ON THE PERPENDICULAR OF SOMERSET. 25 



but its only tower being western, it can hardly claim the 

 rank of a genuine cruciform church. It is, however, a 

 magnificent bullding, and in its general efFect singularly 

 Combines (of course on a considerably smaller scale) the 

 distinctive features of the two principal chiu'ches in Bris- 

 tol. Viewing its whole length, especially from the north 

 side, so long a ränge of uniform Perpendicular work, with 

 tall narrow transepts and western tower, can hai-dly fail 

 to suggest the notion of St. Mary RedclifFe. On the 

 other hand, in another important point, it resembles 

 Bristol Cathedral. The clerestory is absent, or, to speak 

 more truly, the aisles are the füll height of the nave and 

 choir. I mean that the positive height of the aisles is so 

 great that there is nothing feit to be wanting, as in most 

 cases where there is no clerestory. At Axbridge, for 

 instance, a clerestory coxdd be added to the nave ; it 

 might, or might not, be an improvement, but the proportions 

 of the church would admit of it. At Yeovil nothing of 

 the sort could be done ; like Bristol, the building forms a 

 regulär design on another principle. The church is uni- 

 form throughout, and the walls are of the same height 

 in aisle, choir, and transept. The efFect of the arrange- 

 ment, as at Bristol and Dorchester, is to produce a mag- 

 nificent series of large and lofty windows. I need not say 

 that here we have a large and stately choir ; aisles are 

 attached to its two western bays, but the two eastern 

 stand free, forming a noble presbytery. The absence of a 

 clerestory gives peculiar facUities for this arrangement. 

 Of the tower I have already spoken ; a low ancient building, 

 now at least used as a school, is attached to its south-west 

 angle. This is far from improving the appearance from that 

 aide ; it makes the tower quasi-central, and suggests the 

 notion of an aggregate of buildings like Llantwit or St. 



1853, l'XRT II. V 



