A B C of Gothic Architecture

28 THE EAELY XORMAX PERIOD.
dily distinguishone from the other: the jointsbetween
the stones in the old work are wide, filled with
a
great thickness
of mortar; in the
new work they are
comparativelyfine,
often
for
leaving room
scarcelymore
than to pass
a
knife: the one is
called '' wide-jointed
other
masonry," the
''fine-jointed
A.D, -1'20. A.D. IQdO.
Wincliester
Cathearal, Transept.
masonry," and this is the best and safest distinction
between early and late Korman work ; the rule is
almost of universal application.In confirmation of
this we may cite another passage
from "William of
^Jalmesbury,describingthe work of his own time, and
what he had probably seen himself: " "He
[Eoger,
Bishop of Salisbury]was a prelate of great mind, and
spared no expense towards completing his designs,
es^Decially in buildings;which may
be seen in other
places,but more particularly at Salisbury and at
Malmesbury, for there he erected extensive edifices
at vast cost, and with surpassingbeauty, tJie courses of
stone lemg so correctlylaid that the jointdeceives the eye,