E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, David Garcia,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| VOL. XVII, NO. 488.] | SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1831. | [PRICE 2d. |
ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, WINDSOR.ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, WINDSOR.
This venerable structure, as we explained in No. 486 of The Mirror, issituated in the lower ward or court of Windsor Castle. It stands in thecentre, and in a manner, divides the court into two parts. On the northor inner side are the houses and apartments of the Dean and Canons ofSt. George's Chapel, with those of the minor canons, clerks, and otherofficers; and on the south and west sides of the outer part are thehouses of the Poor Knights of Windsor.
The Engraving represents the south front of the Chapel as it presentsitself to the passenger through Henry the Eighth's Gateway, theprincipal entrance to the Lower Ward. The entrance to the Chapel, asshown in the Engraving, is that generally used, and was formed bycommand of George the Fourth; through which his Majesty's remains wereborne, according to a wish expressed some time previous to his death.
The exterior of the Chapel requires but few descriptive details. Theinterior will be found in our last volume.
It is a beautiful structure, in the purest style of the Pointedarchitecture, and was founded by Edward the Third, in 1377, for thehonour of the Order of the Garter. But however noble the first design,it was improved by Edward the Fourth and Henry the Seventh, in whosereign the famous Sir Reg. Bray, K.G., assisted in ornamenting the chapeland completing the roof. The architecture of the inside has ever beenesteemed for its great beauty; and, in particular, the stone vaulting isreckoned an excellent piece of workmanship. It is an ellipsis, supportedby lofty pillars, whose ribs and groins sustain the whole roof, everypart of which has some different device well finished, as the arms ofseveral of our kings, great families, &c. On each side of the choir arethe stalls of the Sovereign and Knights of the Garter,[pg 306]with the helmet,mantling, crest, and sword of each knight, set up over his stall, on acanopy of ancient carving curiously wrought. Over the canopy is affixedthe banner of each knight blazoned on silk, and on the backs of thestalls are the titles of the knights, with their arms neatly engravedand emblazoned on copper.
There are several small chapels in this edifice, in which are themonuments of many illustrious persons; particularly of Edward, Earlof Lincoln, a renowned naval warrior; George Manners, Lord Roos, andAnne, his consort, niece of Edward the Fourth; Anne, Duchess of Exeter,mother of that lady, and sister to the king; Sir Reginald Bray, beforementioned; and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, who married the sisterof King Henry the Eighth.
At the east end of St. George's Chapel is a freestone edifice, built byHenry the Seventh, as a burial-place for himself and his successors;