Ruined abbeys and castles of Great Britain and Ireland . to the tranfepts,but they are lefs ornate, and of fmaller dimenfions. Within thegreat round arch is a lefTer pointed one, evidently inferted after-wards to contra6t the pafTage to a more convenient fize. Aroundand above this great archway are four fucceflive tiers of archesrunning along the whole face of the front,—the lower andthird interlacing, the fecond fhort and round, the fourth anduppermoft confifting of curious zigzag arches. There hasbeen a noble lofty window over the great weftern door,apparently of the perpendicular order. Alt
Ruined abbeys and castles of Great Britain and Ireland . to the tranfepts,but they are lefs ornate, and of fmaller dimenfions. Within thegreat round arch is a lefTer pointed one, evidently inferted after-wards to contra6t the pafTage to a more convenient fize. Aroundand above this great archway are four fucceflive tiers of archesrunning along the whole face of the front,—the lower andthird interlacing, the fecond fhort and round, the fourth anduppermoft confifting of curious zigzag arches. There hasbeen a noble lofty window over the great weftern door,apparently of the perpendicular order. Altogether, the wefternfront muft have been very beautiful. CASTLEACRE PRIORY. 123 The defcription of the Priory in Blomfields Hiftory, in 1775,fhows that the whole of the fl:ru£lure was of equal elegance,and was a place of great extent: The fite of the priory church,which lies weft of the caftle, was a venerable large Gothicpile of freeftone, flint, &c., and built in a cathedral or con-ventual manner. Great part of the front, or weft end of it, is. CASTLEACRE PRIORY : WEST FRONT. ftill remaining, where the principal entrance was through agreat arch, over which was a ftately window. On each fideof the great door were doors to enter into the north and fouthaifles. At the north and fouth ends of this front ftood twotowers, fupported by ftrong arches and pillars. The nave, 124 CASTLEACRE PRIORY. or body, had twelve great pillars, making feven arches on eachfide, the loweft joining to the towers. On the eaft end of thenave flood the grand tower, fupported by four great pillars,throuo-h which was the entrance into the choir. On the fouthand north fides of this tower were two crofs aifles or tranfepts ;and at the end of the north tranfept there feems to have beena chapel or veftry. The choir was of equal breadth with thenave and aifles, but much ftiorter, and the eaft end of it wasin form of a chapel. The chapter-houfe feems to have joinedthe eaft fide of the cloifter, and the dormit
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