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Article ;~ ; • I' ¦ " • ¦ LONDON AND MIDDLESEX A... ← Page 4 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
;~ ; • I' ¦ " • ¦ London And Middlesex A...
Mr . Hugo , for the trouble he had taken in seeking out and giving them the lecture upon the White Tower , thereby increasing their interest in this particular part of the building . The Society left this chamber , roof , & c . by the same staircase by which they had entered , and walked round the outside of the keep until they arrived at the south-west turret , when they ascended , and access was
gained to the Chapel of St . Jo-hn the Evangelist , long designated as " Csesar ' s Chapel . " It is a very curious specimen of the bold and massive character of £ Torman architecture ; and now that the numerous presses , which formerly contained the Rolls , have been removed , can be seen to advantage . It consists of a nave and two side aisles , which unite behind where the high altar formerly stood , forming a semicircle . The nave is divided from the aisles by twelve columns or pillars ,
and two pilasters . These pillars are perfectly plain , but the ornaments on the capitals are various , and nearly all have the plain temple cross carved upon them in bold relief . On two of the capitals , the volute scroll is introduced . Each of them is terminated by a square abacus , for the most part enriched with sculpture . The roofs of the aisles are vaulted , and strengthened by pilasters , which , in looking down the vista , give the appearance of the horse-shoe arch . Above the aisles is a
gallery running round the chapel , the same width as the aisles , but of less elevation . The chapel is lighted by eleven windows , —five in the south aisle , three in the south gallery , and three at the circular end . A member of the committee here took upon hmself the duties of cicerone , and mentioned some facts relative to this chapel . He stated that it was used for the private devotions of the sovereign , his family , and household , when court was kept at the Tower . In the reign of
Henry III ., service was regularly performed here by a chaplain , who was paid a yearly stipend of fifty shillings . There were also provided for his use robes , chalice , and everything requisite for the service of the Church . This king likewise granted a further sum of fifty shillings a year to the master and wardens of the Hospital of St . Katherine , provided they supplied a priest who should daily say prayers in the Tower chapel , for the benefit of the soul of his sister-in-law , the Countess of Cornwall ..
In the year 1240 , this monarch also ordered that three stained-glass windows should be made , representing " Little Mary holding her Child , " " The Holy Trinity , " and " St . John the Evangelist ; " he also had two images made , representing St . Edward the Confessor holding a ring and giving it to the Apostle St . John . Doubtless it fell into disuse and dilapidation about the time when the Tower ceased to be used as a royal residence , but at what time the chapel
was first used as a repository for the records is unknown . We may notice the very careless manner in which some of these invaluable documents were being stowed away in sacks and rammed down by a man ' s foot , and it is impossible to conceive the dust and filth of ages which had been suffered to collect on these X > recious records , still lying on shelves , without even a door upon the press , to prevent any of them being clandestinely removed .
On leaving the chapel the party visited the armories and inspected the various suits of harness allotted to kings and nobles , who never wore them ; or , if they did , no authentic record remains to prove that these identical suits belonged to the parties whose names are depicted on the banners over them ; " For until the year 1826 , " says Mr . Rritton , " nothing could present a more incongruous mass of discordant materials than the horse armory of the Tower of I ^ op don . Armour VOL . III . 6 T
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
;~ ; • I' ¦ " • ¦ London And Middlesex A...
Mr . Hugo , for the trouble he had taken in seeking out and giving them the lecture upon the White Tower , thereby increasing their interest in this particular part of the building . The Society left this chamber , roof , & c . by the same staircase by which they had entered , and walked round the outside of the keep until they arrived at the south-west turret , when they ascended , and access was
gained to the Chapel of St . Jo-hn the Evangelist , long designated as " Csesar ' s Chapel . " It is a very curious specimen of the bold and massive character of £ Torman architecture ; and now that the numerous presses , which formerly contained the Rolls , have been removed , can be seen to advantage . It consists of a nave and two side aisles , which unite behind where the high altar formerly stood , forming a semicircle . The nave is divided from the aisles by twelve columns or pillars ,
and two pilasters . These pillars are perfectly plain , but the ornaments on the capitals are various , and nearly all have the plain temple cross carved upon them in bold relief . On two of the capitals , the volute scroll is introduced . Each of them is terminated by a square abacus , for the most part enriched with sculpture . The roofs of the aisles are vaulted , and strengthened by pilasters , which , in looking down the vista , give the appearance of the horse-shoe arch . Above the aisles is a
gallery running round the chapel , the same width as the aisles , but of less elevation . The chapel is lighted by eleven windows , —five in the south aisle , three in the south gallery , and three at the circular end . A member of the committee here took upon hmself the duties of cicerone , and mentioned some facts relative to this chapel . He stated that it was used for the private devotions of the sovereign , his family , and household , when court was kept at the Tower . In the reign of
Henry III ., service was regularly performed here by a chaplain , who was paid a yearly stipend of fifty shillings . There were also provided for his use robes , chalice , and everything requisite for the service of the Church . This king likewise granted a further sum of fifty shillings a year to the master and wardens of the Hospital of St . Katherine , provided they supplied a priest who should daily say prayers in the Tower chapel , for the benefit of the soul of his sister-in-law , the Countess of Cornwall ..
In the year 1240 , this monarch also ordered that three stained-glass windows should be made , representing " Little Mary holding her Child , " " The Holy Trinity , " and " St . John the Evangelist ; " he also had two images made , representing St . Edward the Confessor holding a ring and giving it to the Apostle St . John . Doubtless it fell into disuse and dilapidation about the time when the Tower ceased to be used as a royal residence , but at what time the chapel
was first used as a repository for the records is unknown . We may notice the very careless manner in which some of these invaluable documents were being stowed away in sacks and rammed down by a man ' s foot , and it is impossible to conceive the dust and filth of ages which had been suffered to collect on these X > recious records , still lying on shelves , without even a door upon the press , to prevent any of them being clandestinely removed .
On leaving the chapel the party visited the armories and inspected the various suits of harness allotted to kings and nobles , who never wore them ; or , if they did , no authentic record remains to prove that these identical suits belonged to the parties whose names are depicted on the banners over them ; " For until the year 1826 , " says Mr . Rritton , " nothing could present a more incongruous mass of discordant materials than the horse armory of the Tower of I ^ op don . Armour VOL . III . 6 T