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 UC-NRLF 
 
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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
on 
 
 of 
 
OF THE LARGE PAPER EDITION. 
 THIS COPY is No... 
 
ON THE 
 
 ALFRED A. CLARKE. 
 
 l 
 
 Illustrated from Original Drawings by 
 the Author. 
 
 WELLS : ARTHUR G. YOUNG. 
 
 LONDON : W. H. SMITH & SONS. 
 
 MDIXO.XCVI. 
 
Copyright by Alfred A. Clarke, 
 Close Hall, Wells. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To many of my friends now living, 
 and to those departed, I desire to 
 offer my sincere and lasting thanks, 
 for having in divers ways aided me 
 by their writings, or otherwise, in 
 preparing these notes. 
 
 Especially I should wish to name 
 the late Edmund Sharpe,the author 
 of "Architectural Parallels ; " and of 
 the " Houses of the Cistercians, at 
 home and abroad." 
 
 His testimony is most valuable 
 and conclusive. In confirmation 
 
MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 of all that he says about the early 
 date of the work, I notice that all 
 the bases of the Nave piers up to the 
 point indicated by him have dis- 
 tinctive Norman tooling. 
 
 To John Britton, the venerable 
 historian and illustrator of our 
 English Cathedrals, whose testi- 
 mony coincides with that of the 
 Architect previously alluded to, I 
 owe a debt of thanks. 
 
 To Professor Cockerell, the gifted 
 author of the Iconography of Wells ; 
 to the late Precentor and Preben- 
 dary of Chichester, whose interest- 
 ing notes on the English Cathedrals 
 are full of research and poetic 
 
CATHEDRAL CHUKCH, WELLS, ix. 
 
 description ; to my dear friend 
 the late Diocesan Architect, John 
 Sedding, whose artistic mind in- 
 spired all who knew him, and who 
 loved with enthusiastic devotion all 
 the noble towers of Somerset ; and 
 to Canon Church, happily living 
 amongst us, I am indeed most 
 grateful. 
 
 Nor must I forget my latest friend 
 Mr. Charles Buckler, the architect 
 and archaeologist, who, to my great 
 delight, told me that coupled shafts 
 similar to those in the North Porch 
 arcade, temp. King Henry II, may 
 be found in the Cloister of S. 
 Dominic, attached to the Early 
 Church of S. Sabina on the Aven- 
 
x. i \L CHURCH, WELLS. 
 
 tine hill, Rome, and likewise in the 
 Cloister of the Hotel Dieu at 
 Angers, the Capital of the ancient 
 Province of Anjou. 
 
 This Monograph was originally 
 written for the guidance of a former 
 verger of the Cathedral ; it has now 
 been in part re-written with addit- 
 ional notes. 
 
 I wish to dedicate it to the 
 Members of the Wells Theological 
 College, past and present,in memory 
 of pleasant hours spent with many 
 of them during the past thirty years 
 in going over the Cathedral. 
 
 ALFRED A. CLARKE, 
 
 CLOSE HALL, WELLS. 
 
THE 
 
 Cathedral Church, 
 
 OF 
 
 HE Palm must be 
 awarded to this un- 
 rivalled Cathedral, 
 which distances all 
 competitors both in 
 the completeness of its ground 
 plan, the richness and profusion 
 
MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 of its sculpture, the delicacy and 
 grace of its architecture, the 
 almost perfect preservation of its 
 three Gateways, Palace, Deanery, 
 Vicars' College and Capitular 
 Buildings, the extent of grassy 
 lawn, and harmonious and pictur- 
 esque accessories." * 
 
 From the various approaches, 
 North, South, East, and West, the 
 Cathedral, with its three towers, 
 lends grace to the landscape, and 
 asserts its position over the ancient 
 little City, regarded by many writers 
 as the most remarkable ecclesias- 
 tical City in the world. 
 
 One of the greatest benefactors 
 to the Cathedral Church was Bishop 
 Robert, a Monk of the Cluniac 
 Priory at Lewes, in Sussex, born 
 
 * Thus writes the late Mackenzie Walcot. 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH. WELLS. 15 
 
 in Normandy, but of parentage a 
 Fleming. 
 
 This famous prelate was the first 
 Bishop of the united see of Bath 
 and Wells, succeeding in the year 
 of our Lord 1135, John de Villula, 
 who was a native of Tours, and 
 who had previously practised as a 
 physician at Bath. 
 
 Bishop Robert's great work in the 
 year 1 135, took the form of re-con- 
 struction, from, apparently, the more 
 ancient Saxon Church of Bishop 
 Giso. The font alone, of the 
 earlier Church, remains, 
 
 "The central tower arches, the 
 three bays eastward, as far as the 
 Bishop's Throne, the North and 
 South Transept, and also the Nave, 
 until you come to the break in the 
 masonry in the fifth bay, may be 
 
i6 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 assigned to him on the internal 
 evidence of their Style." * 
 
 Robert died in A.D. 1165, having^ 
 filled the see about 30 years. 
 
 Henry II. seized the temporal- 
 ities, and kept the See vacant for 
 eight years, a sufficient reason for 
 expecting a break in the masonry, 
 and changes in some little details 
 when the work proceeds. 
 
