Vaulting

“ Arch springs from arch up to the lofty summit, and the walls and vaulting are full of canopied recesses, with wild foliations of glistening calcite wreathed from niche to niche.
Below us, as we enter, a broad deep pool stretches away into darkness. Could we follow the gently moving current in a boat, we should enter another great vault, whose existence the ordinary visitor never suspects. [50] There, in a small passage beyond the water, Mr. Balch discovered human remains. ”

“ In the Temple Church we have the curious circular aisle already described, being a specimen of the earliest era of true pointed-arched vaulting; while in the eastern portion, dating some forty or fifty years later, we have the most typical specimen conceivable of vaulting, all springing from a given level, and with level ridges. It is rendered the more marked in character by the division of the three ranges of vaulting by means of the pier-arches, which, coming close under the vaulting, assume the character of enlarged ribs. ”

“ In vaulting, by a spring of the feet, the body is raised, and by leaning the hands upon a fixed object, it at the same time receives, in oblique vaulting, a swing which facilitates the action. As the inclination thus given to the body depends not merely on the feet, but on the hands, we have the power to guide the body in any direction.
This exercise is conveniently practised on the vaulting bar, which rests upon two or three posts. It may be performed with or without running. The beginner may at first be allowed a run of a few paces, ending in a preparatory spring ”

“ FAN-VAULTING. The next step in the process may be observed in the vaults of the choir of Oxford Cathedral (Christ Church) , of the retro-choir of Peterborough, of the cloisters of Gloucester, and many other examples. The diverging ribs being made of uniform curvature, the severeys (the inverted pyramidal vaulting-masses springing from each support) became a species of concave conoids, meeting at the 223 ridge in such a way as to leave a series of flat lozenge-shaped spaces at the summit of the vault (Fig. 136) . ”

“ This vault, not built until 1640, is an exceptional example of the long continuance of traditional workmanship, probably in Oxford transmitted in consequence of the late vaulting of the entrance gateways to the colleges. Fan vaulting is peculiar to England, the only example approaching it in France being the pendant of the Lady chapel at Caudebec, in Normandy, In France, Germany and Spain the multiplication of ribs in the 15th century led to decorative vaults of various kinds, but with some singular modifications. ”

“ In the construction of the vaulting of these later periods, we have a curious instance of the manner in which extremes meet. In the earliest specimens of vaulting, all the strength lies in the vaulting surface itself. As time went on, ribs were introduced, one after another, to strengthen and support it, till at length they amounted to a permanent framework of stone, centering on which the vaulting surface lay. ”

“ But in the nave, which was probably completed by 1196, [27] the vaulting system exhibits no such differences. Here the vaulting shafts (which are of unprecedented slenderness, and are not engaged with the pier, but are detached, as in the section, Fig. 23) are all of the same magnitude, notwithstanding the unequal weights which they have to carry.
FIG. 23. They are not, as in the choir, built up in courses of small stones, but are each composed of several, in most cases five, lengths of strong cliquart. Each group has all of its capitals (A, B, Fig. 24) at the springing of the great ribs. ”

“ Sometimes, however, in their barrel vaults (as in the piscina at Baiæ, mentioned by Professor Willis, and in the corridors of the Colosseum) , we find these strengthening strips appearing as ribs projecting downwards from the surface of the vaulting, and supported by projecting piers.
The application of this to groined vaulting is an obvious step, and adds vastly both to its strength and beauty. Let us suppose a length of vaulting so divided; we find at once that we are getting into a very sightly system, and one susceptible of excellent architectural treatment. ”

“ This is a union of leaping and vaulting, in which the vaulter, instead of supporting himself upon a fixed object, carries with him a pole, which he applies to whatever spot he chooses. In supporting the body by a pole during the leap, a great deal also depends upon balancing, as well as on the strength of the arms and legs. ”

“ As, however, this leaves the alternate piers unrepresented in the vaulting, it became frequent to carry across from this intermediate pier a single transverse rib crossing the diagonals at their point of intersection, and between it and those diagonals to introduce oblique vaulting cells, whose ridges strike from the centres of the half-bays to the point of intersection.
Dr. Whewell, followed by Professor Willis, has given this the name of “sexpartite” vaulting (Fig. 364) , ordinary vaulting being quadripartite, as having four cells. ”

“ The vaulting-bar for the boys meanwhile may steadily rise, peg after peg; and, when proficiency is reached with two hands, one-hand vaulting may be tried, and the bar gradually raised as before, the teacher always standing near the vaulter. ”

“ The vaulting springs from single cylindrical shafts, which rise from the ground and do not [91] interrupt the string-course. Their bases have three-sided plinths, and their capitals are enriched with stiff foliage and are three-sided above.
The vaulting, which is apparently original, deserves especial notice. Its bays are square, and the groin ribs consist each of three round mouldings, of which the most prominent is ‘keeled’ ”

“ No better specimen of this form of vaulting can be referred to than that of the presbytery at Ely, built about 1240 to 1250, and the four bays immediately to the west of the crossing in Westminster Abbey, erected by Edward I. about 1280 to 1300 (Fig. 384) . The latter is the more perfect, as having level ridges;{210} the former, curiously enough, having ridges to the side cells which rise from the intersection towards the walls. I may mention that it is very common for vaulting with intermediate ribs to have ridges rising rapidly towards the central boss. ”

“ The later architects of England adopted a more gorgeous, and, in some respects, a more scientific vault than any of those mentioned, which, from the equal radiation of its numerous ribs over the whole surface of the inverted conoids, of which the whole surface consists, is called fan vaulting; a system really more simple and perfect than any of the others, though to the eye so exceedingly elaborate. ”

