Charles Reed Peers

“ There are other remains of wall painting in this aisle; part of an arcade of late date is to be seen below the window sill in the third bay from the east. The exterior of the nave, to judge from the remains of the north aisle, was very simply treated, the ornament being reserved for the west front, which was flanked by towers on the north and south, and even in its ruined state is a fine and impressive composition. There are three doorways, set centrally with the nave and aisles ”

“ The spacing of the nave bays is fairly regular, averaging 8 ft. 6 in. between the piers but the two western bays are a foot narrower. It is possible that the thickening of the west wall, to give space for the wall-passage at triforium level, was an afterthought, obtained at the expense of these bays. It is worth noting that during the repair of the third bay from the west in the north arcade a hole 6 in. square and 71⁄2 in. deep was found, sunk vertically in the masonry over the east spandrel of the main arcade, at the level of the triforium floor. ”

“ The priory of Holy Trinity, Aldgate (founded in 1108 with Norman as its first prior) , was to be subject to them, and no person, ecclesiastical or lay, was to have any authority over them, as they were under the protection of the Roman church only. They had the right to elect their own priors and to present them to the Bishop of London for consecration, which was to be freely granted. In cases where difficulties were made over this, they could go to any other bishop they pleased. ”

“ The outer order has single half-shafts like those of the inner order. The southern doorway is of four plain brick orders, but has had jamb-shafts and capitals like those in the middle doorway. The wall surfaces between the doorways are treated with single shallow arched panels, and above the doorways two tiers of interlacing semicircular arches of Roman brick ran across the front continuously between the flanking towers. The head of the middle doorway breaks into the lower tier of arches, being included under a gabled weathering of brick, against which the sills of the arcade are stepped. ”

“ No brother is to go outside the bounds of the house alone, but must have a companion, and is to be careful to have nothing to do with women, though he is not forbidden to look at them. Brethren are to admonish each other about such faults, and even to report them to the convent. No one is to receive letters or gifts. All clothes are to be kept in one place, and if any one receives clothes belonging to another he is not to complain, as everything is to be in common. ”

“ The nave piers are circular, 5 ft. 8 in. in diameter, and it is to be noted that in the bays where the masonry is less damaged than elsewhere they are banded with triple courses of brick at intervals; this is meant to give a good bond to the
SOUTH ARCADE AND WEST END OF NAVE, FROM THE EAST masonry, and is not done for appearance sake, as it would have been hidden by the plaster. ”

“ Its total internal length was about 245 ft., of which the eastern arm of five bays, with the eastern chapels, took up 100 ft., and the nave of seven bays about 105 ft. The internal width over nave and aisles was about 70 ft. and 120 ft. across the transepts.
The walls of St. Botolph's are built of flints and septaria, and all arches, quoins and dressings of red brick, with a very sparing use of stone. Much, if not all, of the brick is of Roman manufacture, as remains of Roman mortar are to be seen on it, showing that it was taken from Roman buildings. ”

“ Elois, Norman and one other went to France, and studied the rule at Chartres and Beauvais. On their return the priory was founded, the actual date being uncertain, but as William Rufus granted to the canons a charter of protection, it must have taken place before that King's death in 1100. Ainulf became the first prior, and in this way was started the first house of Augustinian Canons in England. ”

“ When a brother says that he is in pain he is to be believed, but for his treatment a physician is to be consulted. Books are only to be given out at a particular hour, but garments and shoes when they are needed. ”

“ The width of the main span is 26 ft. 9 in., and of the aisles 10 ft. and 9 ft. 6 in. respectively, the total width within the walls being 55 ft. 6 in. It is interesting to compare with these dimensions the plan of the nave of Holy Trinity Priory Church, Aldgate, as the close connection between the two houses makes it possible that the Aldgate plan owed something to St. Botolph's. The church itself has long been destroyed, but its plan is fortunately preserved to us in a Survey of c. 1592 by John Symons, now among the MSS. at Hatfield House, and reproduced in the "Home Counties Magazine," vol. ”