58 PAPERS, ETC. 



tinuity ia perhaps more perfectly preserved than even at 

 "Wrington. 



In these three towers, the only great principle which 

 seems to have been neglected is that of spire-growtli ; for 

 lines drawn from the base of the rectangular buttresses, to 

 a point above the tower, would either extend to an impos- 

 sible height, or eise form a spire utterly disproportioned in 

 bulk to the area of the square tower on which it would 

 stand. If, however, it be required to build a Perpendicular 

 tower, it appears to me that they would afford a model 

 infinitely superior to any to be derived from the more 

 elaborate and more generally admired Henry VII. towers, 

 which I will now proceed to describe. 



With all its faults of design, Bishop's Lydeard probably 

 presents as graceful and pleasing a specimen of a Tudor 

 tower, as can be met with anywhere. It cousists of four 

 stories, of which that at the base is much the highest, and 

 is occupied by a door with spandrlls, and alarge window of 

 five lights, immediately above which is a bold string-course. 

 The two next stories are equal to each other in height, and 

 each contains one window of two lights. Above these is 

 the belfry, which Stands on a sort of broach, slightly 

 receding from the face of the wall, having two windows 

 considerably larger than those of the stories immediately 

 below, above which is a bold cornice-moulding, a very 

 beautiful pierced parapet with high pinnacles at the angles, 

 and a smaller one at the centre of each side. The but- 

 tresses stand at right angles to the walls of the tower, and 

 only extend to the base of the belfry story, ending in 

 pinnacles, which are earried up outside the angles of the 

 belfry to about half its height. It is built of red sand- 

 stone, the masonry is particularly good, the mouldings and 

 Ornaments well and boldly executed ; and from the beauty 



