The pinnacles, if they add to the richness of its decoration,
break the simplicity of outline so admirable in the northern exterior of
the nave. The stonework of the pinnacles and buttresses is much decayed,
and constantly requires renewal.
#The Central Tower# rises a single storey above the ridge of the roof
and is open inside to the top. But for small gables on the buttresses,
it is quite plain up to the level of the roof ridge. Above this it
contains two long and narrow Perpendicular windows on each side, of
three lights each, with a transom. These windows are ornamented with
ogee gables, and between them are three niches, one above the other,
with canopies. The external buttresses are split up with vertical
mouldings and ornamented with niches and panelling. The tower is crowned
with a battlement. Horizontal string courses with gargoyles divide the
buttresses at intervals. There are no pinnacles on these buttresses, and
they appear never to have been finished. It is possible that it was
intended to set another storey on the top of the present one, but this
is merely conjecture.
This tower, or rather its Perpendicular casing, for it was originally an
Early English tower, is, with the western the latest part of the
minster, but it is by no means the least beautiful.
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