File:Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society (1920) (14597582378).jpg

Identifier: transactionsofbr42bris_0 (find matches)
Title: Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society
Year: 1920 (1920s)
Authors: Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. cn
Subjects: Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society
Publisher: Bristol, Eng. : The Society
Contributing Library: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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g thegradually disappearing structure. It should be under-stood that the four gables did not represent four houses,although the sections had been numbered 5, 6, 7 and 8High Street for many years. As so often happens in the case of old city properties,very little was really left of the original building; butthe Solar or guest chamber on the first floor, containedsome remains of unusual interest. The whole of thesuper-structure of this block of buildings, however, hadbeen so wrecked in years gone by, that any attempt todescribe the original house is impossible. It was evident,however, that the principal room extended over Nos. 6and 7, and that a small apartment adjoined in what wasevidently No. 5 ; for the plan of the cellars proved mostconclusively that the portions numbered 5, 6 and 7 reallyformed one property. It was also clear that No. 4 wasa part of the original premises. The walls of the Solar must have been whollypanelled in oak, with finely carved overmantel, such as Plate XIII.
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Fig. 2.—OAK OVERMANTEL found »n one of above houses.pw„. M I mu Bristol Facing Pgg /VS. BRISTOL ARCHAEOLOGICAL NOTES. 129 one would only expect to see in the house of a wealthyburgher. Only portions of this panelling remained, andthat in very bad condition ; but since the many coats ofpaint have been removed the unusual character of thecarving has been revealed. The Overmantel is divided into nine compartmentswith deep moulded borders, the central one filled withthe Royal Arms, which is the achievement of QueenElizabeth— France modern and England quarterly asin use between 1405 and 1603, surrounded by the legendHoni soyt qui mal i paence upon a garter, supportedby the lion and dragon, with flowers in the field. Thecompartments at the sides are now blank, but they musthave contained carved work originally. The three smallupper panels beneath the cornice contain Renaissancecarving with mask heads, birds and reptiles ; but thesehad unfortunately been mutilated. The lower series of

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