=e 
Mr. Barber has subjoined a note on 
this subject, which we gladly extract, as 
partly coincident with our own ideas. 
«<The common appellation of this mode, 
Gothic, is equally improper with the pre- 
ceding, as the reign of the Goths was at an 
end long before its introduction : indeed its 
origin is wrapped in obscurity. Sir Christo- 
pher Wren, and after him many architects 
and antiquaries, have attributed it to the 
Saracens, and hence called it Saracenic ; 
but their grounds are very questionable Per- 
haps the homely conjecture, that it arose 
from the pointed form in the interesecting 
Saxon arches, may be as near the truth as 
_ one derived from more laborious researches ; 
indeed, from the specimens of early Gothic 
which I have seen, Iam of opinion, that 
cozent reasons may be adduced, to prove it 
rather to be of natural growth from the Saxon 
modes, and formed in its characteristics by 
gradual alteration, than a new system of re- 
mote and detached origin.” 
This we apprehend might be easily 
elucidated. It is a curious subject and 
requires much attention. ‘The many 
wild theories, and fantastic opinions, that 
have been promulgated, concerning an- 
cient architecture, are sad examples of 
Mispent time, and perverted talents. 
Had the writers studied more to inform 
their readers, than merely to amuse them- 
selves, we should not have had to la- 
“ment the ambiguity that bewilders this 
subject at the present day. The term 
* Gothic has long been improperly and in- 
judiciously applied to that light and 
elegant architecture which characterises 
“most of the English cathedrals: but we 
are happy to find that a few indepen- 
_ dent, unprejudiced writers have dared 
_ toexplode the name, and have substi- 
_ tuted the word English, at once credit- 
able to the country, and, at the same 
_ time, well applied to characterise a style 
_ of building, which if it did not absolute- 
ody originate in this island, was advanced 
_ to asystem and symmetry here, unknown 
onthe Continent. We wish to be un- 
_ derstood as applying the term English, 
to that architecture which prevailed in 
_ our ecclesiastical buildings, from the 
‘thirteenth to the sixteenth century. Sir 
_ Christopher Wren, and some contempo- 
rary architects, applied the term Gothic 
@s expressive of contempt for all build- 
Ags not erected conformable to the rules 
of Palladio. As science and human 
nowledge advances, writers acquire an 
Raproves and critical accuracy of lan- 
4 
BAREER’S TOUR THROUGH SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE, 
415 
guage; and proper approved terms are em- 
ployed and universally credited. By this 
mode, precise ideas are communicated, 
- and for want of this critical precision, has 
originated much confusion, error, and 
bewildering uncertitude. Mr. Barber 
continues this subject, and observes that 
«© About the latter end of the reign of 
Henry the third, we find it acquire a moxe 
ornamental and distinct character. The pil- 
Jars which before were round, and encircled 
with slender detached shafts, were then 
formed in entire reeded columns ; the arched 
roofs also, which only exhibited the main 
springers, then became intersected with nu- 
merous ramifications and transomes. ‘The 
decorations continued to encrease until to- 
ward the close of Henry the eighth’s reign, 
when the light of science again dawned over 
Europe, and the relics of Greece and Rore 
were rightly considered as models of genuine 
taste: the classic elegance of the five orders 
then appeared intermixed with the Gothic ; 
it soon became universal, and is now adopt- 
ed in all superior buildings throughout 
Enrope. Further characteristics of style 
might be powmted out, and lesser variations 
defined: but I do not presume to inform the 
antiquary ; and the distinctions already 
drawn will be sufficient for the cursory tour- 
ist. * 
“Castles appear of no generally chosen 
figure, except such as were founded by the 
Romans, who preferred that of an oblong 
square, unless there were special reasons to 
the contrary. Small castles consisted of a sin- 
gle court, or ward, whose sides were usualiv 
anked by towers. The great hall, chapel, 
and domestic apartments, built from the 
outer wall into the court, occupied one or 
more sides. The citadel, called also the 
keep and dungeon, was a tower of eminent 
strength, wherein the gartison made their 
last stand, and where prisoners were some- 
times confined: the citadel was often de-- 
tached from the walls, and built on an arti- 
fical mound, encircled with a ditch, The 
barracks for the soldiers in garrison was ge- 
nerally a range of building near the gate- 
house, or prineipal entrance. The latter 
building contained apartments for the officers 
of the castle, and the portal- was furnished 
with one, two or three portcullisses*. A 
wet or eye moat surrounded the whole; and 
ad vanced before the drawbridge which crossed 
it, there was often an out-work called a 
barbican. Large castles were only a repeti- 
tion of these courts, upon somewhat of a 
larger scale, connected with each other : 
(Chepstow castle consists of four), In for - 
resses of the first class, an extensive em- 
battled wall sometimes encircled the mass of 
fortification already described, at some dis- 
tance, enclosing a considerable tract of 
ground, as at Caerphilly in Glamorganshire. 
»* Aniron grate, with spikes at the bottom, which was let down after the gate was forced, 
