182 THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN ESSEX.
English Gothic. I have often said that I believe the glass
painters of this period had very considerable influence upon the
architecture of the period. The small narrow window of the
Norman and Early English period gave but little scope to the
mediaeval artist in painted glass for the exhibition of his talent, and
we can well imagine how the painted glass artists would urge
upon the architects of that day the necessity for affording them a
better and wider scope for their talents.
I need hardly remind you that architects of all people in the
world, are the most eager to assist their artistic brethren, and I can
quite believe that the architects of the fourteenth century would be
actuated by the same feelings. At any rate, it is clear that as soon
as the narrow lancet window of the Early English architects had
become discarded, great advances were made in the enlargement
of the window until at last, in the Perpendicular period, the window
had almost become absorbed in what might be called a glazed wall.
But to return. The period we have now to consider is
the Decorated period, extending from about 1307 to about 1377.
If the transition from Norman to Early English was gradual, much
more so was the transition from Early English to Decorated ; so much
so that it is exceedingly difficult for us to decide to which period
many works really belong. The principal features of this style,
which may be said to be coeval with Edwards I., II., and III., are
the development of windows into three, four, and five lights, which
branch into tracery in the heads of a flowing description, the
canopies were openings enriched with crockets and finials, the intro-
duction of the ball flower ornament, and the general enrichment of
the details.
In this county we have numerous examples of this style, although,
as I was obliged to observe in the case of the Early English style,
it is very difficult to identify a whole building as of this period.
I may, however, mention the chancel of Lawford Church as a
very beautiful example of this period.
Also the chancel of Great Leighs Church.
The chancel of Tiltey Church.
The north aisle of Danbury Church.
I cannot help thinking that Edward III. or the architects of that
period were very conservative, for during his reign the Decorated
period of architecture seems to have held its own, but upon his death
and the accession of his grandson, Richard II., a further change was