Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/148

132 132 ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE. Part II. the Conquest, were erected on very nearly the same plan as that at Norwich. Durham (1095-1133) was the first to show any marked deviation from the type^ (Woodcut No. 568). The nave and choir became nearly proportioned to one another, and for the first time we see a distinct determination from the first that the building should bevaiilted. All this involved an amount of design and contrivance which entirely emancipated us from the Continental type, and may be considered as laying the foundation of the English style. In addition to what was doing at Durham, there prevailed an extraordinary activity in churcli building in the North of Eng- land during the whole of the 12th century, owing to the erec- tion of the great abbeys whose gigantic fossils still adorn every main valley in Yorkshire. As this part of the country was more remote from foreign influ- ence than the South, the style developed itself there with a vio-or and originality not found elsewhere ; but its effect was appreciated, and when Lincoln was rebuilt, about the year 1200, the English style was perfected in all essential parts. This is even more remarkably shown, however, at Salisl)ury, com- menced in 1220 and completed in 1258. In this church we have a plan not only extremely beau- tiful, but perfectly orisfinal. 668. Plan of Durham Cathedral. (From Bil- lings.) Scale iOU ft. to 1 in. There is scarcely a trace of French or foreign influence ; everything is the result of the native elaboration during the previous century and a half. The internal dimensions, according to Britton, are 450 ft. by 78, a little under the English standard, but sufiiciently long 1 The internal dimensions of Durham Cathedral are 413-10 feet, exclusive of the Galilee. The nave is 81 feet wide, of the choir, 77-2. (Billings.)