Identifier: essayonhistoryof00scot (find matches)
Title: An essay on the history of English church architecture prior to the separation of England from the Roman obedience
Year: 1881 (1880s)
Authors: Scott, G. Gilbert (George Gilbert), 1839-1897
Subjects: Church architecture Church architecture
Publisher: London, Simpkin, Marshall and co.
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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The chambers, of which the foundations were discovered at the eastern and western extremities of the aisles, are remarkable as recalling the disposition of several of the churches of Central Syria. The arrangement of the eastern portion of the church is perfectly clear and of great interest. The apse, which is polygonal and slightly elongated on plan, was surrounded by a sunk passage-way or crypt external to it, which is approached by doorways and flights of steps on each side of the sanctuary-arch. From this passage-way there appears clearly to have been, in the eastern face of the apse, a ■1 Rev. C. F. Watkins. See his published description of the church, from which, aided by personal observation, my plan is taken. It differs slightly from that given in my father's Lectures, ii. 39, which the late Mr. Roberts prepared. > See the plans, in the Count de Vogiies work, of the churches of Soueideh, pi. 19; El-Bazah, pi. 60; Roueiha,pi. 68 ; Qualb-Louzeh, pi. 122; and Tourmanin, pi. 130. PLATE XI.
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10 a 0 10 20 30 LO 50 BRIXWORTH CHURCH, NORTHANTS. GROUND-PLAN. 4 THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH CHURCH ARCHITECTURE. 47 doorway opening into a passage running westward,under the elevated floor of the apsidal sanctuary.It is remarkable that this arrangement should so closely accord with the description given us by Eadmer of the crypt at Canterbury, as well as with the plan of that (still extant) of the ancient basilica of the Vatican, upon which, as he states, the Canterbury confessionary was modelled. It is also to be noticed that in the plan, of St. Gall, the approach to the crypt would appear to have been disposed in a manner somewhat similar to that at Brixworth, by passage-ways external to the wall of the apse itself. Some have supposed this passage-way to have supported an aisle upon the level of the sanctuary.This, however, was clearly not the case. It was covered by a barrel-vault and a roof of its own,probably of stone ; above this roof the apse has at its external angles pilasters such as exist

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