West front, Wells Cathedral

I haven't had much luck photographing at Wells Cathedral. On the last but one visit to the building it rained making outside shots difficult or impossible and interiors a lot darker than I would wish. On my most recent visit, a few weeks ago, we were about to step over the threshold and enter the building when the fire alarm sounded within and everyone came briskly out into the close. A wait of twenty minutes or so was only enlivened by the arrival of a fire engine and finally the all clear at a false alarm. This time I did the inside shots first - fewer people! Then went out  and took this photograph of the west front and its impressive tiers of canopies, many with medieval carved figures.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

West front, Salisbury Cathedral

For centuries most buildings have had a front and a back (and sides too, of course!) The front has always been the favoured elevation, the one that aims to impress, the one where the architect (or builder or owner) have given greatest consideration, and where most money per square foot has been spent. Cathedrals are no exception to this general rule though its true to that all elevations are designed to be seen and to impress. However, the west front is usually the most favoured elevation, is often symmetrical, and has the main processional entrance. Many cathedrals have west fronts decorated with statues of biblical figures and saints. This is the case at Salisbury where this approach is thought to have been borrowed from not too distant Wells Cathedral. At Salisbury, however, fewer of the statues are original, with many being Victorian in age.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Holy Trinity, Tewkesbury

The church of Holy Trinity, Tewkesbury, was consecrated on 30th August 1837, a couple of months after the succession of Queen Victoria in June of that year. The architect was Ebenezer Trotman, son of Daniel Trotman, Tewkesbury's Baptist minister. The brick building with stone dressing takes Gothic forms and assembles them in quite novel ways, especially on the west front (seen above). A west door is traditional but doors in the flanking aisles are not. A large west window is also traditional but here the arch does not contain tracery or glass but opens onto a recessed blank wall with a clock: church clocks are usually on a tower The narrow, symmetrical composition of the west front is placed opposite a street that leads to the High Street and is an eyecatcher visible to anyone passing by.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300