“ The vaulting is a study for wiser men than we can ever be. More than twenty strong round columns, free or engaged, with Romanesque capitals, support heavy ribs, or nervures, and while the two central aisles are eighteen feet wide, the outside aisle, into which the windows open, measures only ten feet in width, and has consequently one of the most sharply pointed vaults we shall ever meet. ”

“ There is nothing now to indicate that the provision of a vault had been intended by the original builders of these walls. This deficiency was met by the insertion of vaulting shafts and the addition of external buttressing; for as the pressure of the flat wooden roof was exerted for the most part vertically upon its supports, that of the vault would be a strong lateral thrust as well as vertical pressure, and these were to be provided for. ”

“ FAN VAULT, in architecture, a method of vaulting used in the Perpendicular style, of which the earliest example is found in the cloisters of Gloucester cathedral, built towards the close of the 14th century. ”

“ This form of vault was of very frequent use, though{187} the exact method of filling in the spaces was not rigidly adhered to. Its disadvantages are, that it either limits the height of the walls available for windows, or runs up so high into the roof as to interfere with its construction. It is in many cases, however, a very convenient, as it is a very sightly, form of vaulting.
Even the simple form of vaulting with level ridges is not always convenient for windows, particularly in clerestories, where they have often to fill the whole space. ”

“ Whether in practice or in competition, and no matter what height the bar may be, always measure your pole before vaulting. This is done by stepping up to the posts and holding the pole upright until it touches the bar. Let it fall back then, and grasp it with the lower hand one foot below the point where it touched the cross-piece. For a vaulter who takes off with the left foot, the lower hand is the left hand. For a man who takes off with the right foot, it is just the other way. ”

“ In the earlier examples there are ribs on the angles of the groins only; at a later period the vaulting becomes more complicated, as at Westminster. There is a longitudinal rib, and a cross rib along the ridge of the cross vaults, and frequently also an intermediate rib on the surface of the vault. The bosses are rare at first, more abundant afterwards: they are generally well worked and enriched with foliage. English vaults are sometimes of wood only, as in York Minster, and the cloisters at Lincoln. A vault is, in fact, a ceil{xxi}ing, having always an outer roof over it. ”

“ VAULT [1] (Fr. voute, Ital. volta, Ger. Gavolbe) , in architecture, the term given to the covering over of a space with stone or brick in arched form, the component parts of which exert a thrust and necessitate a counter resistance. In the case of vaults built under the level of the ground, the latter gave all that was required, but, when raised aloft, various expedients had to be employed, such as great thickness of walls in the case of barrel or continuous vaults, and cross walls or buttresses when intersecting vaults were employed. ”

“ When he came to the huge steel door of the vault, he stopped and looked within. The floor immediately before him had raised up to form a wall. Beneath it was a round hole that acted as the entrance to a large, metallic, and greasy tube.
Down that funnel had slid the entire population, screaming, wailing, weeping, clutching at one another for support, striking out in a burst of maniacal fury. ”

“ As it falls it becomes a cart full, a house full, and then with a report as loud as that of a heavy cannon, a section of the wall's face separates from the mass behind and tumbles into the deep water with a splash which scatters spray one or two hundred feet around, and the air is filled as with the bellowing of thunder echoed from projecting ice walls and from the lofty mountains hemming in the narrow inlet. The fallen mass disappears below the surface. But look! See that monster lifting from the water a half hundred feet away from where the tumbling ice fell! ”

“ Not a heavy cloud in all the sky, only a few fleecy forms floating across the rich blue vault, and the sun shining out in all its summer splendor, as though it had never shone before, looking down for the first time on the gladsome earth, instead of having run its course unnumbered years—undimmed in lustre—unimpaired in power. ”

“ I bethought me that if I had had a pole it would have assisted me greatly to discover the trap-door leading to the vault. It was easier to climb up than to climb down, as I could not feel with my feet as I could with my hands. The attempt, however, must be made. Having got to the edge of the plank and ascertained that it was secure, I gradually let myself down, when I found myself resting on another plank or the edge of a chest, I could not tell which. Let any one try in the dark to do what I was attempting to do, and it will be found no easy matter. ”

“ When you first begin to vault, it is best to place the bar at about six feet, and to work over this height until you have mastered the knack of the event, which is undeniably a complicated one. As in high and broad jumping, the athlete must lay out his take-off and his run. No rule can be set down for either of these things. Some vaulters like a long run, and depend entirely upon speed to carry them over the bar, while others take a short sprint, and throw all their force and energy into the leap. ”

“ This great space is covered by an immense vault, upheld by no central shaft; arches are thrown across the corners bringing the square to an octagon, and though not very high, it is one of the boldest Gothic vaults ever attempted; there is nowhere else a room of such a size vaulted without supporting piers, and probably none where the buttresses outside, with their small projection, look so unequal to the work they have to do, yet this vault has successfully withstood more than one earthquake. ”

“ Somewhere there exists a great vault miles broad and miles long—more capacious than the champagne caves of France. In that vault are stored the anticlimaxes that should have been tagged to all the stories that have been told in the world. ”

“ The lightning flashes with intense brilliancy, and never seems to cease for a moment. Zigzag streams of bluish white fire dash down upon the sea and rebound, and then take an upward flight till they strike the granite vault that overarches our heads. Suppose that solid roof should crumble down upon our heads! ”

“ You look up into an infinite vault, unveiled by clouds, empty and dark, from which no brightness seems to ray, an expanse with no graded perspective, no tremble, no vapory mobility, only the vast yawning of hollow space. ”

“ Do you know that if that vault is taken by either an electric-arc or an oxy-acetylene blow-pipe, I will be suspected?”
“I didn't think of that.”
“It is a fact! You see the police and the private agencies know a man by his work. How can we take that vault in a new way? How can I go through three layers of vanadium steel?” ”