An architectural handbook of Glastonbury Abbey : with a historical chronicle of the building / by Frederick Bligh Bond.

  • Frederick Bligh Bond
Date:
1920
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An architectural handbook of Glastonbury Abbey : with a historical chronicle of the building / by Frederick Bligh Bond. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of the north aisle. This Abbot is recorded to have furnished the altars and provided the necessary ornaments and vestments. The nave of the church, at the time of the dedication, must have been in an incomplete ’state, furnished perhaps with a temporary roof over the four western bays, as not more than five weie then vaulted. The western end had only been completed in its lower part towards the close of the XHIth century, and it is likely that the superstructure and western towers would be some years later in building, so that the nave would hardly have been ready for use until the early years of the XIVth century. Abbot Geoffrey spent a thousand pounds or more on other buildings within and without the Monastery, and began the building of the Gieat Hall, and under his rule the church approached completion. He was buried in the south transept. Walter de Taunton, who succeeded him, only survived his election a few weeks, but the erection of the great choir screen is credited to him. Of this John of Glaston says: lt He constructed the Pulpitum of the Church with ten images,* and erected a large cross with the Figure of our Lord and of Mary and John/' This screen crossed the choir archway between the piers still standing, and the grooves cut in the stonework by the masons to allow the fluid cement to run in and unite the faces of the masonry are still visible. Abbot Walter de Taunton was buried, according to Leland, in the north transept, “ before the image of our Lord ciucified, which would imply a position near the choir arch probably under the arch of the north transept. The completion of the nave was effected by the next Abbot, Adam de Sodbury, who was elected on February 5th, 1323. He did much foi the Abbey. We are told that he vaulted the greater pait of the nave, and ornamented it with beautiful paintings, by which it appears that Abbot Fromond had already completed a pait, namely, the eastern section. Under his rule were also provided the large clock [horologium] for which the Abbey was The discovery of a fragment of a finger carved in stone, and tinted flesh- colour, just by the foundation of this screen, suggests that these figures were probably life-size, and painted in natural colour.