Defying Gravity...

[endlessrarities]

More pictures of Fountains Abbey, this time concentrating on the chancel, and the area to the rear, which once housed the Chapel of the Nine Altars...

In this part of the church, most of the structure is elegantly Gothic, as this view down the north aisle demonstrates nicely:-
 

 

The mouldings around the windows are lovely:-

 

This site probably encapsulates more than any other the concept of the noble ruin, preserved as a fragile shell within an early 18th century designed landscape.  Sadly, we didn't get a chance to wander through the grounds - we'd already had a nine mile walk that morning and we were both a bit knackered!  Some people are gluttons for punishment...

Well, that's enough for the moment.  It's the weekend, and I need a rest.  I'm back in the office on Monday, then out on site for the rest of next week, exchanging medieval architecture for the mysteries of magazines and blast banks.  Um, I think I still find the underlying principles behind the eucharist easier to grasp than the production of guncotton, but hey-ho, it's early days yet. And I do so love a challenge...

Comments

[paulie123.livejournal.com]

I remember 'doing' Fountains years ago. Somewhere I must have large numbers of black and white photographs of the ruins. What sticks in the memory is that enormous undercroft. Thanks for the pictures.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I'm saving the lay-brothers' refectory for a later post:-)

[paulie123.livejournal.com]

Good.Thanks

[red-trillium.livejournal.com]

Wow, that first image is just amazing! You nailed it when you said "noble ruin". Those windows are amazing. What strikes me with many of these old castley ruins you post is that the window arches are often still there. I know windows and doors are made to bear a lot of weight and be strong but it's amazing to me to see something that looks fragile (an arch) actually be more strong than the wall components around it.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Arches are wonderfully strong, I know, but their survival could be, at least in part, because the voussoirs (ooh, I love that word!) couldn't be re-used easily in another structure. Pillaging magpie locals will go for the nice plain ashlar blocks firstly, and leave the lovely carved bits for another time.

There. That's my Brilliant Theory of the evening!