Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/436

 37« COMPARATIVE ARCHITECTURE. The south of France has many examples of stone houses, and throughout the country half-timbered houses with plaster filling are still to be seen, as at Rouen, although fire and decay have naturally reduced their number. Students are often inclined to think that Gothic architecture was confined to ecclesiatical work, but it should be remembered that the style was employed in every building of the period. 4. COMPARATIVE. FRENCH GOTHIC. A. Plans (No. 159). — Short, wide, and high. Length about four times the width. Cloisters rare, except in the south, where richly designed examples are met with. Transepts have slight projec- tion, as may be seen in the sheet of comparative plans (No. 155). Side chapels numerous, due to the popular character of the Cathe- dral for the worship of saints and saving of masses. The apsidal east end developed into the chevct by addition of pro- cessional aisle and chapels, but Liion, Dol, and Poitiers are excep- tions. The aisles are sometimes double, as at Notre Dame, Paris (No. 157), Amiens, Bourges, Rheimsand Chartres. Two western towers (Nos. 154, 161 and 162) characteristic, the probable reason being that the great height of nave prevented a central tower being effective. A vfoodenfleche oiien constructed over the crossing, as at Amiens (422 feet high) No. 165 b). Central spires are common in Normandy. Towers sometimes attempted in groups by placing four at the angles formed by the junction of the nave and transepts, and two at the west end, with central fl^che only, as at Laon. Arcading widely spaced and general largeness of parts. Chap- ter houses never polygonal. ENGLISH GOTHIC A. Plans (No. 159). — Long, narrow, and low. Length about six times the width. Cloisters frequent, owing to monastic foundation, and charac- teristic of English Cathedrals. Transepts have bold projection, and a second eastern transept is found, as at Salisbury and Lincoln. Side chapels seldom met with, due to the fact that the principal cathedrals were churches belonging to monastic foundations. The square east end charac- teristic. The "Nine Altars" at Durham as an east end transept is remarkable. The aisles are nearly always single, Chichester (No. 119 g) and Manchester (No. 119 b), being the only exceptions (page 305). The central tower the most suc- cessful and predominant feature, as at Gloucester (No. 115 h). Here- ford (No. 115 f), Rochester (No. 114 e), Salisbury (with spire) (No. 116 a), and Norwich (with spire) (No. 116 d); or combined with one western tower, as at Ely (No. 114 c). A single western tower is charac- teristic of parish churches. Towers frequently arranged as a group of three, viz., two western and one central, as at Lincoln (No. 116 b), Canterbury (No. ii6c), Durham (No. 114 b) and York (No. 115 a). Arcading closely spaced and general smallness of parts. Chap- ter houses are often polygonal.