Henry Seventh's Chapel.

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This wonder of the world, as it well may be styled, is adorned without with sixteen Gothic towers, beautifully ornamented with admirable ingenuity, and jutting from the building in different angles. It is situated on the east of the Abbey to which it is so neatly joined, that at a superficial view it appears to be one and the same building. It is enlightened by a double range of windows, that throw the light into such a happy disposition, as at once to please the eye and inspire reverence.

An author some years ago, has very highly, and yet not undeservedly expressed the beauty of this Chapel in the following words:—“It is the admiration of the universe; such inimitable perfection appears in every part of the whole composure, which looks so far exceeding human excellence, that it appears knit together by the fingers of angels, pursuant to the direction of Omnipotence.”

And here we cannot help taking notice of a most beautiful window that was designed for this Chapel. It was made by order of the magistrates of Dort, in Holland, and designed by them as a present to Henry VII., but that monarch dying before it was finished, it was set up in Waltham Abbey, where it remained till the dissolution of that monastery, when it was removed to New-Hall, in Essex, then in possession of General Monk, and by him preserved during the civil wars. Some years ago, John Olmius, Esq., the then possessor of New-Hall, sold it to Mr. Conyers, of Copt-Hall, who resold it to the inhabitants of St. Margaret’s parish, in 1758, for four hundred guineas; and it now adorns St Margaret’s Church. Thus it has arrived near to the place for which it was originally intended, but is never likely to reach it. The grand subject is that of our Saviour’s crucifixion; but there are many subordinate figures: those at the bottom of the two side panels represent Henry VII., and his Queen, and were taken from the original pictures sent to Dort for that purpose. Over the King is the figure of St. George, and above that a white rose and a red one. Over the figure of the Queen stands that of St. Katharine of Alexandria; and in the panel over her head appears a pomegranate vert, in a field of or, the arms of the kingdom of Grenada.

General Admeasurements of the Exterior of Henry VII.’s Chapel.

Ft. In.
Extreme Length 115 2
Breadth to the Extremities of the Buttress Towers 79 6
Height of the Buttress Towers 70 8
Do.to the Apex of the Roof 85 6
Do.to the Top of the Western Turrets 101 6


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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