Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

MODERN YORK.
the Cathedral by the western door, the effect is imposing,
and grand in the extreme. A succession of majestic
arches, and lofty stone pillars, of exquisite workmanship,
spring toward the ceiling; the softened light, streaming
through the painted windows, adding inexpressible dignity
to the whole.
The grand central or Lantebn Tower is externally an
object of peculiar beauty. On each of its four sides are
two large windows, with two tiers of mullions, bounded
on each side by compartmented buttresses. The heads of
the windows, and heights of the buttresses, have sweeping
pediments ; and the battlements are richly perforated, with
masonic compartments. When viewed from within it is
majestic in the extreme. It has neither the height nor
the expansion of the wonderous dome of St. Paul's Cathe
dral ; but it is built upon four arches of astonishing height,
chasteness, and solidity, which are supported on massy
pillars, exquisitely formed of clusters of round columns.
The tower is exactly 200 feet in height. Over the
four great arches are placed eight coats of arms, two and
two on each side. On the west, the arms of England,—
the fleur-de-lis distinguished, and the arms of Edward
the confessor. On the east, the pallium or ancient bearing
of the see of York, and St. Wilfrid. To the north, the
arms assigned to two Saxon kings, Edwin, and Edmund
the martyr. And on the south, the peculiar arms of the
church, and those of Walter Skirlaw the great benefactor
to this part of the building. Over these arms are several
flowers, cherubims, and cloistered cells for images, till
we come to a handsome stone balcony or terrace, which
is embattled, and goes quite round the squares of the tower.
The roof is adorned with tracery archwise, with wooden
beams, gilt and knotted. The centre knot, which is the
largest, is carved, and represents the two images of St.
Peter and St. Paul, with a church between them.
The South Tbansept, built, as we have stated, by
Archbishop Grey, is an object of especial interest to the