ON THE PERPENDICULAR OF SOMERSET. 55 
enormously lofty windows, transomed at proper distances, 
and with such portions as are necessary pierced for light, 
and sound. This stage is recessed between two flat square 
turrets or large pilasters, against which the buttresses are 
finished with their pinnacles just below the parapet. The 
pilasters are carried up and crowned with spires, forming 
four magnificent pinnacles to the whole tower, and rising 
as the natural finish of the pinnacles below. This glorious 
idea, which I have no hesitation in ranking among the very 
highest achievements of architectural genius, I have as yet 
seen completely realized in two cases only, Wrington and St. 
Cuthbert’s at Wells. Of these two I think Wrington may 
fairly claim the first place, and is therefore probably entitled 
to the designation of the finest square western tower, not 
designed for a spire or lantern, in all England, and there- 
fore possibly in the whole world. In comparing it with 
St. Cuthbert’s, we may not only remark a greater degree 
of a certain indescribable grace, but may point out some 
definite features in which I think it cannot fail to have the 
superiority assigned to it. St. Cuthbert’s, equal, as I 
should imagine, in positive height, is more massive in its 
proportions, and its corner pinnacles are, to my mind, a 
trifle too. large—a fault, however, quite on the right side. 
I cannot but think that, if a small portion of their eleva- 
tion had been taken into the general mass of the tower, it 
would have been a decided improvement. Again, the 
parapet at Wrington, flat and beautifully pierced, is, in my 
opinion, decidedly preferable to the battlement at Wells, 
and is further enriched by the small pinnaeles running up 
between the windows. Had these been absent, the battle- 
ment would have been preferable, as the horizontal line 
must be broken somehow ; but these pinnacles, while 
effecting this, allow the actually more graceful form of 
