18. Architecture—(a) Ecclesiastical.

A preliminary word on the various styles of English architecture is necessary before we consider the churches and other important buildings of our county.

Pre-Norman or, as it is usually, though with no great certainty termed, Saxon building in England, was the work of early craftsmen with an imperfect knowledge of stone construction, who commonly used rough rubble walls, no buttresses, small semicircular or triangular arches, and square towers with what is termed “long-and-short work” at the quoins or corners. It survives almost solely in portions of small churches. .

Norman Porch, Balderton Church.
Norman Porch, Balderton Church.

The Norman Conquest started a widespread building of massive churches and castles in the continental style called Romanesque, which in England has got the name of “Norman.” They had walls of great thickness, semi-circular vaults, round-headed doors and windows, and lofty square towers.

From to 1200 the building became lighter, the arches pointed, and there was perfected the science of vaulting, by which the weight is brought upon piers and buttresses. This method of building, the “Gothic,” originated from the endeavour to cover the widest and loftiest areas with the greatest economy of stone. The first English Gothic, called “Early English,” from about 1180 to 1250, is characterised by slender piers (commonly of marble), lofty pointed vaults, and long, narrow, lancet-headed windows. After 1250 the windows became broader, divided up, and ornamented by patterns of tracery, while in the vault the ribs were multiplied. The greatest elegance of English Gothic was reached from 1260 to 1290, at which date English sculpture was at its highest, and art in painting, coloured glass making, and general craftsmanship at its zenith.

After 1300 the structure of stone buildings began to be overlaid with ornament, the window tracery and vault ribs were of intricate patterns, the pinnacles and spires loaded with crocket and ornament. This later style is known as “Decorated,” and came to an end with the Black Death, which stopped all building for a time.

With the changed conditions of life the type of building changed. With curious uniformity and quickness the style called “Perpendicular “—which is unknown abroad—developed after 1360 in all parts of England and lasted with scarcely any change up to 1520. As its name implies, it is characterised by the perpendicular arrangement of the tracery and panels on walls and in windows, and it is also distinguished by the flattened arches and the square arrangement of the mouldings over them, by the elaborate vault-traceries (especially fan-vaulting), and by the use of flat roofs and towers without spires.

The mediaeval styles in England ended with the dissolution of the monasteries (1530—1540), for the Reformation checked the building of churches. There succeeded the building of manor-houses, in which the style called “Tudor” arose—distinguished by flat-headed windows, level ceilings, and panelled rooms. The ornaments of classic style were introduced under the influences of Renaissance sculpture and distinguish the “Jacobean” style, so called after James I. About this time the professional architect arose. Hitherto, building had been entirely in the hands of the builder and the craftsman.

Southwell Cathedral.
Southwell Cathedral.

When the early builders wanted a larger place of worship they did not pull down all the work of their forefathers but added to or altered it. Consequently many of their buildings exhibit the workmanship of several periods. Amongst these Southwell Cathedral stands out pre-eminently.

The nave and transepts were built about 1110 in typical Norman style. The semicircular arches, sturdy round pillars, and massive walls were intended to carry a stone roof, which however was never completed. The dark recesses of the triforium and the brightness of the clerestory windows above produced broad contrasts of light and shade.

The Choir was built between 1230 and 1250 during the Early English period. The builders had now learnt to appreciate and use pointed arches. The loftiness of these encroached upon the space given to the dark triforium, but finer light and shade effects were now produced by deep mouldings upon the arches and capitals. The windows were made lancet-shaped, and later several were grouped together, thus foreshadowing those of the next period.

The Nave, Southwell Cathedral.
The Nave, Southwell Cathedral.

The Chapter House was added from 1285 to 1300 during the Decorated period. Stone carving now reached its sublimest height. The great weight of the stone roof was now thrown entirely upon deep buttresses. Thus it became possible to make spacious windows by bringing together several lancets and opening out the space above with a geometrical pattern. This gave ample room for the display of the beautiful stained glass which was rapidly becoming the pride of the age.

In the latter part of the fourteenth century the builders of the Perpendicular period spoiled the grandeur of the west front by inserting a great window with mullions rising straight from the bottom to the top. Its lack of harmony with its Norman surroundings did not trouble them. They thought only of the glory which would flood the nave as the rays of the setting sun streamed through the broad expanse of beautifully stained glass.

Compared with Northamptonshire or even with its neighbour Lincolnshire this county is not rich in parish church architecture. Nevertheless there are examples of more than ordinary interest. A large portion of Blyth church is older than Southwell Cathedral. Newark parish church combines all the pointed Gothic styles, and its spire is one of the finest in the kingdom. St Mary’s, Nottingham, is very largely in the Perpendicular style, and its numerous windows have caused it to be compared with a lantern. Thurgarton church is a gem of Early English work. At Newstead Abbey the west front of the original priory church stands out as a beautiful though ruined example of Early English and Decorated work.

St Mary's Church, Nottingham.
St Mary's Church, Nottingham.

A study of several churches in any part of the county will furnish illustrations of all the styles. Only a few can be mentioned. The chancel arch at Carlton-inLindrick supplies us with an example of Saxon work. The Norman style is illustrated by beautiful arcades at the same place and at South Collingham and South Scarle, also by the chancel arch at Everton and doorways at Balderton, Carlton-on-Trent, Laneham, Teversall, and Woodborough. Early English naves exist at Car Colston, Lowdham, South Leverton, and Everton. Spires, which on the whole are characteristic of the Midland counties, are not so numerous here as in Leicestershire. Most of them belong to the Decorated period, e.g. Bingham, Mansfield Woodhouse, Newark, and St Peter’s, Nottingham. On the other hand many of the square towers were erected during the Perpendicular period, as Rolleston, Hawton, Keyworth, and Shelford.

Who were the architects of these buildings? It may be said that there were none in the sense we understand the term now. The men who built these magnificent cathedrals of our land, which our most practised architects cannot equal, were little more than practical builders. From the earliest times Christianity has had men who have devoted their lives to preaching its messages to and organising its worship for the public. To them we owe the Collegiate (now Cathedral) Church at Southwell, and practically all the parish churches.

Holme Church.
Holme Church.

Distinct from such men were the monks, who lived a life of seclusion in monasteries and ordered their lives according to severe rules. In the sixth century Benedict reformed and reorganised the system in Western Europe. Thus arose the Benedictine Order, which had a large priory in this county at Blyth. In the tenth and eleventh centuries new Orders were founded with similar and often stricter rules. The great priory at Lenton belonged to the Cluniacs, whose parent institution was at Cluny. The Carthusians, whose order was founded at La Chartreuse near Grenoble, had an establishment at Beauvale. The Cistercians, who had an abbey at Rufflrd, came from Citeaux (Cistertium) in Burgundy.

Some of the first class also adopted a monastic life. Their rules were not as severe as those of the monks, and they followed the teachings of St Augustine. These were therefore called the Augustine or Austin Canons. They were great architects and we possess examples of their handiwork in Newstead Abbey (p. 96), and in the priory churches of Worksop and Thurgarton. The Praemonstratensians, who were an offshoot from the Austin Canons, had an abbey at Welbeck. The Gilbertine Canons had a priory at Mattersey.

In the reign of Henry VIII all the monasteries were suppressed, the monks dispersed, their funds used for other purposes, and their lands given away or sold. In many cases the buildings became mere quarries, and consequently much of the stonework of these old architects was ruthlessly destroyed. Their greatest work however can never be thus obliterated. They have made a lasting impression on the religion and literature of our land. Moreover they were the chief agriculturists of the Middle Ages; they developed commerce and made England the chief wool-growing country of Europe.