Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/391

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THORNTON ABBEY, LINCOLNSHIRE.
363

Archaeological Journal, Volume 2, 0391.png

Elevation of North east Bat of Chapter house circa 1282.

Of the chapter-house two sides are tolerably perfect, ornamented with panelling, in imitation of a window of three lights, with foliated circles in the head, and an arcade under it, the whole of very good Early English work, beautifully moulded, the date of it being, as already stated, circa 1282, early in the reign of Edward the First. Some small portions of the church remain, and belong to nearly the same period. One aisle of a transept has its vault and arcades on each side of very singular Early English work, with corbels in the place of capitals. There is one window, or rather panel, of three divisions, with three foliated circles in the head, filled up with a sort of fleur-de-lis; under this is an Early English piscina.

The mouldings of this work are very good, as will be seen by their sections on the opposite page. They are Early English, but late in the style, approaching to the Decorated. A comparison of these remains, with the choir of Merton college chapel, Oxford, described at p. 137 of this volume, and there shewn to have been built at the same period, will go far to prove that in the beginning of the reign of Edward the First