172 THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN ESSEX.
part of the subject, and give you a slight sketch of the history and
development of mouldings characteristic of the various periods as they
progressed. My remarks are illustrated by the plate of outline draw-
ings on the opposite page2.
The mouldings of the Norman period were very simple, as
they never got beyond the chamfer, the roll, and the hollow.
The earliest examples of jamb mouldings, of course, were
perfectly square (Fig. 1 on plate), then the angle was chamfered
off (2), or converted into a roll (3), and these features, as time
progressed, were repeated, the square angles being further en-
riched by the introduction of shafts (4). Then, in the tran-
sitional period from Norman to Early English, the roll be-
came more detached by the introduction of a hollow on either side,
converting it more distinctly into a distinct member (5) ; sometimes
the roll became pointed (6); then, as Early English work became
developed, a deepish hollow was cut on either side of the roll or
bowtell (7), the pointed bowtell was sometimes depressed on one
side (8), sometimes the cylindrical bowtell was filletted, now on the
edge only (9), sometimes on one side only (10), at other times on
both sides and on edge (11). You will observe how these variations,
especially when the hollows were deeply under-cut, gradually divided
the jamb or arch as the case might be, into a series of depressed and
projecting mouldings, produced deep shadows and an infinite play of
light and shade.
I should like to draw attention at this point to the fact that in
Gothic work there are three planes in which mouldings will be found
to lie—one parallel with the outer wall, called the wall plane, one at
right angles to it called the soffit plane, and the third the plane
formed by chamfering one edge generally, but not always, at an
angle of 45 degrees, called the chamfer plane. As a general rule
Early English mouldings lie on planes rectangular ; Decorated on
either these, or on the chamfer plane alone. Perpendicular almost
always lie on the last. The introduction of the fillet on the roll was
the most important feature in Early English work, and appears to
have brought about a revolution in the system of moulding, as it
afforded the opportunity of introducing a great variety of combina-
tions of mouldings.
We have seen that the Norman mouldings were : 1. The chamfer;
2 These drawings were kindly made by Mr. Wykeham Chancellor for reproduction by the
photographic process.—Ed.