NOTES ON EXAMPLES OF ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE IN FRANCE.[1]
BY THE REV. J. L. PETIT, M.A., F.S.A.
Nogent les Vierges.—A fine cross church, with a central tower; visible at a short distance on the left-hand side, about a mile before we arrive at the Creil station. Its nave has no aisles, but is wider than the square of the crossing; hence it opens into the transepts by two arches, one on each side of the western tower arch. This latter is pointed, of a square section; the others, as well as the transept arches, are round, of one-square order. The east arch of the tower is a pointed insertion, corresponding with the beautiful decorated chancel, which has north and south aisles, from which it is divided on each side by two arches resting on a slender cylindrical pier. This part is vaulted with ribs, and does not exhibit the square abacus. The windows are of three lights, with three quatrefoils in the head. The date of this chancel must be late in the thirteenth, or early in the fourteenth, century, A little painted glass remaining in the east window seems of early date. Externally the principal feature is the tower, of which a geometrical elevation is given by Woillez. The upper stage is clear of buttresses, and has on each face three large round arches, of a single-square order, on massive cylindrical shafts; the imposts at the angles being enriched with smaller shafts. The label exhibits something very like the early English toothed ornament. The stage below has a triplet of narrower arches, of one-square order, with shafted imposts. Below are two windows, with a plain impost between them. The billet and cable appear as ornaments; and at the top is a corbel-arcade, which seems peculiar to the district, as it occurs in several churches in the neighbourhood, both of Romanesque and early pointed character, and I do not remember to have met with it elsewhere. It is an arcade of round arches resting on brackets, each divided into two pointed arches of an inferior order, springing from a point.
- ↑ Continued from p. 68. The illustrations of this Memoir have been presented to the Journal by Mr. Petit.
