bbey, are covered with soil which the
lapse of years has caused to accumulate around them; this of course
much diminishes the height of each shaft. This beautiful gateway is
flanked at its angles by square turrets, each ornamented, as also is
the apex of the gable, with a fine niche, which has within it a figure
of an unusually large size. The niches on the south side, contain the
figures of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Andrew; those on the north,
contain the representations of King Edward II., Abbot Godfrey de
Croyland, and the Prior of the Abbey of that time, in full Benedictine
costume.

[Sidenote: West Front.]

"The splendid front of the building is the most interesting and
important of its members. This beautiful and original composition
cannot fail to strike the mind of the beholder with awe and admiration;
the first sight of it usually makes an impression on the memory which
is not easily obliterated. It is indeed one of the finest specimens
which the universe can produce, of the Pointed style of architecture.
As a west front, scarcely any in this kingdom can be brought into
comparison with it for beauty of proportion, and elegance of design.
The west fronts of the cathedrals of Wells, York, and Lichfield have
been mentioned as surpassing it in some respects; and in point of
richness of detail, the two first may be perhaps considered as superior
to it; but they all of them fall far short of Peterborough in the
grandeur of their general effect.

"The outline of this front forms a regular square of 156 feet, that
being the height of the side spires, and also the extreme width of the
building. Its plan consists of three lofty arches of the same height,
of which that in the middle is considerably the narrowest, the two side
ones being of equal dimensions. These rest on triangular piers faced
with shafts. At either extremity of this arcade are two lofty turrets,
flanked at the angles by clustered columns, instead of buttresses,
which run the whole height of the turrets. These turrets connect the
arcade with the western wall of the church, from which it is distant
fifteen feet, which gives the appearance of great depth and beauty to
the arches." [_Davys' Guide._]

"There was, perhaps little or no interval between the completion of the
nave in the Circular style of architecture, and the erection of the
north-west tower, in the Lancet, or first style of the Pointed. The
original plan of the front, like that of Linco