 Reginald Fitz-Jbcelyn, Arch- 
 deacon of Sarum, a son of the 
 Bishop Joceleni de Bailul, a native 
 of Lombardy, " born to him before 
 his ordination," was, in A.D. 1174,. 
 appointed by King Henry II. to fill 
 the vacant See. 
 
 It is generally supposed that the 
 
 * Edmund Sharpe, Author of Architectural 
 Parallels. 
 

CATHKDKAL CHURCH, WELLS. 19 
 
 remaining portion of the Nave up 
 to the West end, was completed by 
 this prelate, including also the 
 singularly beautiful North Porch. 
 
 Bishop Reginald obtained from 
 King Richard Coeur de Lion the 
 confirmation of a right to keep 
 dogs for sporting, throughout his 
 diocese. 
 
 He rebuilt the Churches of S. 
 Mary and S. Michael, intra muros- 
 in the City of Bath, and also 
 founded the Hospital of S. John 
 the Baptist. 
 
 THE WEST FRONT. 
 
 'HE present magnificent West- 
 ern Facade is the work of 
 a noble Ecclesiastic named 
 Jocelyn Troteman of Wells,, 
 who was another great benefactor 
 
so MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 to this ancient City of springs. 
 The West Front of Wells, as an 
 old writer remarks, is a master- 
 piece of Art made of imagery in 
 just proportion, so that we may 
 call them " Vera et spirantia 
 signa" England affordeth not the 
 like. 
 
 The two Western Towers, accord- 
 ing to the Norman arrangement, 
 are placed at the extremities of 
 the Western Front, and are in- 
 corporated into the design. 
 
 There was a motive also, apart 
 from the symbolism given to low 
 doorways by Durandus, that in this 
 case space was afforded for the 
 greater display of the sculpture. 
 
 A more -recent writer, Mackenzie 
 Walcot, late Precentor and Preben- 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 21 
 
 dary of Chichester, says : that the 
 West Front is intermediate between 
 Lincoln and Salisbury. 
 
 The imagery consists of six 
 hundred figures, either statues or 
 groups carved in high relief from 
 two to eight feet high. 
 
 This includes twenty-one crowned 
 Kings, eight Queens, thirty-one 
 mitred ecclesiastics, seven knights, 
 fourteen nobles and princes, and 
 upwards of four hundred and fifty 
 smaller figures in niches. 
 
 In the first arcade there were 
 once sixty-two figures of Mission- 
 aries, and early preachers in 
 England ; in the second tier in 
 thirty- two quatrefoils are jubilant 
 angels holding crowns of glory. 
 
 In the third stage there were 
 
22 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 forty-eight subjects seventeen illus- 
 trations of the Old Testament, 
 southward, and the same number of 
 representations of the New Testa- 
 ment northward, of the Western 
 doorway. There were likewise 
 fourteen others in the East and 
 North sides of the North West 
 Tower. 
 
 In the soffits of the Chief door- 
 way are represented the ten wise 
 virgins in tabernacles. These must 
 have been of singular beauty in 
 their pristine state, and convey 
 much even now after being mutil- 
 ated. 
 
 The fourth and fifth tiers contain 
 the nursing fathers of the Church 
 up to A.D. 1214. In the sixth tier in 
 the upper niches, and on the South 
 and North fronts, in ninety-two de- 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 23 
 
 signs, containing one hundred and 
 fifty figures, about four feet in height, 
 are represented the dead rising from 
 their tombs, in the attitude and with 
 the expression, remarks the late 
 Chichester Prebendary, "betokening 
 their various emotions at meeting 
 the great day of doom some with 
 rapturous joy and wonder, some 
 with despair and sorrow." 
 
 In the seventh tier are the Celes- 
 tial hierarchy the nine orders of 
 Angels and Archangels, among them 
 a beautiful figure of Uriel standing 
 in flames of fire, and holdinga 
 brazen basin of fire. This magnifi- 
 cent figure remains almost untouch- 
 ed, and is full of the "Fire of God," 
 of which he is the exponent. The 
 others represent, Dominions, a sweet 
 female figure, holding a sceptre : 
 
 B 
 
34 MONOGRAPH ON 
 
 Thrones, another pretty figure hold- 
 ing a crown : Powers, a fine strong 
 figure mailed, holding a sword : 
 Authorities, the attribute lost ; and 
 Principalities, the symbol likewise 
 gone. 
 
 These expressive statues were 
 originally painted, and much of the 
 colour remains to this day. Colour 
 was also freely used by the architect 
 of this sublime work of art through- 
 out the entire range of sculpture. 
 Gilding was likewise used and metal 
 work employed to heighten the effect 
 of the crowned and mitred heads. 
 
 The quatrefoil in the tympanum 
 of the central doorway contains a 
 beautiful sculptured group of the 
 Virgin and Child enthroned. 
 
 Much of the original colour 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WULLS. 35 
 
 of this remains. In the spandrils 
 are kneeling angels censing. 
 
 These are worthy of Giotto, both 
 in drawing and design. 
 
 Immediately above the doorway, 
 and within a canopied niche is the 
 fine group of the Coronation of the 
 
 Virgin. 
 
 It has however suffered from the 
 merciless hand of the iconoclast. 
 
 External polychrome is in accord- 
 ance with the system of decoration 
 imported to Italy by the Greeks. 
 The general effect of this, under the 
 coloured light of a setting sun r 
 must have been splendid indeed. 
 
