Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-01-05

aspect OF grandeur in its main features
though plain in its details, excepting the
handsomely sculptured capitals. Nearly all
however, OF Edwards building was pulled
down by Henry III, who at an immense cost
built the greater part of the church as it now
stands, and the chapel where tho Confessor is
buried. In the succeeding regns most of
the portions included in Hcnry's designs we're
completed, and several of the chapels which
cluster around the east end were built. In
stead Of carrying up the central tower at the
intersection of the nave and transepts, begun
by Henry and never completed, Sir Christie
| pher Wren, the architect of St. Pauls In the
latter part of the 18th century, built two
ornamental square towers on the west front,
which on account of their shortness compared
with the great length of the church, their
contrast in style with the older and palmer
portions, and in fact their entire want OF
keeping with the main original design, arc
almost universally considered by artists as
in very bad taste. No additions have since
been made. You see how many different
ages have left their monuments in these sue
cessive contributions to the Westminster
Abbey of the present time indeed in its diff.
ferent parts, the history of architecture fol
six centuries is illustrated by an unbroker
series of examples.
At the dissolution of Monasteres by Hen
ny VIII, Westminster Abbey was changed
into q Cathedral Church with a Bishop
| nj nr;o l.nt
shortly after included within the Diocese Q
London. From the transfer of certain prop
crty at this time to St. Paul is said to hay
originated the proverb of "robbing Peter t
pay Paul" 1t again became a Monastery i
the reign Of Mary, but wa. restored to it
former foundation on the accession of Eliza
beth. Many of the relics and archives wer
destroyed by the image-breakers Of Crom
we'll, but he would not suffer a hand to t
lifted against the building itself. At I'll
Restoration its old functions were again r,
stored, and since that period it ha. maintain
ed peaceable possession of them to the pre-
ent time. You see that in the ycissitudes
political history also. Westminster Able
has largely shared.
Now let us try to get coup d al of i
exterior, The first thing which arrestsy
attention from among the modern structur
= of Parliament Street, is black but delicat
= ly wrought carved building, rich in trace
and beautifully pinnacled This is the
~ nous Chapel of Henry VII, at the east Ell
~ of the Church. Shortly the whole north si
n. with it, massive buttre,.es, the black fro
4, of the north transert with its exquisite
Id beautiful rose windows, and the towers of L
v. .ve.. front, out over the paved buryii
!" ground. No one, even though stranger
g the grand association, of the place, cou
:" look for the first time upon the sombre b
imposing exterior of Westminster Abb
q. without losing himself in wonder. a near
&c. view would show that there was not only
magnifcence in the massive outlines, but
/ beauty and finish of detail even about the
huge members. There are inches in all t
nine butresses, and statues still remain
four Of them The mouldings and trace
are characterized by beauty of design IA
" equalled.
nave brought you 10 the hDDey ny
only direction from which a good coup
ell can be had. On the south side are sit,
ted the Cloisters, the Deans House,
Chapter House. (now used for the custody
Tvs records. among which is the original Door
est day Book) and other buildings connec
I'D with the Abbey which cut off all view fr
that quarter Taking it for granted that
e" architectural descriptions of the New Yc
"s Crystal Palace have made you all famil
:. with the terms used i'll designating tho pa
nd of building in the form of cross, | ST.
in. describe Westminster Abbey as q crucifo
AN Church whose nave is four hundred and Il
q ty feet in length, and with the aislcs scve
&C. one feet in breadth the transept two hu
M red and three feet in length and eighty-f
in breadth the height of the western tow
two hundred and twenty five feet. In t
part of the church which is east of the tr
scpts are seven small chnpel., where the
mains of many kings and eminent noblen
are buried east of all, but attached to
Church, is the Chapel of Henry VII.
The Interior must form the subject Of {
other letter.
Your Chronicler,
GRIFFITH