Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Monday, 29 September 2014

A curious notion


A friend who regularly sends me links to interesting posts on blogs or in the press has sent me this curious little piece from Andrew Cusack's blog in which an Edwardian architect attempts to envisage a scheme to Gothicise St Paul's Cathedral in London. I assume it is an exercise in architectural humour rather than a serious proposal, but is intersting to reflect upon. It can be seen here.

Although what is often termed Wren's masterpiece leaves me cold I think this was not a scheme anyone should have tried to implement - any more really than Classicising Old St Pauls as was attempted in the seventeenth century.






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