Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/393

 ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE (THE NORMAN STYLE). 335 and having an inclination of forty-five degrees, the covering being of Jead or shingles. The simple framing is either left exposed, or -has a flat ceiling boarded and decorated. In fact, all the existing cathedrals or abbeys of this period had originally wooden ceilings, but were vaulted later, as at Gloucester, Exeter, and Durham. E. Columns. — These are low, massive, and either polygonal or circular (No. 135), as at Gloucester, Bristol, and Exeter, while at Durham fluting and zigzag channellings were worked on the columns, without regard to the courses. Clustered piers, as at Peterborough (No. 122), with rectangular recesses, were also used, often in conjunction with round piers, as at Durham and Waltham. The small shafts occurring in the recessed orders of doorways and windows were sometimes richly ornamented. Capitals (Nos. 146 and 148), are usually of the cushion form, being sometimes carved and scolloped, but occasionally forms reminiscent of Roman architecture occur, as the Ionic example, in the White Tower, London (No. 135). The Corinthian type frequently met with in France is rare. F. Mouldings. — The ornamented mouldings, as the chevron or zigzag, billet, beak-head, nail-head, bowtel, or roll moulding, are shown on Nos. 139 and 146, and form a most important decorative element in the style. Corbel tables, supported by corbels or grotesques, constitute crowning features on walls and towers. G. Ornament. — The plain treatment of the earlier period was succeeded by the highly decorated work of the late period, which was richly carved with nail-head, corbel, billet, and other orna- mented mouldings (No. 139). Wall arcades of intersecting arches (No. 136 b), along the lower part of the aisle walls, constituted an effective dado decoration. It is probable that hangings were employed in interiors. Rudimentary decoration, consisting of black and white, or simple colours in stripes, forming lozenge-shaped and other figures roughly executed in distemper, produced a bold and not unpleas- mg effect, as in the roof at Peterborough. Late in the period stained glass began to be employed, the glass, in small pieces, being chiefly white, leaded together to form patterns, with the addition of brown lines. A Norman font, piscina and sedilia are shown on No. 144, THE EARLY ENGLISH STYLE. Also known as Lancet, First Pointed, Early Plantagenet, or Thirteen Century Style, comprises the reigns of Richard I., ii8g- 1199; John, 1199-1216; Henry III., 1216-1272; Edward I., 1272-1307. The style of this period, shaking itself free from the massive