THE NAVE, AUGUST 1918.
The bombardments of 1918 destroyed the nave beyond hope of repair.
Several large pillars collapsed and a considerable portion of the upper part of the side walls, large arches and triforium fell in to the right and left.
Three bays near the west front, with their large arches and the aisles were completely destroyed. All this masonry fell inside the nave, forming across its entire breadth a heap of debris more than 19 feet high and about 33 feet long.
Fragments of vaulting, bases of pillars, stones from the roof, were mixed in shapeless chaos with a quantity of architectural and sculptured motives, notably the beautiful capitals and the key-stones of the vault, mostly broken. And on this heap of ruins the roof-timbers of the framework, deprived of all support, fell by degrees in their turn.
The old harmonious construction of the nave is now to be seen only in the bays nearest the transept.
The Chapelle des Œuvres was struck several times. The most serious damage was caused during the first bombardments of 1914 by a shell which exploded on the roof of the gallery (B on plan p. [18], photo below) which leads to the chapel. Penetrating the roof and the framework, it caused the vault to fall in, broke the arches, and shattered the stained-glass of the chapel windows.
GALLERY GIVING ACCESS TO THE CHAPELLE DES ŒUVRES, NOV. 1918.
