Nave. Part 2 arcades.

     The nave aisles are 55 m (180 feet) long and their outer walls have blind arcading, much restored in 1854. From the Civil War destruction and restoration, the nave arcades were almost wholly plaster. G. Gilbert Scott replaced them with stone in a style that he thought was appropriate. Almost all the upper parts of each arcade have been refurbished, though some masonry deemed reasonable was left untouched. Why have arcades? The obvious answer is to have lavish decoration which shows off the importance of the church and the richness of the cathedral. The less obvious answer is it increases the sense of depth, especially in a comparatively short and narrow cathedral like Lichfield. Each arcade imitates a door into another part of the cathedral. The large open arcades enables the viewer to see beyond and the blind arcades deceives into thinking there is more beyond the impression of a closed door. The visitor often asks, 'what was in the arcade'?  

Arcade from east end of  south aisle compared with arcade from east end of north aisle. The south side arcades show more decoration.

 

Arcade from bay 6 on south side considered to be original and head from east end of south aisle considered original.

 

The arcades and stonework above are far more decorated on the south side compared with the north side. The arcades are generally similar to those in the Chapter House and those in Southwell Minster. Some of the decoration is of the highest quality, especially with the hollowing of the centres of capitals.

Capitols showing precise undercutting and oak leaf foliage.

 There is sculpture in the spandrels of alternating bays (1, 3, 5) along the south aisle. Why did the mason not complete every bay? Bay one appears to have two birds with prominent claws, bay three has smiling winged ape-like beasts and bay 5 has winged, clawed, smiling beasts with bared teeth.  

 

Spandrels of bays 1, 3 and 5 on the south side.

 In bays 3 and 5 in the south aisle wall are two semi-effigies which have defied explanation. Why display only the head and feet invites speculation. Britton thought they represented two old canons of the church and are the same age as the nave.[1] He suggested the intermediate parts are hidden within the wall, but that does not explain why?

 

Semi-effigies.

     A review of ‘semi-effigial monuments’ found more appeared in churches in eastern England and certain parts of Wales and they were 13th or 14th-century.[2] No explanation is given, but those viewed from above often had some cross symbolism in the missing middle. Knights might have their armorial heraldry. Pursuing  this observation suggests something was displayed on the wall between the head and feet, now replaced by a memorial stone.

 

Selection of sculptured heads; most must be Victorian and crafted by the stonemason.

 Over 700 sculptured heads have been counted inside and outside of the cathedral, though it is unknown how many were present at the time of construction. This is the wonder of the cathedral.

[1] J. Britton, The history and antiquities of the See and cathedral church of Lichfield.( London: 1820), 46.

[2]  C. Boutell, Christian Monuments in England and Wales. An Historical and Descriptive Sketch of the Various Classes of Sepulchral Monuments which Have Been in Use in this Country from about the Era of the Norman Conquest to the Time of Edward the Fourth. (London: 1854). Lichfield is on p155–6.