Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/834

 676 1 he Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [May, pebbles find gravel, similar to the work of other buildings known to have been erected about the same time. The lower part of the two towers which rise from this front are also of Norman architecture, but the workmanship is more ornamented, and of neater execu- tion ; as is also that of the three portals, which show most elaborate specimens of semi-circular Norman arches. These are commonly ascribed to Bishop Alex- ander, who sat on the Episcopal throne till the year 114?. But, to whomsoever belong the credits of its many excellen- cies, there is one thing certain, that Lincoln Cathedral is intrinsically beau- tiful, and well worthy of all the admira- tion that can be lavished on it. True, it is not an archiepiscopal church like the Cathedral of York ; yet, as a design of singular beauty in many of its parts, we cannot but look upon it, at least, with equal favor. The name, Lincoln, is derived from that given by the Romans, Lindum Colonia, to the city where it stands, and simply implies the " colon}', or village, of Lindom." By a very easy contraction of each word this became Lincoln. The city occupies N t>he side of a hill the top of which is crowned >y the beautiful Cathedral, majestic in itself, yet rendered still more so by its commanding position. It can be seen from a great distance, and presents to the eye a most imposing appearance. The length of Lincoln Cathedral is about four hundred and eighty feet, and the width of the nave is eight}' feet. Its plan is that of a double cross : that is, it has two transepts; one two hundred and twenty feet, the other one hundred and seventy feet in length. It has three towers ; the great, or central tower, being two hundred and forty feet high. The two western towers are each one bunched and eight}' feet high. Formerly the latter had spires which made them one hundred feet higher — that is, two hundred and eighty feet. These spires were constructed of wood and were covered with lead. They were slender and graceful, giving a very elegant finish to that part of the com- position. In a mistaken effort at im- provement, in the year 1807, they were taken down. In one of the west towers formerly hung the bell so widely known as Great Tom of Lincoln. It was cast in 1610, and was broken up and re-cast in 1834, together with six other bells. It was from all these combined that the present bell was cast which hangs now in the central tower. This great bell weighs five tons and eight hundred- weight, and is six feet ten inches and a half, or, nearly seven feet, in diameter at the mouth. The Cathedral is almost all in the stjde called Early English, and was built in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. There are, however, some very curious Norman details to be seen in some parts especially. In examining the south tower and gable, we find a series of small pointed arches, just above the roof, noticeable not 'only for their being very early examples of that form of arch, but also as affording a proof of its having originated in the intersections of semicircular arches. There are two arcades of these, one above the other ; the one being of regular pointed arches ; and the other, as we have said, being pointed by reason of their intersection, although Norman in themselves. The proportions and details of both agree exactly. The lower portion of the north tower is composed of Norman Archi- tecture. The lofty superstructures of these towers were added in the fifteenth century. The western front, as finished by the Norman prelates, not satisfying the magnificent ideas of their successors, very large additions were made to it in the early part of the thirteenth century, and the whole was decorated in the highest style of embellishment peculiar to the earliest order of Pointed Archi- tecture. The foliage is relieved with a most masterly hand, the mouldings are scooped into deep hollows, marking