The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 274, September 22, 1827

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 274, September 22, 1827
Various

Various

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction / Volume 10, No. 274, September 22, 1827

No. II

THE TEMPLE CHURCH.

The Temple Church,[1 - The circular part.] London, was erected in the twelfth century; but among antiquarians considerable difference of opinion at various times prevailed as to who were the original builders of these round churches, which form the most striking and beautiful specimens of the architectural skill of our Anglo-Norman ancestors. In England there are four examples of round churches, almost in perfect preservation, namely, the church of St. Mary, Temple; St. Sepulchre, Northampton; St. Mary, Cambridge; and that of Little Maplestead, Essex. It was long thought that they were of Jewish origin; but through the ingenious and learned essays of Mr. Essex and of Mr. Britton, this erroneous notion has been entirely removed. Mr. Essex, in his Essay, observes, in support of his opinion, that "their Temple at Jerusalem was not of a circular form, neither was the Tabernacle of Moses; nor do we find the modern Jews affect that figure in building their synagogues. It has, however, been generally supposed that the round church at Cambridge, that at Northampton, and some others, were built for synagogues by the Jews while they were permitted to dwell in those places. But as no probable reason can be assigned for this supposition, and I think it is very certain that the Jews who were settled in Cambridge had their synagogue, and probably dwelled together in a part of the town now called the Jewry, so we may reasonably conclude the round churches we find in other parts of this kingdom were not built by the Jews for synagogues, whatever the places may be called in which they stand."—It has been generally allowed by these and other writers on archaeology, that the primitive church of this form was that of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, and that the Temple Church at London was built by the Knights' Templars, whose occupation was the protection of Christian pilgrims against the Saracens. It has been further urged by a correspondent (Charles Clarke, Esq. F.S.A.) in the first volume of Britton's "Architectural Antiquities," that two of the before-mentioned round churches, namely, Northampton and Cambridge, were in fact built by "affluent crusaders, in imitation of that of the Holy Sepulchre;" and in support of his opinion he cites several historical notices.

The late perfect restoration of the Temple Church ought to be proudly recorded in our architectural annals. The excellence of the workmanship, and the native purity of the detail, evince not only scientific skill, but also a laudable motive of preserving this antique specimen of pure Anglo-Norman architecture from the ravages of time. Let the architect's attention be directed to the western doorway, and also to the interior of the church; and here, in good preservation, he will see excellent specimens of their mode of ornamenting the moldings by the cable, the lozenge, the cheveron, the nail-head, the billet, &c. &c., ornaments peculiar to the round style. The circular-headed windows, with their slender columns, also show, that in the restoration the style has not been tampered with; but substantial authorities have been quoted to perfect this praiseworthy attempt of the architect. That part of the church which has been added at a later date than the circular part, and for the convenience of divine worship, is lighted by the beautiful proportioned triple lancet-shaped windows, so justly admired. A writer in the Gentleman's Magazine for May, 1827, after making some judicious remarks, seems to think the crosses on the ends of the building, "as not in character with the building." Now as to architectural propriety in the decorations of a Christian church, no ornament could be better devised; and if we proceed to the antiquity of such ornament, I would observe, that the adoption would be equally correct, that being the insignia of the banner under which the Knights' Templars originally fought.

    C. DAVY.

BRIDGET TROT AND TIMOTHY GREEN.

(For the Mirror.)

"'Tis a common tale,
An ordinary sorrow of man's life;
A tale of silent sufferings, hardly clothed
In bodily form."

    WORDSWORTH.

Miss Bridget Trot, a "wo"-man was,
Of excellent repute,
Who kept a stand in Leadenhall,
And there disposed of fruit.

And though in features rather dark,
No fairer could be found;
For what she sold, like ringing gold,
When peeled, was always sound!

She had moreover notions high,
And thought herself above
The very low-ly common way
Of falling into love.

And therefore when to her his suit
A Snip did often press
With vows of love, she cut him short
At length, without re-dress.

Yet nothing odd was there in this
One case, it must be said;
For who that wish'd a perfect man
Could with a ninth part wed?

Not she for one, whatever he
Might do to make him smart,
And howsoe'er her saying "Nay"
Might add it to his heart.

'Tis very strange, (yet so it is,)
That vows should go for naught.
But she who strove to 'scape love's toils
Quite unawares was caught!

For though so hard to Snip at first,
At last it chanced that she
A sort of soft emotion felt
Towards one Timothy,

A butcher—Green by name, but red
In face, as was his cap,
And though he seldom tasted wine,
A port-ly sort of chap.

This man one day in passing by,
In taste for what she'd got,
Saw Biddy's stall—and 'twas her fate
To sell to him a lot!

She thought his manners very sweet,
He gave so fond a gaze;
(But dashing blades of such like trades
Have ever killing ways!)

And whilst he paid the coppers down,
He had the brass to say
Her fruit was sweet, but sweeter still
The apple of her eye.

Besides all this, he looked so neat
Whilst shouldering his tray;
So what with steel, et cetera,
Her heart was stole away!

Lo! shortly after both agreed,
They fixed the wedding day,
But long before that day arriv'd
He took to stop away!

From that same time her peace of mind
And comfort were at steak—