l82 THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN ESSEX. 



English Gothic. I have often said that I believe the glass 

 painters of this period had very considerable influence upon the 

 architecture of the period. The small narrow window of the 

 Norman and Early English period gave but little scope to the 

 mediaeval artist in painted glass for the exhibition of his talent, and 

 we can well imagine how the painted glass artists would urge 

 upon the architects of that day the necessity for affording them a 

 better and wider scope for their talents. 



I need hardly remind you that architects of all people in the 

 world, are the most eager to assist their artistic brethren, and I can 

 quite believe that the architects of the fourteenth century would be 

 actuated by the same feelings. At any rate, it is clear that as soon 

 as the narrow lancet window of the Early English architects had 

 become discarded, great advances were made in the enlargement 

 of the window until at last, in the Perpendicular period, the window 

 had almost become absorbed in what might be called a glazed wall. 



But to return. The period we have now to consider is 

 the Decorated period, extending from about 1307 to about 1377. 

 If the transition from Norman to Early English was gradual, much 

 more so was the transition from Early English to Decorated ; so much 

 so that it is exceedingly difficult for us to decide to which period 

 many works really belong. The principal features of this style, 

 which may be said to be coeval with Edwards I., II., and III., are 

 the development of windows into three, four, and five lights, which 

 branch into tracery in the heads of a flowing description, the 

 canopies were openings enriched with crocKets and finials, the intro- 

 duction of the ball flower ornament, and the general enrichment of 

 the details. 



In this county we have numerous examples of this style, although, 

 as I was obliged to observe in the case of the Early English style, 

 it is very difficult to identify a whole building as of this period. 



I may, however, mention the chancel of Lawford Church as a 

 very beautiful example of this period. 



Also the chancel of Great Leighs Church. 



The chancel of Tiltey Church. 



The north aisle of Danbury Church. 



I caimot help thinking that Edward III. or the architects of that 

 period were very conservative, for during his reign the Decorated 

 period of architecture seems to have held its own, but upon his death 

 and the accession of his grandson, Richard II., a further change was 



