94 



The Architecture of Malmesbury Abbey Church. 



elaborate system of pinnacles and flying-buttresses which was now 

 introduced. The pinnacles of the aisles are very tall and plain, 

 and rise within the parapet, so as not to interfere, except in one 

 instance, with the Norman pilasters. On the north side the whole 

 wall has been very much tampered with, but the flying buttresses 

 rise in the same way as on the south, except in the two western 

 bays of the present nave, where, instead of being flying buttresses, 

 they run up in all their massiveness against the clerestory. But- 

 tresses have been added below the windows, since the destruction 

 of the cloister ; between the windows are pilasters, probably resto- 

 rations of the original Norman ones. 



The north side of the church being that occupied by the conventual 

 buildings, the south is consequently the show side ; it accordingly 

 receives, both in the aisle and the clerestory, an elaborate pierced 

 parapet, which is absent on the north. There are no pinnacles in 

 the clerestory on either side. 



Finally, at this time the great south porch was externally recased. 

 This involved the erection of another arch in front of the great 

 Norman gateway. The circular form was happily chosen for the 

 arch, and two of the old monster-heads were used up again as its 

 label terminations. The moulding of the arch is a bold wave : the 

 size, shape, and section of this arch reminded me altogether of one 

 on the north side of the ruined nave of Brecon Collegiate Church. 



Perpendicular Changes : the Western Toiver. — During the last 

 sera of Gothic architecture, the church received, as far as its existing 

 remains allow us to judge, only one addition of much moment, but 

 that was one of the greatest importance, and must have completely 

 changed the outline and general appearance of the building. This 

 was no other than the addition of a western tower, the " great 

 square " tower spoken of by Leland. The church must, therefore, 

 when complete, have exhibited that peculiar form of grouping 

 which results from two towers, one central and the other western. 



There almost seems to be a sort of fatality about this form. As 

 every one knows, it is in existing churches the rarest of any ; but 

 traces, architectural or historical, may be discerned, of its having 

 existed, or at least having been contemplated, in several churches 



