1^9'* O^' GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. ^37 



In rearing thefe towers, the flcilful architeSis faw 

 bow eafy it was to introduce the light that was wanted, 

 to the central part of the building. It was only to 

 put into each fide of the fquare, which conftituted the 

 bafe of the tower, a large window, on the fame prin- 

 ciples with the other windows made in thefe buildings^ 

 which, by thus aiuiming the fhape of a common lan- 

 tern, has obtained the name of the lantern of the 

 tower* 



But as it would liave had a difagreeable efFeft to have 

 made the infide roof of thefe lanterns as high as would 

 have been neceflaiy for the walls, and would have beea 

 in certain mechanical refpefts attended with difficulties, 

 they commonly threw crofs arches over that tower as 

 ufual, making them all meet at the centre, and forming a 

 roof ac no great height above );he top of the windows. 

 Thefe higher arches required in their turn abutments, 

 which was effefted by elevating the walls of the tower 

 llill higher : And as bells were wanted for the church, 

 a place was made in the tower, above the lantern, for 

 receiving the bells. Where the tower was not to be 

 reared to a great height, thefe were fometimes roofed 

 in with a wooden roof. Sometimes, however, a ftone 

 arch was thrown over the divifion for the bells alfoj 

 which, if as flat 33 ufual, required, that the walls of 

 the tower fhould be carried to a greater height ftill, to 

 ferve as abutments. Thefe walls were of courfe, in 

 thefe cafes, cut off fquare over at top, being fometimes 

 ornamented with fome kind of railing or battlements^ 

 with fmall turrets at the corners for ornament. Suchj 

 then, is the origin and ufes of thofemalfy centraltowers, 

 and fuch is the reafon why fo many of them have been 

 finiflied fquare off at top, aa they are fo commonly to 

 be feen in England. 



Sometimes, however, it was thoughti that a high 

 central pointed roof to thefe towers would be ornamen- 

 tal ; and where that was wanted, it alfq was effefted. 

 This was done by making the fpire for the moft pJ>rt 



Vo'. III. f S 



