, as
his executors provided forty-two houses ; which number corresponds with the
number of prebendaries at present attached to the cathedral who are not resi-
dentiary. By Elizabeth’s charter, as before stated, their number was restricted
to twenty ; consequently, many of the houses have been thrown into one and