DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1457#0115
ESSAY. 87
of this magnificent fabric, its fine painted win-
dows, and richly ornamented spreading roof,
its gloom, and perspective, all concur in af-
fecting the imagination with pleasure and de-
light, at the same time that they inspire awe
and devotion. It is undoubtedly one of the
most complete, elegant, and magnificent struc-
tures in the kingdom. And if, besides these
larger works, we take into our view those spe-
cimens of exquisite workmanship we meet
with in the smaller kinds of oratories, cha-
pels w, and monumental edifices, produced so
late as the reign of Henry VIII. some of
which are still in being, or at least so much of
them as to give us an idea of their former
grace and beauty; one can hardly help con-
cluding, that architecture arrived at its highest
point of glory in this kingdom but just before
its final period.
[42] At that time no country was better
furnished and adorned with religious edifices,
One contract for building the stone vault, and three of the
towers, and twenty-one fynyalls (the upper finishing of the but-
tresses), dated the 4th of Henry VIII. A. D. 1.512; and
another for vaulting the two porches and sixteen chapels about
the building, dated the following year, are still in the archives
of the college.
w Bishop West's chapel at the east end of the south aisle
of Ely cathedral, built in the reign of Henry VIII. affords an
elegant specimen of the most delicate sculpture, and such
variety of tracery, beautiful colouring, and gilding, as will not
easily be met with in any work produced before that reign.
of this magnificent fabric, its fine painted win-
dows, and richly ornamented spreading roof,
its gloom, and perspective, all concur in af-
fecting the imagination with pleasure and de-
light, at the same time that they inspire awe
and devotion. It is undoubtedly one of the
most complete, elegant, and magnificent struc-
tures in the kingdom. And if, besides these
larger works, we take into our view those spe-
cimens of exquisite workmanship we meet
with in the smaller kinds of oratories, cha-
pels w, and monumental edifices, produced so
late as the reign of Henry VIII. some of
which are still in being, or at least so much of
them as to give us an idea of their former
grace and beauty; one can hardly help con-
cluding, that architecture arrived at its highest
point of glory in this kingdom but just before
its final period.
[42] At that time no country was better
furnished and adorned with religious edifices,
One contract for building the stone vault, and three of the
towers, and twenty-one fynyalls (the upper finishing of the but-
tresses), dated the 4th of Henry VIII. A. D. 1.512; and
another for vaulting the two porches and sixteen chapels about
the building, dated the following year, are still in the archives
of the college.
w Bishop West's chapel at the east end of the south aisle
of Ely cathedral, built in the reign of Henry VIII. affords an
elegant specimen of the most delicate sculpture, and such
variety of tracery, beautiful colouring, and gilding, as will not
easily be met with in any work produced before that reign.