 The West Front was the work ot 
 an English Artist living at the 
 same time as Nicolo Pisano, in 
 
26 ..,, .-.- i B U'N rn.K 
 
 Italy. The work was completed 
 about two years after the birth of 
 Cimabue, and it seems to be the- 
 earliest specimen of such magnifi- 
 cent and varied sculpture, united in 
 a series of sacred history, that is to 
 be found in Western Europe. Pro- 
 fessor Cockerell estimated the cost 
 of production at ^20,000 sterling. 
 
 It has been suggested that the 
 general idea of the work might be 
 brought from the East by some of 
 the Crusaders. 
 
 The West Front is entirely 
 occupied by the Saxon dynasty ;, 
 the North and East sides of the 
 North West Tower devoted to the 
 Norman and Plantagenet dynasties. 
 Professor Cockerell remarks in the 
 "Iconography of Wells" statuary, 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WBLLS 37 
 
 that the sculptures were designed to 
 illustrate in the most ample and 
 striking manner, the great funda- 
 mental doctrines of the Christian 
 taith, its happy advent to this 
 country, and its subsequent pro- 
 tection under the several dynasties 
 to the date of the execution of 
 the work in 1214. 
 
 In the three southern buttresses 
 may be seen Edward the Elder, and 
 the five archbishops, translated from 
 Sherborne, and from Wells, previous 
 to 1214. In the Northern half of 
 the West PVont, on the three butt- 
 resses, are Alfred, S. Dunstan, 
 Athelstan, Edred, Edward the 
 Martyr, Edmond "the Magnificent," 
 son of Edward the Elder, and Edgar 
 " the Peaceable the honour and 
 delight of the English," the second 
 

 son of Edmond. 
 
 Edward the Elder occupies the 
 first buttress. He was the founder 
 of the Episcopal Church of Wells, 
 in A.D. 905. Immediately under- 
 neath him is Athelmus, the first 
 bishop of Wells, translated to 
 Canterbury, A.D. 924, who crowned 
 Athelstan at Kingston on Thames, 
 A.D. 926. 
 
 South of the West door, is a 
 statue, standing upon a pedestal, 
 and about 5 feet high, on the South 
 pier of the central window. Judg- 
 ing from his conspicuous position, 
 the crown he wears, and the model 
 of a Church held in his left hand, to 
 which he points with his right, 
 this can be no other than the ven- 
 erable In a, who, with Offa and 
 Ethelbert, founded the Anglo- 
 
CATHEDRAI, CHURCH. WELLS. *<< 
 
 Saxon Doom-book, Ina, the " glor- 
 ious King" was the original founder 
 of the Collegiate Church of Wells, 
 in or about the year of our Lord 
 705- 
 
 Britton, the Cathedral historian, 
 says, however : " It has been inferred 
 that the Christian religion was 
 introduced into this City from the 
 neighbouring town of Glaston, 
 where it had been settled as early 
 as the year 67, by S. Joseph of 
 Arimathsea, the friend and com- 
 panion of S. Philip, by whom he 
 was dispatched into Britain." 
 
 Bishop Godwin states that the 
 Bishopric of Wells was not founded 
 until the reign of Edward the 
 Elder, in the beginning of the tenth 
 Century. 
 
30 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 Notwithstanding, William of 
 Malmsbury affirms in his famous 
 work on Glastonbury, that the 
 Episcopal See did exist prior to the 
 date alluded to by Bishop Godwin. 
 
 Professor Cockerell further re- 
 remarks : " Standing upon a pedes- 
 tal against the North pier of the 
 same window is the Queen Ethel- 
 burga, a graceful statue, towards 
 which the sculptor has directed the 
 King's attention. In the principal 
 front, the West, it was intended not 
 only to magnify the Saxon dynasty 
 altogether, but to gratify the West- 
 ern people of Wessex more especi- 
 ally, as having conquered the rest 
 of England after a rivalry of more 
 than three hundred years, and estab- 
 lished the race of Cerdic as supreme 
 in the realms of England/' and this 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 31 
 
 will account, the writer declares, for 
 the importance and the expense 
 attached to the Church of Wells by 
 Bishop Joceline Troteman. Of this 
 illustrious race Alfred was justly 
 considered the great luminary ; he 
 is therefore placed conspicuously on 
 the top of the central buttress, 
 surrounded by his family and the 
 worthies of his reign. The most 
 distinguished Kings and personages 
 of the period were placed on the 
 prominent buttresses, and are larger 
 in size than the rest, they are also 
 seated on thrones, while the others 
 are standing. 
 
 " Fraught at once with the gravest 
 and most important interests of 
 religion, history, and archaeology, 
 according to the learning and taste 
 of their day, they demand the best 
 c 
 
,RAPH ON THK 
 
 attention which can be bestowed 
 upon them. In this stupendous 
 work before us we behold the glory 
 of our ancestors in an era no less 
 remarkable tor the fine Arts, than 
 for learning and chivalry. It is 
 the union of the sister arts, 
 sculpture, painting and Architect - 
 ture, for the glory of Art, and 
 our holy Religion/' * 
 
 The upper part of the two noble 
 flanking towers was added to Bishop 
 Jocelyn's work, as may be seen, 
 above the string course of the 
 Resurrection tier of sculpture. 
 
