Meanwhile work was proceeding on the massy new tower, the Turris Magna,
now known as the Tour des Anges, the best preserved of all the old towers.
The foundations were laid on April 3, 1335, and it was roofed with lead on
March 18, 1337. The basement formed the papal wine-cellar; the ground
floor was the treasury, or strong room, where the specie, the jewels, the
precious vessels of gold and silver and other valuables were stored; many
payments are recorded for locks and bars and bolts for their safe-keeping
within the ten-feet-thick walls of the tower.
The next great work put in hand was the east wing, which was raised on a
space left by John's demolished, or partially demolished, structure. On
November 20, 1337, two masons (lapiscidarios), Pierre Folcaud and Jean
Chapelier, and a carpenter, Jacques Beyran, all of Avignon, contracted to
carry out the plans of a new architect, Bernard Canello, for the
completion of Benedict's private apartments, and on the same day Lambert
Fabre and Martin Guinaud, housewreckers, were paid eighty-three gold
florins on account, for the demolition of the old buildings.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179