144 The Abbey-church. 



projecting under the north aisle" ; while the third is beneath 

 the eastern arch in the north aisle of the choir. The indi- 

 cations afforded by these piers are that the existing building 

 covers little more ground than that occupied by the nave 

 and transepts of the earlier one. The only other remains 

 of the latter known to exist are portions of coupled shafts 

 which have been let into the bases of two of the buttresses 

 at the east end of the choir, and a jamb and arch-moulding 

 built around the window and door at the east end of the 

 southern aisle. These were found in the recent restorations ; 

 and all that was then done was to lay them open to view. 



It remains but to glance at the Abbey as a work of archi- 

 tectural art. Whether viewed from without or from within, 

 it will be found to exhibit both the merits and the defects of 

 the style of the period in which it was erected. The leading 

 idea of the designer appears to have been to produce an 

 impression of dignified elevation, and to preserve a consistent 

 rectangular uniformity of treatment, — a result to which the 

 " late pointed " easily lent itself. If, -on a general view of 

 the exterior, little is found to arouse enthusiasm ; there is at 

 least enough to leave a sense of satisfaction, not unmingled 

 with pleasure. Though we may look in vain for touches of 

 artistic genius in any of the details, we shall feel that there 

 is a certain nobility of conception in the tout ensemble. It is 

 a pity that the " weather-painting," which has so largely 

 stained in parts the surface of the stone-work, gives to 

 the walls a gloomy aspect which is very unattractive. But 

 the attention of the visitor will naturally be riveted on the 

 west front ; and he will at once be struck with the ingenuity 

 of the idea (which has been very happily treated) of working 

 the subject of the bishop's dream into an architectural 

 ornament. Admirable in conception, though less in execu- 



