DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22423#0329
Letter XXIX.
YOEK CATHEDRAL.
317
which rises at the centre of the transepts, crowned with battle-
ments, cannot be compared in effect to those bold lofty spires in
which the vegetative principle of this style of architecture is most
strikingly exemplified. The profiles of the cornices and mullions
are bolder than in most English churches. The decorations of the
arches and cornices are Norman, approaching the earlier epoch of
the Gothic; accordingly we find that the building was commenced
about the year .1404, under Bishop Scrope, whom King Henry IV.
caused to be beheaded as a traitor. The impression made by the
interior, with its three aisles, is very fine. The great choir window
is adorned with painted glass in the good old fashion ; so that
they do not form pictures, properly speaking, but agreeable archi-
tectonic patterns. The great west window opposite contains all
kinds of flowers and leaves in a more natural taste. The tracery
of some of the other windows has the same elegant forms as in
the cathedral of Cologne, but most of them are only repetitions
of the rather tiresome pattern so common in England. The
form of the arches recalls the slender proportions of the French
churches. Most of the sculptures which formerly adorned this
cathedral are destroyed : those which remain are, however, much
ruder than in the abovementioned cathedrals in Germany. Those
parts of the building which were destroyed by fire a few years
ago are already restored, and, not excepting the elegantly-carved
stalls, precisely in their former style. The new glass paintings
in the windows have indeed beautiful colours, but cannot be called
happy, either in the combination, or in the style of the figures.
The octagon chapter-house, which, with the slender arches of
the windows, is certainly one of the most elegant in England,
groups picturesquely with the cathedral. In the vicinity is the
residence of the Archbishop of York, a pretty house, in the
Anglo-Gothic style, with a beautiful private garden. A public
garden adjoining possesses, in the ruins of an old cloister, a very
picturesque ornament.
From York the railway easily conveys the traveller to Castle
Howard, the noble seat of the Earl of Carlisle, which however I
have not had the advantage of seeing more lately than 1835. On
entering the park a lofty obelisk is seen at the end of a steep
avenue, which was erected by Henry Earl of Carlisle in honour
of the great Duke of Marlborough. Two double rows of ash-
trees on each side of the drive, and, farther on, two large
YOEK CATHEDRAL.
317
which rises at the centre of the transepts, crowned with battle-
ments, cannot be compared in effect to those bold lofty spires in
which the vegetative principle of this style of architecture is most
strikingly exemplified. The profiles of the cornices and mullions
are bolder than in most English churches. The decorations of the
arches and cornices are Norman, approaching the earlier epoch of
the Gothic; accordingly we find that the building was commenced
about the year .1404, under Bishop Scrope, whom King Henry IV.
caused to be beheaded as a traitor. The impression made by the
interior, with its three aisles, is very fine. The great choir window
is adorned with painted glass in the good old fashion ; so that
they do not form pictures, properly speaking, but agreeable archi-
tectonic patterns. The great west window opposite contains all
kinds of flowers and leaves in a more natural taste. The tracery
of some of the other windows has the same elegant forms as in
the cathedral of Cologne, but most of them are only repetitions
of the rather tiresome pattern so common in England. The
form of the arches recalls the slender proportions of the French
churches. Most of the sculptures which formerly adorned this
cathedral are destroyed : those which remain are, however, much
ruder than in the abovementioned cathedrals in Germany. Those
parts of the building which were destroyed by fire a few years
ago are already restored, and, not excepting the elegantly-carved
stalls, precisely in their former style. The new glass paintings
in the windows have indeed beautiful colours, but cannot be called
happy, either in the combination, or in the style of the figures.
The octagon chapter-house, which, with the slender arches of
the windows, is certainly one of the most elegant in England,
groups picturesquely with the cathedral. In the vicinity is the
residence of the Archbishop of York, a pretty house, in the
Anglo-Gothic style, with a beautiful private garden. A public
garden adjoining possesses, in the ruins of an old cloister, a very
picturesque ornament.
From York the railway easily conveys the traveller to Castle
Howard, the noble seat of the Earl of Carlisle, which however I
have not had the advantage of seeing more lately than 1835. On
entering the park a lofty obelisk is seen at the end of a steep
avenue, which was erected by Henry Earl of Carlisle in honour
of the great Duke of Marlborough. Two double rows of ash-
trees on each side of the drive, and, farther on, two large