Page:An Elementary History of Art.djvu/150

 120 Architecture in Great Britain. The original stone edifice of Westminster Abbey was built by Edward the Confessor, 'between 1055 and 1065. All that now remains of it is the Pyx* House — a low, narrow room, with a vaulted roof, divided down the centre by a row of seven plain pillars with simple capitals. Fig. 53. — Doorway of Barfreston Church, Kent. The principal characteristics of Saxon work are plain semicircular arches, short columns, with rude capitals decorated with indentions of various lengths, or a rough to contain the Eucharistic elements.
 * The Pyx is the sacred vessel used in Roman Catholic churcl.es