Monday 12 February 2007

The Two Towers

An illusion, created by a nearby office block, seems to reflect two campaniles (campanili?) on the Cathedral. There is an urban myth that Bentley did originally intend two towers for his Cathedral, but I have seen no evidence of this. A similar illusion occurred last year in a photgraph from Cardinal Place.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yet Bentley's first design, reproduced in Peter Doyle's book Westminster Cathedral 1895-1995, clearly shows two campaniles. (p.35)

Professor Doyle also writes: "It is clear, for example, that it was Vaughan who insisted on one campanile instead of the two Bentley had planned,..." (p.38)

Perhaps there is some truth in this urban myth?

Anonymous said...

Your title brings back sad memories of 11 September 2001 and the World Trade Centre in New York. The Campanili may have been a wiser choice after all! Still it is a splendid photograph.

Mark Langham said...

Many thanks, Ivo. I have the book on my shelf and there, indeed, the urban myth is proved true!

Mark Langham said...

Thank you for pointing out the reference in the title - which was rather insensitive of me. I was thinking, rather, of Tolkein, and have amended it accordingly

Anonymous said...

For the record, as a New Yorker, I had not been offended by the Twin Towers reference (after all, it could refer to the Petronus Towers in Malaysia). However, as a Tolkein fanatic, I do much prefer the new title.