NEW PALACE OE WESTMINSTER.
PLATE IV.
VIEW OF SOUTH WING TOWERS.
The South Wing Towers at the South-East Angle of the River Front, appropriated as the residencesof the Usher of the Black Rod and the Librarian of the House of Lords , project considerably in advanceof the main building, and form an important feature when viewed from the river.
This portion is composed of five hays, of which three are divided by hexagonal buttresses, crownedby pinnacles, and contain two light windows, with panels, on either side. The two outer hays beingcarried up a story higher, form Towers , having oriel windows corbelled out, running up to the level ofthe second floor. These Towers have octagonal turrets at the angles, terminating with lofty pinnacles,and high pitched iron roofs, with dormer lights on each flank: a rich metal cresting, or ridge ornament,surmounts the whole. The roof over the bays, between the Towers , is similarly ornamented.
Three horizontal bands of decorative carving (exclusive of the quatrefoil frieze under the cornice ofthe Towers) are carried immediately below the cills of the windows of each story above the GroundFloor.
The first band below the First or Principal Floor Windows contains, in Tudor characters, the royalinitial letters and appropriate mottoes of the three kingdoms, corresponding to the several devices carvedupon the coats of arms and shields in the hand above, viz.—Victoria Regina felieiter regnans—Dieu ctmon droit—Nemo me impune lacesset—Quis separabit,” etc. etc.
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