Arch on the East side of the Tower, Showing the springing of the groining of the Old Congregation House, and the mass of masonry which covers the entrance to the Staircase. and the Convent of St. Frideswide, executed in 1201, is supposed to have been dated from this place, under the name of "Domus nostræ Congregationis," and, as has been observed, it was claimed in 1409, as having belonged to the University for an indefinite period before the foundation of Oriel College, and the appropriation of the Church to that Society. It consists of two apartments, one above the other, of which the lower one is divided into four bays vaulted and groined in stone; the easternmost bay being distinguished by a transverse rib of a similar section to that of the mullions of the spire windows, and having an ogee-headed piscina in the usual position, near the east end of the south wall. The date of its erection cannot be accurately ascertained. Some peculiarities in its construction, however, indicate a strong probability that it was not completed upon the same plan as that on which it was originally designed. Its architectural features closely correspond with those of the Tower, to the east side of which it was, as it appears, originally to have been attached. The water-table on the east wall of the Tower indicates the height to which it was intended to carry up the roof. But the roof of the building, as it was completed, is of considerably greater elevation than the water-tabling, and of a different pitch. It is also observable that there are traces of the commencement of a stone staircase adjoining the Section of South-east Pier of the north-eastern buttress of the Tower, and apparently designed to lead to the outside of the roof. This staircase not only was not finished, but its entrance was walled up, and a solid piece of masonry carried up in 5 The following note by the able architect now engaged on the restorations, Mr. J. C. Buckler, will serve to explain the curious combination of the later with the older work, as shown in the cut above :"I have completed the sketch I promised to forward to you. (See woodcut next page.) "It represents the dilapidated masonry of the south-east pier of the Tower of St. Mary's Church, and I have endeavoured to express by a tint of lighter shading the portion which, for the sake of the groining, was inserted in the somewhat VOL. VIII. older work, with which it was so cleverly combined. You will readily observe the havoc of columns and bases, which was made in order to prepare the way for the springer of the arched and vaulted chamber. "The hollow moulding A originally corresponded with B, but only a portion of it remains. The column in the angle between A and B was removed, but, as you will observe, the base was left, as were also other bases, one of which formed a sure foundation for the slender pillar of the groining." T |