Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/495

GOTHIC BUILDINGS OF OXFORD. 3s7 funeral the first stone of the new Schools was laid, tlie building of which occupied the next six 3'cars. This building, which, with the Bodleian Library for its west side, forms a complete quadrangle, is plain, ])oor, and heavy in its general appearance, and little skill has been displayed in giving either variety of outline or of light and shade. This plainness is still further increased by the removal of the transoms with which the windows were originally furnished, and which are still rj^taincd in those in the tower. The Gateway Tower on the east side, which afforded an opportunity for this, is not distinguished by any projection from the flat wall, but merely rises above the parapet on the same plane. The oriel, too, over the doorway, which might have given effect, is tame and poor. The whole mass is square, without buttresses or any other projection to relieve it. In the inner front of the Tower, however, more pains have been taken ; the five stories into which it is divided are each ornamented with columns of one of the five classic orders, the plinths, friezes, and the shafts for a third of their length being covered with the peculiar Arabesque of the period, inter- mixed with the national emblems, &c. In the fourth story is a figure of James I., and the whole is surmounted w^itli a parapet of open scroll-w^ork enclosing the ro3'al arms. These figures w^ere originally gilt. Taken altogether this composi- tion is a favourable specimen of the style of that time, though it does not harmonise with the Gothic turret and pinnacle which rise above it. The archway is groined, and is a curious example, the bosses being all more or less of Eliza- bethan design. The wooden door is panelled, the panels being filled with the arms of the various colleges as late as Wadham, that being then newly erected/ An addition was made at the west end of the Divinity School, 1634 to 1G40, the lower part of which is the Convo- ' Anthony a Wood's description of this fessors; the second is part of the pallery; gateway is so j^ooJ in its way, and harmo- the tliird, the muniments and registers of uises so completely with iiis subject, that the university ; and the fourth, which is it is here given complete. the uppermost, doth serve for astronomy " But between the geometry and meta- uses. On the outside of the said tower, physic, and astronomy and logic schools, next to the area, or quadrangle, is beheld is the chief entrance from Cat Street into the rise of five stories of pillars (equal to this new fabric; having over it an emi- every story of the tower), viz., of Thuscan, nent and stately tower, wherein are con- Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite tained, beside the vault or entrance, four work. Between the upper story of pillars rooms ; the first is the mathematical saving one is the effigies of King James library for the use of the Savilian pro- I. cut very curiously in stone, sitting on a