Old-World Architecture.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 11, 2 September 1907, Page 405

Old-World Architecture.

The three pictures which we present to our readers in this issue are the Tom tower, which surmounts the entrance to Christchurch college at Oxford, an excellent view of the west front of Bath abbey taken since its restoration, and a view from the south east of Wells cathedral with the old moat which surrounds the bishop's palace in the foreground. All are examples of English Gothic architecture, and though perhaps the Christchurch gateway is not one of the best, the special interest attached to the building, as having been the college of so many notable men makes it well worthy of consideration. The building is one of the latest examples of English Gothic art, the college which was protected by Cardinal Wolsey not being established till 1546, by Henry VIII.; and to this day many of the parts are unfinished ; and blocks of stone, which were built in to be ready for the chisel of the carver, remain as mere blocks at the present time. In a city that possesses such towers is those of Merton and Magdalen chapels, this Tom tower does not show to the advantage that it would do were it placed in a town of less architectural beauty than Oxford. At the same time it cannot be denied that, as a gateway, it compares most favourably with most of the others that are famed in history, Gladstone, Earl Granville, Lord Derby, who was premier in 1852, 18-^8 and 1866, and many other eminent men graduated from this college. The other views represent the combined diocese rf Bath and Wells The latter is the cathedral church of Somersetshire. a"d is the ciowning glory of the smallest city in England. Wells is situated in a valiev in the beautiful Mendips, and its cathedral is full of architectural and historical interest. In plan it is a model of completeness and most excellent proportion. The see was established in AD. 910. but toward? the end of the 11th century the Bishop John de Villula decided to move his seat to Bath, and after his death in 1122 there was great contention as to whether the Somersetshire bishopric should be at Bath or Wtlls, and it was only settled by the bishopric being called by both names. ' As is so often the cose, this cathedral exhibits specimens of all the periods of English Gothic, and very beautiful specimens they are. What has always struck the writer on visiting this building has been the want of warmth in the colours inside. This is accounted for by the fact that the greater part of the old stained glass was destroyed by Monmouth's followers when they had charge of this part of England, immediately prior to the Battle of Sedgemoor, and whose Protestant zeal promoted them to make havoc with all pictures or statuary which in any way suggested Papacy. It is in Wells where the extraordinary secondary and inverted arches were used in order to give support to the great central tower. The western front, like that of Canterbury, York, and Lincoln, is flanked by two towers, and, the gable being partly hidden by a stone screen richly deco-

rated by niches holding statues, the effect Is more in accord with continental ideas than with those that are generally looked upon as English. Bath abbey as it now stands is an excellent specimen of Perpendicular Gothic, and rivals the famous church of St. Mary's, Redcliffe, in the neighbouring city of Bristol. Though Bath gives its name to the bishopric, its abbey has no characteristics of a cathedral. It is siniplv a large beautiful church situated in the centre of one of the most charming cities in the Empire, a city that was a place of importance at the time of the Roman occupation of Britain ; and almost within the shadow of the abbey there are, even now, the actual swimming baths which were used by that all-ccnqueung people, and which, after being buried for centuries, were only discovered a few years ago. The west front

of this church contains one of the best proportioned Perpendicular Gothic windows in England ; and in other respects as before noted, the facade generally is a good specimen of that late period of architecture. The attention of the reader is called to the extraordinary decoration of the two octagonal buttresses on each side of the window. These represent Jacob's Ladder with the angels thereon. One or more of these angelic beings have their heads downwards, but this is not apparent in the picture, particularly as one of them, if the writer remembers' correctly, is hidden behind the electric light just in the foreground. To the right of the picture is the famous pump room, at one time the resort during the season of the great wits of the day, when Beau Kash attiacted all that was fashionable and bright te this inland watering-place. The photo-

graph also shows one of the well-known hooded chairs which have derived their name from this city — Bath chains being known as such in all Knglish - speaking countries. It is with regret that one parts from the beautiful west country of England, so rich in natural, as well as architectural, beaaties. The luined abbeys of Glastonbury and Tintern, the cathed r als of Gloucester, Bristol, and Wells, and the smaller churches of Wrington and Banwell, and many others, are all within easy reach of Bath, and help to make this city one of the most favoured in the British Isles. A special word of thanks is due Mr. C. Dillworth Fox, of Scargill Canterbury, through whose courtesy we are enabled to publish tMs series of excellent \ iews. — F de J. Clere.