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In support of this theory it is possible to point out that if long cross beams were used in building these domes, it would be difficult if not impossible to remove them after the dome was finished. If, however, as at Angoulême, small spaces were left in the masonry it would be possible to tilt a beam bevelled at each end and resting on the ledge of the dome and thus remove it without cutting. Still another argument in favor of this theory is the fact that the open spaces to north and south are above the level of the ledge, which would seem to indicate that they were planned to receive the end of a cross beam at right angles to, and above the one running lengthwise. Of course, when windows took the place of these small recesses the removal of the beam could be made through them. There remain, however, a number of churches in which there are neither windows nor recesses, but in most of these the ledge of the dome is itself wide enough to support a beam which could be removed without striking the vault surface.

Fig. 4.—Angoulême, Cathedral.

As for the choirs of the churches of this school, they were occasionally domed as at Saint Front[25] (Fig. 1), but were more often covered by a tunnel vault terminating in the half dome of the apse. The eastern portion of the choir of Saint Front (Fig. 1) and the choir of Angoulême (Fig. 4) illustrate this latter arrangement.