Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/388

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THORNTON ABBEY, LINCOLNSHIRE.

round tower at the end of each.

Archaeological Journal, Volume 2, 0388a.png

Window of Second Floor, East front of Gateway.

These were evidently adapted for defence, and are of a later character than the gatehouse itself, perhaps as late as Henry VIII.: but there is the groove of a portcullis in the jambs of the outer gateway a, as if it had always been intended for defence; the disturbed state of the country, or the dread of invasion, it being near the mouth of the Humber, probably rendered the additional outworks necessary at a subsequent period.

Archaeological Journal, Volume 2, 0388b.png

Corbel shewing Springing of Rib between Gate-arch and East Archway.

The gatehouse itself is built chiefly of brick, cased with stone; the outer face, or west front, is partly of brick, with stone dressings, the design being very rich and elegant: the entrance gateway is ornamented with three shafts in each of the jambs: its pointed arch is richly moulded, with flowers in one of the hollow mouldings: over this is a segmental arch, with hanging foliations: the side arches are partly concealed by later brickwork, but do not appear to have ever been open.

This west front of the gatehouse is divided by four octagonal turrets into three compartments; in the centre are three elegant niches, with the figures remaining in them, and rich canopies: in each of the side compartments is a similar niche, one of which also retains a figure. The archway is groined, and has finely sculptured bosses and moulded ribs springing from good corbels, panelled in the lower part. The upper part ornamented with foliage like the capital of a pillar. The