 NORTH PORCH. 
 
 ITHIN the North Porch, 
 forming bosses to the string 
 courses over the first 
 
 * Cockerell. 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 35 
 
 arcade, are some quite remarkable 
 grotesques, full of action in the 
 work allotted them to do, by the 
 fancy of the semi-Norman sculptor. 
 
 They, with the superb rich Capitals 
 of the Nave Piers, are worthy of 
 careful study to any architectural 
 student, I doubt whether they are 
 equalled in England. 
 
 PRESBYTERY AND 
 LADY CHAPEL. 
 
 'HE present Presbytery, Retro 
 Choir, Lady Chapel, and the 
 Chapels of St. John the 
 Evangelist, and of St. Cath- 
 erine and All Angels, and the 
 other Chapels, forming the Eastern 
 Transept, all of which are of 
 the Early Decorated period, were 
 built between the years 1242 and 
 
36 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 1330, during the Episcopacy of the 
 prelate Roger, precentor of Sarum ; 
 William Bucton, or Bytten, who 
 was buried in the new Chapel 
 dedicated to S. Mary ; also William 
 Bucton, or Bytten, the second, 
 who had been Archdeacon of 
 Wells ; Robert Burnell, of the 
 baronial family of Burnell, of 
 Acton Burnell ; William de Marchia 
 and John de Drokensforde. 
 
 The last named Prelate should 
 also be enrolled as a benefactor, 
 writes the venerable historian of 
 Episcopal Biography, for he 
 improved the Bishopric with 
 many noble buildings, and revived 
 and enlarged the privileges of the 
 church. Bishop Drokensforde, 
 says Leland, was buried at the 
 South-West end of St. John's 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS 37 
 
 Chapel, where he had founded a 
 Chantry. 
 
 The tabernacle work enriching- 
 the Eastern wall above the High 
 Altar, and likewise the North and 
 South Walls of the Presbytery, 
 was originally intended to contain 
 Statuary, but the intention was 
 never carried out. 
 
 The ancient reredos was in 
 accordance with this work, and was 
 richly illuminated with gold and 
 colour. 
 
 At present it is built up as a 
 temporary reredos to the Altar of 
 St. Mary, in the Easternmost 
 Chapel. 
 
 The vaulted roof of this exquisite 
 chapel is of considerable intricacy,, 
 
MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 and of equal beauty. The colour 
 is a restoration. 
 
 John Britton, the Cathedral 
 historian, alluding to the Lady 
 Chapel, says: "Among the rich, 
 the picturesque, and fanciful com- 
 bination of ecclesiastical architec- 
 ture, there is not one in England to 
 compare with this/ 5 
 
 CHAPTER HOUSE. 
 
 the reign of King 
 Edward the First, and the 
 beginning of that of King 
 Edward the Second, the great 
 Chapter House was being raised. 
 Originally it stood, according to 
 Prebendary Mackenzie Walcot, on 
 the South side, abutting on the 
 South Transept, where doorways, 
 now walled up, apparently led to it. 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS i 
 
 The present building is one of 
 much magnificence, and is rightly 
 acknowledged to be the finest Domus 
 Capitularis in England. It is a 
 building of two stories, approached 
 by a flight of forth-eight steps, 
 through a double doorway of re- 
 markable beauty. It is octagonal 
 in form, with traceried windows of 
 four divisions, richly pierced with 
 geometrical cusps and circles, and 
 the whole was originally filled with 
 painted glass. 
 
 A palm pillar supports the eight 
 severeys of the noble vaulted roof, 
 and the whole interior is one of 
 marked beauty and masterly con- 
 ception. 
 
 The undercroft, also octagonal, 
 supporting this fine Chamber, a 
 
42 MONOGRAPH ON THR 
 
 work of an earlier period, was the 
 treasury, and likewise the Sacristy 
 of the Church. 
 
 A massive oaken door leads to 
 this gloomy chamber, the windows 
 of which are protected by double 
 stanchions, and also by shutters of 
 solid oak. 
 
 Just inside the outer door, is 
 another, richly ornamented with 
 iron work of the i4th Century 
 period. This door was made still 
 more secure by means of horizontal 
 and upright bars of oak. Interior 
 security was the evident desire of 
 the constructor. 
 
 The ancient sacristan must have 
 kept guard, and slept in this vaulted 
 room, " This was the thesauraria 
 ecclestae, in which the most valued 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS, 43 
 
 possessions of the Church were de- 
 posited ; those belonging to the 
 bishop, his registers, vestments, 
 mitres, and jewels, and also the 
 money, sacred vessels, crosses and 
 the vestments of the Chapter/' A 
 cope chest, several memorial crosses 
 of thirteenth century date, frag- 
 ments of carved stone work from 
 the arcading of the earlier East 
 end of the Presbytery, are now the 
 chief objects of interest therein. 
 
 Alluding to the new Domus Cap- 
 itularis, Canon Church in his valu- 
 able chapters on the Early History 
 of Wells, says : " The arrangement 
 of the stalls in Chapter were differ- 
 ent from that ordered in Choir, 
 inasmuch as the Dean and Chapter 
 thus formed a council gathered 
 round the Bishop. 
 
