ON THE PEKPENDICULAK OF SOMERSET. 13 



aisle not reaching to the extreme west) but something more 

 is attempted by the addition of turrets. Still the incon- 

 gruity between its high gable and the depressed arch of ita 

 west window must have been fatal to its general effect. 

 The west ends of Crewkerne and Yatton rise far above this 

 Standard ; we have here genuine fronts, quite worthy of 

 forming the entrance to any smaU cathedral or abbey. 

 Crewkerne in fact at once suggests Bath as its fellow, and 

 there can be little doubt as to which of the two fronts should 

 claim our preference. Between Crewkerne and Yatton it 

 is less easy to strike the balance. The general notion of 

 both is the same ; a west front without towers, with the 

 natural terminations of the nave and aisles left undisguised, 

 but with the gable of the naveflanked by polygonal turrets. 

 Thus far the main elements are the same ; but a more en- 

 tire diversity is eiFected in their ti'eatment than perhaps 

 might have been considered possible. Thus at Yatton the 

 turrets are hexagonal, and crowned with small spires ; at 

 Crewkerne they are octagonal and embattled, with vestiges 

 of small pinnacles, like those on the angle-tuiTets of the 

 tower. I cannot but think that their loss has been a gain ; 

 but the arrangement of Yatton is more dignified still. The 

 pitch of the gable at Yatton is not satisfactory ; it should 

 have been either higher or lower ; at Crewkeme it is very 

 flat and embattled. This battlement is also carried along 

 the ends of the aisles, while at Yatton they are far more 

 elegantly finished with one of the elaborate open parapets of 

 that district. At Yatton the ends of the aisles have more 

 dignity given to them by beiug finished with small turrets 

 at the angles supporting pinnacles, while at Crewkeme there 

 is nothing but the common double buttress. Both have 

 west Windows as large as the space will allow ; in neither 

 perhaps is the tracery of the very first order ; but that at 



