A Note on the Arcading and Sculpture in the South Aisle of Beverley Minster

Abstract

At Beverley Minster, in the second bay of the south aisle west of the transept, there is a change in the character of the wall arcading. The first three arches rest upon four capitals of the ‘Early English’ pattern. They are typical of the eastern section of the church in which the high altar was dedicated in 1260, marking the completion of a stage in building the Minster. The two western arches of the bay are of a different proportion and the last two capitals are decorated with naturalistic foliage (Fig. 3). The hood moulds, instead of coming down to points, rest upon small pieces of sculpture. This pattern is continued along the south side of the Minster, echoed in the treatment of the north aisle and imitated in the alterations which were carried out under Hawksmoor's direction.