 D 
 
44 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 This arrangement bore witness to 
 that original idea that the Bishop 
 was head of the Chapter on this 
 Council, always present among them 
 and presiding, which time and cir- 
 cumstance had at Wells consider- 
 ably modified. 
 
 The Chapter House was designed 
 for a chapter of fifty Canons and 
 the bishop. 
 
 On the right of the Bishop sat 
 the Dean, the Archdeacon of Wells, 
 the Chancellor, the Archdeacon of 
 Taunton, the Abbot of Bee, and 
 the Sub-dean. 
 
 On the left of the Bishop, were 
 the Precentor, the Treasurer, the 
 Archdeacon of Bath, the Abbots of 
 Muchelney and Athelney, and the 
 Succentor. 
 
i\ 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 47 
 
 There was a daily recitation of 
 the whole psalter, by the members 
 of the greater Chapter, each Preb- 
 endary taking his appointed number 
 of Psalms." 
 
 CENTRA L TO WER. 
 
 'HE central Tower has its first 
 early story reaching to the roof 
 line, which is arcaded with 
 lancets ; the second story has 
 trefoiled paneling of the Decorated 
 period, the third stage is enriched 
 with three transomed windows, 
 crowned with canopies. The butt- 
 resses terminate in effective pinna- 
 cles, and the enriched parapet is 
 embattled. 
 
 The whole elevation is divided 
 
48 MONOGRAPH ON 
 
 into three grand compartments ; 
 and the general effect of this splen- 
 did tower is a delight to the eye. 
 
 WESTERN TOWERS. 
 
 r HE south western tower was. 
 built mainly by Bishop John 
 Harewell, between the years 
 1366 and 1386, in the days 
 f King Edward III, and King 
 Richard II. This is an early 
 example of the Perpendicular 
 era ; a little later than the work 
 of Bishop Edyngton at Winchester, 
 and about the same period that the 
 solid Norman Choir of Gloucester 
 was transformed to its present state. 
 
 The tenor bell in this Campanile, 
 is called Harewell. This Prelate 
 had been Archdeacon of Berks, and 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 49 
 
 Chaplain to Edward the Black 
 Prince. He was also chancellor of 
 Gascony. 
 
 The corresponding portion of the 
 north west tower, (temp. King- 
 Henry V), was built at the cost of 
 Bishop Nicholas Bubwith, about 
 1427. The architectural detail is 
 similar to that of the south west,, 
 with an addition only of two can- 
 opied niches in the buttresses. 
 
 Bishop Nicholas likewise built 
 the Eastern Cloister with the- 
 Library above- 
 
 Also he founded and built an* 
 Almshouse on the North side of St. 
 Cuthbert's Church, "endowing it 
 with good possessions for the relief 
 of the poor." 
 
50 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 The picturesque Vicars' Close 
 Chapel is also assigned to him. 
 
 The armorial bearings of this 
 Prelate occur on the doorway, and in 
 the traceried heads of two of the 
 windows argent, a fesse engrailed 
 sable, between three chaplets of 
 holly leaves proper ; each chaplet 
 consisting of four leaves placed 
 fretwise. 
 
 fD JOINING the East Alley of 
 Bishop Bubwith's Cloister, 
 close to the site of the 
 Ancient Chapter House, was 
 a Chapel dedicated to the Blessed 
 Mary, erected by Bishop William 
 Bytton the second, in the latter 
 part of the thirteenth century. 
 
 It was rebuilt by Bishop Robert 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 51 
 
 Stillington, very late in the fifteenth 
 century. 
 
 He died at Windsor Castle in the 
 year 1491, and was interred in his 
 newly built and beautifully adorned 
 Chapel. 
 
 Bishop Godwin, writing in 
 the seventeenth century, relates : 
 " That the goodly Lady Chapel in 
 the Cloisters was soon afterwards 
 pulled down by Sir John Gates, who 
 destroyed also the great Banquet 
 Hall in the Palace, for the sake of 
 the lead/' 
 
 It is reported, says the Bishop, 
 "That divers old men who had not 
 only seen the celebration of his 
 funerals, but also the building of 
 his tomb, chapel, and all, did also 
 see tomb and chapel destroyed, and 
 
52 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 the bones of the Bishop that built 
 them, turned out of the lead in 
 which they were interred." 
 
 The arms of this Bishop also 
 occur in one of the windows of the 
 Vicars' Chapel gules on a fesse 
 between three leopard's faces, 
 argent, three fleur de lis sable. 
 
 Bishop Thomas Beckington, a 
 great and noble minded benefactor 
 to Wells, who succeded in 1443, 
 built the Western Cloister Alley 
 which led to the great South door- 
 way of the Nave : also the fine 
 Gateways called the Cathedral Eye, 
 or locally called ' Penniless Porch/ 
 and the Palace Eye ; the gateway 
 leading to the Vicars' Close called 
 the Chain gate, and bridge over it, 
 communicating with the Cathedral; 
 
CATHEDBAL CHURCH, WELLS. 53 
 
 the Tower and Staircase leading to 
 the Vicars' refectory : and carried on 
 the work begun by Bishop Ralph 
 of Shrewsbury, in the Vicars' Close, 
 adding thereto the Porches, and the 
 armorial bearings on the buttressed 
 chimneys. 
 
