144 LANTERN TOWER, WIMBORNE MINSTER. 



Above the lower compartment of the tower thus described are 

 three other stories. The first of these is the Triforium or gallery 

 in the thickness of the wall. You will notice that each face of the 

 tower has two pointed relieving arches, and each of these encloses 

 4 circular-headed arches with shafts of Purbeck marble. The 

 capitals are rudely carved with ornamentations almost Classical in 

 character, and between each relieving arch are cleverly carved heads, 

 the one on the North side being particularly worthy of notice. The 

 triforium has openings on all four sides of the wall externally, 

 which formed the entrance over the flat wooden ceiling of the 

 Norman Church. The walls of the tower are about 4ft. Gin. thick 

 at this height. 



Above this compartment comes the Clerestory with two windows 

 on each face with a similar Triforium or passage, which runs round 

 it. The windows have circular heads with a lancet-shaped relieving 

 arch between. The windows are widely splayed, and have detached 

 shafts at the angle of the jambs. At this stage the tower is beginning 

 to be more richly ornamented. The lancet-shaped arch is repeated 

 on the outside, as well as the shafts, showing plainly that it was 

 built at a later period than the lower compartments of the tower. 



You will observe the detached columns running up the angles of 

 the second and third compartments supported on carved heads or 

 busts, broken by bands, and also the striking feature formed by the 

 staircase at the North-west angle of the tower. 



The upper or third story of the tower is quite plain inside, where 

 it is hidden from view by the beams and ceiling of the compart- 

 ment below, but externally it is very beautiful, the masonry being 

 formed into anarcade, continued round the tower, which forms seven 

 pointed arches on each side, the mouldings of which are very rich 

 and fine. Of these seven arches five were originally open on each 

 side ; but all, except the centre one, have, from time to time, been 

 walled up to strengthen the tower. 



A very bold corbel table completed the original work. At the 

 interior angles of this story are the squinches or broaches which 

 supported the spire. 



