Bells Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Carlisle | Page 7

groined ceiling there was no necessity for flying buttresses, and their absence gives the clerestory a very monotonous flat effect. This is further intensified by the window tracery being level with the wall, the architraves having no depth of moulding round them.
Some years ago the aisles and clerestory were skilfully refaced, and consequently the exteriors have a very modern appearance.
East of the retro-choir is the exterior of a staircase leading from the north choir aisle to the clerestory parapet. It terminates in a highly-finished octagonal turret whose parapet is enriched with a running trefoil ornament resembling that on the base of the clerestory windows. The north-eastern and the small east buttresses terminate just beneath, in gables richly ornamented with minute crockets. The panelling of the former is rather like the decoration of the central portion of the east end.
#East End.#--An irregularity in designing the east end has been covered by placing the great buttresses so as to make the pediment appear irregular, and the cross at the apex seems, consequently, not to be in the centre of the choir; while, in fact, it is the great east window (with the gable window over it) that is out of position.
The sill of the east window is unusually near the ground, and it is flanked by substantial buttresses finely pinnacled. Each buttress contains two niches with beautifully carved canopies: the base of the lower ones being a trifle higher than the springing of the arch. They display full-length statues of St. Peter, St. Paul, St. James, and St. John.
A staircase crossing over the east window in the thickness of the wall receives light from the triangular window enclosing three trefoils which appears in the gable. Immediately beneath this Trinity window--as it is called--is a richly-canopied niche adorned with a statue of the Virgin Mary bearing in her arms the Holy Child.
The summit of the gable is crowned by a large richly-floriated cross; and on each side are four smaller ones, with crockets of foliage between them.
[Illustration: THE EAST END. Photochrom Co. Ltd., Photo.]
In spite of the fact that the east end has been almost entirely rebuilt, it is a remarkably good example of Late Decorated work, and it would be difficult to find its equal in England.
The wall of the north aisle is higher than the south aisle, because of a passage between the staircases. The buttresses do not rise above the parapet, and are finished off with richly-panelled gables, ornamented with crockets and finials.
The end of the south aisle is decorated with corbels and parapet, like the choir, and with pinnacled buttresses.
On the south side of the #Choir# the first three bays from the east end are practically the same as those on the north side.
The remaining windows, including those of St. Catherine's Chapel on the east of the south transept, are Early English, but of later date and not so pleasing as the others. Instead of two lights they are furnished with three; some of these have small circular openings in the spandrels over the mullions filled with stained glass.
The fifth compartment (against which a vestry was formerly built) shows traces of a door, and over that a passage, probably connected originally with some of the conventual buildings.
The grotesque gargoyles, "these wild faces, these images of beasts and men carved upon spouts and gutters," are very vigorously executed.
The windows on the south side of the clerestory are without the trefoil which ornaments the base of those on the north side.
The blank window next to the tower is also wanting; in other respects the clerestory presents the same features as on the north.
#South Transept.#--The chapter-house and cloisters formerly adjoined the south transept, and there was probably an entrance from the chapter-house leading down a flight of stairs into the transept. Billings says: "The modern casing at the base of the end of the transept (about 12 ft. high) shews the height of the #Cloisters#: and the doorway above, the level of the chapter-house floor. From this it would seem that the cathedral was entered at the south transept from the chapter-house by a flight of steps."
The foundation of the south wall having been shaken by the removal of the remains of the conventual buildings, massive buttresses were added, and a very richly sculptured doorway inserted between them (1856). It was designed by Mr. Christian and is the principal entrance to the Cathedral. Its character is that of the late work of the choir, and is somewhat out of keeping with this distinctively Norman portion of the building.
The window over the entrance is of the same date.
The west side of the transept is lighted by two plain round-headed windows, not quite central.
The outer moulding of the window arch of the south transept clerestory has billet ornament. Above this is a corbel table