 MONUMENTS. 
 
 'HE sculptured effigies of the 
 Saxon Bishops are of thir- 
 teenth century art, and were 
 executed during the episco- 
 pate of Bishop Jocelyn, the designer 
 of the noble West Front. They 
 are full of character and artistic 
 worth, and suggest "the feeling of 
 rest endless unfathomable rest ! " 
 
 The incised slab of Purbeck 
 marble in the South Choir Aisle, 
 
 E 
 
54 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 in memory of Bishop William 
 Bytton the second, is dated 1274, 
 and is supposed to be the earliest 
 work of this kind in the country. 
 It consists of a coffin shaped slab, 
 on which is an engraved episcopal 
 figure in pontificalibus ; the right 
 hand is in the act of giving 
 benediction. Within the spandrils 
 are angelic figures censing. 
 
 In the North Choir Aisle is a fine 
 alabaster tomb, erected in memory 
 of Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury. 
 It is of 1 4th century date, and 
 pontifically habited. The head of 
 the pastoral staff is wanting, but 
 all the other details are fairly 
 perfect. The gauntlets are jewelled, 
 and the ornaments of the maniple 
 are of a rich border pattern. 
 
 Bishop Godwin says "that he 
 
CATHEOPAL CHUFCH, WBLLS. 55 
 
 was buried before the high altar 
 under a goodly monument of 
 alabaster compassed about with 
 grates of iron. About sixty years 
 ago, for what cause I know not, it 
 was removed to the north side of 
 the Presbytery, but lost his grates 
 by the way." The image of alabas- 
 ter that lieth on it is said to be very 
 like him. "Vivos viventis vultits 
 vimdissme exprtmit."* This stately 
 Prelate was the builder of the 
 Vicars' Close, and he also surrounded 
 the Episcopal Palace with a strong 
 stone crenellated wall and formed 
 the moat, and built the Castellated 
 gatehouse and drawbridge. 
 
 He likewise built a house for the 
 Choristers and Master, adjoining 
 
 * Very vividly expressing the living features of 
 the living man. 
 
#6 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 the Western Cloister, of which only 
 the gable end of the hall remains. 
 
 He occupied the see for a period 
 of thirty-four years, dying in his> 
 palace at Wiveliscombe.' 
 
 The high tomb of Bishop Thomas 
 Beckington, is on the opposite side 
 and nearer its original position. 
 
 This also is a very fine work in 
 alabaster. The Bishop is pontifi- 
 eally habited with mitre and 
 crozier, all richly painted and 
 gilded. The capitals of the 
 open arcade, supporting the figure, 
 are decorated in an exquisite 
 manner with demi-angelic figures, 
 with outspread wings filling the 
 spandrils 
 
 This Chantry Chapel has been* 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 57 
 
 unwisely removed by a restoring" 
 architect, from its original position,, 
 and placed against the wall of 
 the Chapel of S. Kalixtus, at 
 the entrance of the south Choir 
 Aisle. S. Kalixtus was the- 
 original founder of the Military 
 order of Knights of the Holy 
 Sepulchre. 
 
 There is a wealth of amazing" 
 beauty and delicacy in the architec- 
 tural detail of this Chapel, in what 
 has been called the most florid 
 style of decorated architecture. 
 
 The whole of it is illuminated 
 with colour and with gilding. As 
 it stands now, it has no meaning 
 whatever, except that of a stand- 
 ing reproach to all concerned ir* 
 ks removal. Yet it cannot be: 
 
MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 divested of its integral beauty, and 
 its perfect harmony of colouring. 
 
 In this same Chapel of S. 
 Kalixtus is a delicately carved tomb 
 resembling Florentine workman- 
 ship. It was erected to the memory 
 of Dean Huysee, who died within 
 two years of his appointment to this 
 deanery. 
 
 The chief interest attached to 
 this tomb lies in two of its sculp- 
 tured panels. They are emblematic 
 representations of the Holy Trinity, 
 wherein the Eternal Father, as a 
 venerable man with flowing hair 
 and regally crowned, is blessing 
 His Crucified Son ; and that of 
 the Annunciation of the Blessed 
 Virgin a panel of exquisite loveli- 
 ness. 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS 59 
 
 The work is in alabaster, without, 
 apparently, the introduction of 
 colour. 
 
 The panels are of considerable 
 interest to the ecclesiologist as well 
 as to the artist and sculptor. 
 
 Under a canopied and pinnacled 
 recess in the South Transept, of 
 excellent fourteenth century work- 
 manship, lies the fine stalwart 
 effigy of Bishop William de la 
 Marchia, treasurer of England, and 
 a man highly esteemed by King 
 Edward the First. 
 
 Sculptured in white lias, are two 
 graceful statuettes (worthy of the 
 pencil of Fra Angelico), of Angels 
 swinging censers, together with 
 masks of the Saviour and of His 
 Virgin Mother, giving additional 
 
MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 interest and artistic value to this 
 fine tomb. 
 
 The whole composition was 
 originally painted, and much re- 
 mains to show how delicate it was. 
 
 The Chantry Chapel erected by 
 Dr. Hugh Sugar, Treasurer of 
 Wells, and one of Bishop Becking- 
 ton's Executor's, is a fifteenth 
 century work of rare and exquisite 
 beauty, both within and without. 
 The fan traceried canopy over the 
 altar, and the canopied niches 
 forming a reredos are of mar- 
 vellous richness, and prove the 
 superiority of the architecture of 
 the fifteenth century, for small 
 buildings. 
 
