The rood screen with its two altars, although evidently a late work, adds considerably to the picturesque effect of the interior of the cathedral. It has a large, deeply-recessed and moulded doorway in the centre, the arch of which is of elliptical form, and has the jamb mouldings ([Fig. 604]) continued, without caps or break, round the arch head. On each side of the doorway the surface of the wall is covered with shallow panels having trefoiled arch heads. A corbel in each of these panels (now cut off) once supported a statue, and these would add much to the effect of the structure. The cornice is large, and is surmounted by an open parapet containing quatrefoils, and having standards running up in the centre of each alternate quatrefoil. The standards are ornamented with small pinnacles, and are supported on corbels, each of which contains two human figures, which recall similar carvings at Rosslyn Chapel, but are of finer execution.[70]
The structure begun to be erected in continuation of the south transept has already been referred to. The building (see [Fig. 571]) is 57 feet in length by 25 feet in width internally, and comprises four bays in the length and two in the width, supported on three central pillars. The entrance is from the wide landing of the staircase in the south transept leading down to the lower church, from which point a series of wide steps leads down to the floor. From these steps a good view is obtained of the interior ([Fig. 605]).
Fig. 604.—St. Mungo’s Cathedral.
Details of Rood Screen.
The pillars are all moulded and provided with caps and bases, and the arches springing from them have numerous moulded groins with large foliaged bosses at the intersections. A substantial stone bench surrounds the outer walls; on this rest the bases of the responds and the sloping sills of the windows. Externally the building is plain (see [Fig. 593]), and has evidently been prepared for an upper story. It has a heavy moulded base, which is returned round the buttresses. The section of this base (see [Fig. 573]) is different from those of the nave and choir, and is doubtless later, the base of the main building being (as above mentioned) carried through this wing, which abuts against it. The buttresses of the main building are also carried down to the base, and the walls and arches of the crypt abut upon them. The doorway is evidently much older than the crypt. The windows have plain tracery, and over each window is a small panel containing a piece of sculpture, probably representing subjects from a mediæval bestiary, such as those referred to in Vol. I. p. 19. They look older than the building in which they are inserted.
Fig. 605.—St. Mungo’s Cathedral. Interior of Blackadder’s Crypt.