1859.] on Modern Gothic Architectufe. 61 



as I had expected from the beginning that we should when the superi- 

 ority of the geometrical or early decorated style had shown itself in 

 the body of the church ; and you have seen that certainly no favour- 

 able critic admits that the new tower is superior to the old one. It is 

 however very singular, and it may be another warning to the Taunton 

 people, that there is one point in which it has miscarried, and that is 

 just the one in which we were assured that the old arrangement had 

 been followed most exactly ; but it turned out, when the failure was 

 perceived, too late, that the clerk who had professed to measure the 

 ruins had just left out one critical measure ; which was accordingly 

 filled up in the new tower by a guess ; and that guess was wrong, and 

 has made the crown of pinnacles too wide, as the tops of the later 

 towers generally were, but as the earlier and better one of old Don- 

 caster church was not. If then a tower of the best age of the per- 

 pendicular style could be improved where the design was avowedly 

 altered (retaining however the same general outline and character), 

 and has only come short of the old one where no alteration was in- 

 tended, it will be a strange thing indeed, if a tower of the worst per- 

 pendicular age could not be still more improved when it has become 

 necessary to rebuild it. And further I say that the wilful refusal to 

 endeavour to improve it because improvement is alteration, is as 

 monstrous an instance as could be conceived of architecture being 

 over-ridden by a sham archaeological pedantry, and no ridicule can be too 

 great for either those who require it, or those who condescend to do it. 



Such are the causes which, as I think, have retarded and are still 

 retarding the efficient revival of what was for four centuries and more 

 the architecture of all kingdoms north of the Alps, which had any ; 

 the only architecture which ever was in them, indigenous, progressive, 

 universal ; serving for all purposes, and adapting itself equally well to 

 all ; fettered by fewer restrictions than any architecture that the world 

 has seen ; capable perhaps yet of expansion beyond what was then 

 thought of when the wants of mankind were fewer, but of expansion 

 on its own principles, and not (as I believe) on the principles of that 

 other architecture, which served to bridge over the gap from the 

 archless styles of the " pre-scientific ages," but was itself absorbed in 

 the infinitely greater capacity of the pointed arch styles, and has never 

 been able to advance since : reappearing indeed when the decay of 

 Gothic principles, and the absence of all power of artistic invention, 

 left an opening for it, but always going on upon the same dead level of 

 heavy uniformity and pompous dulness, sometimes rather better and 

 sometimes rather worse, as the leading architect of one age happens to 

 be better or worse than of another ; harmonising with no face of nature 

 where nature has a face to show, and tolerating no individuality where 

 it has not, but sinking the thing which each man calls his house in a 

 monotonous array of windows and pilasters, which may begin and end 

 anywhere ; incapable of any effect without the aid of great size, and 

 even then not knowing how to rise with it except by mere repetition 

 of features of no beauty by themselves. Is the best window in St, 