 The more this little chapel is 
 studied, the more its beauty will 
 

 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 63 
 
 be seen, and the more pleasure 
 will be derived from it. 
 
 Enriching the cornice, are dis- 
 played shields carried by demi 
 figures of Angels, with emblems 
 of the passion, the lily of the 
 Virgin, and the armorial bearings 
 of the Abbey of Glastonbury. 
 
 This Chapel has been considered 
 by many as a second Chantry of 
 Bishop Beckington's, built in honour 
 of him by his Executor. 
 
 On the opposite side, in the 
 North Aisle of the Nave, abutting 
 thereunto, is another Chantry 
 erected by, or for, Bishop Nicholas 
 Bubwith. 
 
 The altar was served by three 
 Chantry Priests, who in turn said 
 F 
 
MONOGRAPH ON THK 
 
 an early morning- mass daily, for 
 the soul of the good Bishop. 
 
 The altars of both of these 
 Chantries have been wrecked. 
 
 It was at this point that the 
 earlier Choir Gates stood with their 
 respective altars. 
 
 The Choir Stalls were then under 
 the great tower, forming a Chorus 
 Cantorum ; the Presbytery termin- 
 ating hard by the Bishops' throne. 
 
 In the Chapel of St. John in the 
 Eastern Transept, is Dean Gun- 
 thorpe's Altar Tomb, adorned with 
 his initials and rebus, by whom the 
 present Deanery, of King Henry 
 the Seventh's period, was built. 
 Dean Gunthorpe also gave a silver 
 image of the Blessed Virgin, weigh- 
 
CATHBDPAL CHURCH, WELLS. 65 
 
 ing 158 ounces, to this Cathedral 
 Church. 
 
 ALTARS. 
 
 fT the north west entrance to 
 the Cathedral under the 
 other, there was an altar 
 dedicated to the Holy Cross, 
 founded by W. Wycaulton in 1406. 
 This was the first station in 
 procession. 
 
 There was another altar of the 
 same dedication at the entrance of 
 the earlier Choir, near Bishop Bub- 
 with's Chantry Chapel. Lighted 
 tapers were kept constantly burning 
 before this altar as far back as the 
 twelfth Century. 
 
 A third altar of the Holy Cross, 
 
66 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 was erected in the north arm of the 
 main Transept. 
 
 The second morning mass was- 
 sung at the original entrance to- 
 the Choir on the South side, at the 
 altars of the Blessed Virgin and of 
 S. Andrew, close by the Chantry 
 of S. Edmund, Archbishop, now 
 occupied by Dr. Hugh Sugar's 
 Chantry. The Corpus Christi altar 
 was under the great Tower. 
 
 In the Choir Aisle, South, were 
 altars erected in honour of the 
 Holy Cross, the Blessed Virgin, St. 
 Thomas, S. Katharine, and the 
 Coronation of the Virgin. 
 
 In S. Catharine's Chapel there 
 were altars dedicated to S. Margaret 
 and to S. Mary Magdalene. This 
 Chapel stands East of the Transeptal 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 67 
 
 Chapel of S. John the Evangelist, 
 
 In the North wing of the Choir 
 Transept there was an altar erected 
 to S. John the Baptist. 
 
 In the East Cloister there was- 
 an altar in honour of St. Mary, and 
 one to S. Nicholas. 
 
 Before the High Altar, dedicated 
 to S. Andrew, lights were kept 
 continually burning. Above it 
 stood the Crucifix. 
 
 In addition to those that are 
 enumerated, there were in various 
 parts of the Cathedral, altars raised 
 in honour of S. Saviour, S. Margaret, 
 S. Cecilia, S. Laurentinus, S. Vicen~ 
 tius, S. Quintin, S. Pancratius, S. 
 David, S. Kalixtus in his own- 
 Chapel, S. Dionysius, S. Dunstan, 
 
68 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 S. Gregory, S. Edward, S. Edmund 
 in his own Chapel by the ancient 
 entrance to the Choir. 
 
 GLASS. 
 
 'HE East window of the Choir 
 is a magnificent example of 
 fourteenth century glazing. 
 
 It is in design a Jesse window, 
 and in the seven several cinquefoil 
 lights are displayed in the richest 
 colours, the prophets of old, who 
 foretold the coming of the Messiah. 
 
 The group of the Blessed Virgin 
 and Holy Child occupies the centre 
 of the central light, supported by 
 King David holding his favourite 
 instrument of music, and King 
 Solomon, with the model of a 
 temple in his right hand. 
 
CATHEDRAL CHUKC-H, WELLS. 
 
 Above is the Crucified One, a 
 fine figure outstretched upon a cross 
 of a rich green colour. The Virgin 
 Mother and S. John the beloved, 
 stand on either side. 
 
 The figure of Noe, Abraham, 
 Jeconias, Malachi, Hosea, and David 
 can be recognized. 
 
 The whole composition is a work 
 of wondrous beauty, and all in 
 perfect harmony in colour. 
 
 It is I believe the finest example 
 of the period left to us in England. 
 
