Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society . wned with spires, formingfour magnificent pinnacles to the whole tower, and rising as the naturalfinish of the pinnacles below. This glorious idea, which I have nohesitation in ranking among the very highest achievements of architecturalgenius, I have as yet seen completely realised in two cases only, Wringtonand St. Cuthberts at Wells. Of these two I think Wrington may fairlyclaim the first place, and is therefore probably entitled to the designationof the finest square western tower, not designed for a spire or lantern,
Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society . wned with spires, formingfour magnificent pinnacles to the whole tower, and rising as the naturalfinish of the pinnacles below. This glorious idea, which I have nohesitation in ranking among the very highest achievements of architecturalgenius, I have as yet seen completely realised in two cases only, Wringtonand St. Cuthberts at Wells. Of these two I think Wrington may fairlyclaim the first place, and is therefore probably entitled to the designationof the finest square western tower, not designed for a spire or lantern,in all England, and therefore possibly in the whole It is saidthat the proportions of the Victoria Tower at Westminster were takenfrom those of Wrington. Structurally, the church pertains to the tower rather than the tower tothe church, and so regarded the church is not so inadequate as it is oftenrepresented to be. Still, even externally, the expedient of extending theaisles along the sides of the chancel in order to gain apparent length 1 I. 54- Wrington. 17. F. J. Hirst, Photo. WEST WINDOW, SHEWING LINE OF THE OLD ROOF ONTHE TOWER. for the nave is not successful, and the blank walls facing the roof ofthe chancel are ugly. The view from the south-east, however, gives avery beautiful grouping of the church and tower. With regard to details,the niches in the angle-buttresses of the chancel should be noticed;there seems also to have been another under the east window. Thebuttress which flanks the rood-stairway on the north side of the churchdivides above into a triple buttress, surmounted by miniature the gable of the nave is a curiously wrought bell-cote. Internallythe history of the church is easily read. The oldest part is the Decoratedchancel; next in date came the tower, and then—as at Banwell—the navewas built up between the two. The line of the old roof can be seen onthe east face of the tower wall; the panelling of the tower arch should benoticed,
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbristola, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1902
