THE ARCHITECT'S REPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ARCHITECT'S REPORT.

An architect, Mr. Scott, has made a survey of the ruins. He reports that the mam walls, and Norman and Early English columns are in a. sound condition, but that the choir and north transept have suffered terribly. He urges that prompt measures should" be taken to protect the interior from the weather. The Rev. B. Hemsworth, Monkfryston Hall, has placed his quarries at the full disposal of the committee for any stone' required for the restoration. The quarries are of great repute for building stone, and it- is supposed that much of the original material of the abbey was obtained from them. Thousands of visitors have passed through the ruined abbey, and over £50 was gathered in the collecting sheets for the restoration fund. Mr. William Liversedge, of Selby, has promised £250 towards the restoration fund, and to replace his four-light window destroyed by the fire; and.his brother, Mr. Thomas Liversedge, promises £100. A railway engine-driver has given £20.

.:.;-'..:-.> AN" IRREPA/RABLE LOSS. The destruction of the abbey is an irreparable loss to the nation, forming as it did one of the meet beautiful relics cf mediaeval England. Dedicated to S.S. Mary and German, it formed part of the Benedictine Abbey founded in 1069 by William the Conqueror at the instance of Benedict, a monk of Auxerrc. Tradition says that Benedict had a vision of St. German, by whom he was directed to undertake a mission, and directed to the very spot where he. should raise the Cross. The first church was built of wood, and Benedict was appointed abbot. The second abbot was a member of the ancient De Lacy family, whose name is associated also with the foundation of : Kirkstall Abbey, and- he erected between 1096 and 1122 new buildings of stone, including a church, portions of which' were included in the fabric which has now suffered so sadly. The church comprised a nave, choir, and lady chapel, a central tower between nave and choir, and a northern transept. The southern transept was destroyed by tue fall of the central tower in 1600. The entire length of the church was 296 feet, and the width 50 feet. Tho central tower was tv magnificent structure, carried on massive and lofty Norman piers, It is 17^ft square, and retains the 'first and a part of the second stage, of the original Norman tower. The upper portion, which rose two stages higher and had a parapet and pinnacles, ■ fell in 1690, destroying the south-transept. It was rebuilt in 1702 for less, it is said, than £100, which shows the value of labour at even so recent a date. The whole of this portion of the tower was taken down to

THE LEVEL OF THE NORMAX WORK in 1902. The Norman choir of the church, erected probably about 1320-50, was a superb example of the decorated style, and owing to the length of time in its construction the details of the work exhibited in their upward progress numerous variations of much interest. The noble east window contained some very fine stained glass of the early 14th century, representing the First and Second Coming of Our Lord. The lower portion of the window was occupied by a "Jesse Tree," and the upper by a .'•Doom." This window was saved from the fire. The church possessed numerous tombs and monuments of rare historic interest. During some excavations, which took place in 1867. near the south door, the grave of Alexander, 12th abbot (121421), was discovered beneath a great stone slab, simply inscribed with his name. Alexander's skeleton, enclosed in a coffin of wood, was still perfect. In the choir was a large slab of alabaster, with incised effigy and four rhyming Latin lines in couplets to John de Shireburn, the 24th abbot (13681407). In front of the altar was a very interesting slab bearing the arms of the monastery (sable, three swans, arg.) to the memory of Laurence Selby, the 29th abbot (1486-1504). There were' also several effigies of knights and ladies. The monetary loss is estimated at £50,000, but, of course, the real loss is fur above and beyond anything that can be measured by money.