| 8 | A B B | |
of life, except cloathing, of which they
were to have only a gown every year. To
this foundation also belong choristers, sing-
ing-men, an organist, twelve alms-men,
&c.
The Abbey church, which was stripped
of many of its decorations by Henry VIII.
and was much damaged both within and
without during the unhappy civil commo-
tions that defaced the ancient beauty of
most of the religious house in this king-
dom, has continued from the death of
Henry VII. almost to the present time,
without any other considerable repairs, and
was gradually falling to ruin, when the
Parliament interposed, and ordered a tho-
rough reparation at the national expence.
This venerable fabric has been accord-
ingly new coated on the outside, except
that part called Henry the Seventh's chapel,
which is indeed a separate building: and
the west end has been adorned with two
new stately towers that have been lately
rebuilt, in such a manner as to be thought
equal in point of workmanship to any part
of the ancient building; but though such
pains have been taken in the coating, to
preserve the ancient Gothic grandeur, that
this church in its distant prospect has all
|
| | the |
|
| A B B | 9 |
the venerable majesty of its former state,
yet the beautiful carving with which it
was once adorned, is irretrievably lost;
the buttresses, once capped with turrets,
are now made in plain pyramidical forms,
and topped with freestone; and the statues
of our ancient Kings that formerly stood in
niches, near the tops of those buttresses, are
for the most part removed, and their bro-
ken fragments lodged in the roof of Henry
the Seventh's chapel. Three of these statues
are still standing next the towers on the
north side, and indeed that is the only side
where you can take a view of the Abbey,
the other side being so incumbered with
buildings, that even its situation cannot be
distinguished.
What next to the new towers principally
engages the attention on the outside, is
the Gothic portico which leads into the
north cross, which by some has been stiled
the Beautiful, or Solomon's Gate. This was
probably built by Richard II. as his arms
carved in stone was formerly over the gate.
It has been lately beautified, and over it is
a new window admirably well executed.
Besides these there is little in the outward
appearance capable of engaging the atten-
|
| | tion, |
|
HomeVolume IPage Group i - 19
