The nave pulpit was placed here in 1862; and though the inner stone-work of the Choir-screen is of the Thirteenth Century, what is visible is modern.
“The splendid arcade which forms the Triforium is one of the greatest glories of Westminster, for it is filled with tracery similar in every respect to the best window tracery of the Early English period. Above the triforium comes the grand tier of windows composing the clerestory. Each is divided by a single central mullion which, in the older portions, terminates with two plain arches surmounted by a circle foliated in six divisions, and in the newer portions with trefoil-headed arches surmounted by a circle divided into only four parts. The fine vaulting, of which the rib-work is enriched with sculptured bosses at its points of intersection, completes the centre of the nave in such a fashion that its decorative effect is in complete harmony with the richness of the arch mouldings.”—(C. H.)
The aisles are greatly disfigured by the innumerable monuments. Much beautiful sculpture has been cut away to make room for them. The north aisle has one doorway; the south aisle has three, two of which lead into the Cloisters and the third (the most western one) into the Deanery. Above it is the Abbot’s Pew, an oaken gallery built by Abbot Islip early in the Sixteenth Century.
The most important monument in the north aisle is that of Ben Jonson, with the famous inscription “O rare Ben Jonson.” In the south aisle lies Major John André.
The Transepts of Westminster Abbey contain some of the most beautiful work that can be found anywhere.
The North Transept is entered by the famous Solomon’s Porch. It consists of four bays and is bordered with aisles. The eastern aisle is divided into three chapels—St. Andrew, St. Michael and St. John the Evangelist—all of which are filled with monuments.
“The transept end consists of five stages, of which the lowest is composed of four obtusely pointed arches, two of them being doorways. The spandrels are very richly sculptured. In the second compartment is an arcade of six trefoil-headed arches springing from clustered columns. Above this arcade are six lancet windows on slender columns. The soffits of the arches are decorated with sculpture and at both ends there are statues in niches. The fourth stage is a continuation of the triforium arcade. There are three arches, each enclosing two trefoiled arches, with a cinquefoiled circle between them. It is possible that there were once windows in this compartment, but these have been filled up. The transept end is completed by a great rose-window filled with modern stained glass representing the Apostles and Evangelists. Here we find the celebrated Censing Angels.
“The triforium is the place from which we can best see those famous sculptures known as the ‘censing angels.’ The artist who placed these figures in the north and south transepts must have had a genius which brought him nearer to the great Greek sculptors of the Periclean period than any who has lived since their time. What must the central statues have been like to be worthy of such accessories? Perhaps if one had to select the best public statue in England, it would be impossible to overlook the angel on the north transept on the western side. He appears to be literally hovering in the air, or rather—for this the sculptor has most marvellously expressed—he is supposed to be swinging his censer in the presence of his Lord, and to be floating in a sea of light, which forces him to bow his head and avert his face from its dazzling effulgence.”—(W. J. L.)
Among the monuments in the north transept the most interesting are to Admiral Vernon, George Canning, D’Israeli, Gladstone, Sir Robert Peel, William Pitt and Warren Hastings.
The South Transept is popularly known as the Poets’ Corner, a name given by Goldsmith. It is so crowded with tombs and cenotaphs that the architectural features are rarely noticed. It is not uniform with the north transept though both are of Henry III.’s reign, Early English merging into Decorated. A door in the south wall leads into the Chapel of St. Faith, long used as a vestry and now as a chapel for private prayer.