 Two of the Easternmost windows 
 of the North Clerestory likewise 
 possess their original glazing, and 
 contain characteristic figures of S. 
 Gregory the great, S. George, S. 
 Bardi, and S. Egidius, who is 
 
70 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 commonly regarded as the patron 
 saint of all animals, park and forest. 
 
 Also two of the easternmost of 
 the South Clerestory are original. 
 The one over the last bay of the 
 Presbytery contains within canopied 
 niches, two remarkable figures of 
 Kings regally robed wearing 
 crowns, The tallest of these is King 
 Ethelbert, and is a noble figure with 
 arm outstretched, pointing to his 
 fellow king, as if demanding an 
 answer to his enquiry. 
 
 A mitred bishop, with hands 
 clasped, occupies the other light. 
 
 In these windows, which were 
 evidently meant to give more light 
 than the Altar window, much white 
 glass has been used. 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 71 
 
 The traceried heads of the 
 Decorated windows, lighting the 
 South Choir Aisle, are original, and 
 exhibit in octofoils and quatrefoils, 
 beautiful medallion-like groups of 
 S. Marina or Margarita of Alex- 
 andria, who, according to a 
 mediaeval legend killed a dragon by 
 the Sign of the Cross ; the Madonna, 
 seated on a throne in a robe of 
 murray colour, with the Holy Child 
 on her lap, in the act of blessing; 
 a Crucifix with a cross of a green 
 colour as usual, a female figure 
 kneels at the foot ; and the last 
 window contains the Coronation of 
 the Virgin ; in the lower quatrefoils 
 are kneeling angels of singular 
 beauty with green nimbi swinging 
 censers. 
 
 These various heads are gems 
 G 
 
72 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 that should be protected much more 
 than they are they are indeed 
 priceless. They remind one of 
 early missal illuminating. 
 
 The altar window of the Lady 
 Chapel retains a portion of its 
 ancient glazing* This also is a 
 Jesse. 
 
 The South East Window, nearest 
 the eastern end, has in its trefoiled 
 tracery, medallions of the early 
 bishops, all mitred, and venerable in 
 appearance ; the North East opposite 
 to it, medallion heads of Patriarchs, 
 somewhat resembling Roman 
 warriors : the others contain, in 
 their upper tracery, beautiful com- 
 binations of conventional foliage. 
 
 The borders and canopies remain 
 fairly perfect, the rest is composed 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 73 
 
 of fragments, some of which are 
 extremely rich and brilliant the 
 rubies particularly so. 
 
 Medallions occur in the traceried 
 heads of the Eastern Chapels of S. 
 Catherine and S. Stephen, amongst 
 which may be seen that of S. 
 Erconwaldi, an early Bishop of 
 London ; S. Blaise, an Armenian 
 bishop ; S. Stephen, a martyr, who 
 suffered under the persecution of 
 Valerian ; S. Marcellianius, a 
 Roman pontiff and martyr. 
 
 In the North Choir Aisle may be 
 seen a spirited figure of S. Michael 
 slaying the dragon ; and in one of 
 the windows West of this is a pretty 
 figure of S. John the Baptist, 
 carrying the typical lamb, to which 
 he is pointing. 
 
MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 The colouring of both these heads 
 is quiet, rich, and subdued. 
 
 The deeply set sexfoils in the- 
 staircase windows^ leading to the 
 Chapter House, are of the deepest 
 and richest colour. 
 
 Amidst a setting of golden brown 
 diapered with a deeper colour, are 
 circlets of bright green, enclosing a 
 lozenge shaped ornament, likewise 
 of a golden hue, set in a deeply 
 graded ruby. 
 
 THE CLOISTERS. 
 
 r HE Cloisters are on the South 
 side of the Cathedral, and 
 enclose by their East, West, 
 and South walls, the Palm 
 Churchyard ; so called in allusion to,' 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 75 
 
 the ceremonial of Palm Sundayv 
 
 when processions were made to the- 
 Cloister Garth. 
 
 They were begun, as they appear 
 at present, by Bishop Nicholas Bub- 
 with, about the year 1407, in the 
 days of King Henry IV., who 
 built against an earlier enclosure- 
 the Eastern walk. 
 
 The Western walk,, with the 
 Choristers' School House and 
 Chambers, is the work of Bishop 
 Thomas Beckington and his Exe- 
 cutors about the year 1 460. 
 
 The South alley which is built 
 against the buttressed wall attribut- 
 ed to Bishop Burnell, was completed 
 soon afterwards by Thomas Henry,. 
 Treasurer of Wells, and Archdeacon 
 of CornwalL The bosses of the 
 
76 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 vault are of much interest, and 
 well worth a careful study. 
 
 The fourteen bays of the vaulting 
 on the East side, and one in the 
 South, were done in the year 1457-8 
 by John Turpyn Lathamo at an ex- 
 pense of three farthings per foot, or 
 six pounds, eleven shillings and 
 three pence for the whole ten 
 shillings being given to him for his 
 diligence, vide fabric roll. 
 
 DIMENSIONS. 
 
 'HE length of the Cathedral 
 from East to West, within 
 the walls, is three hundred 
 and eighty three feet, the 
 
 exterior length is four hundred and 
 
 fifteen feet. 
 
CATHEDRAL CHURCH, WELLS. 77 
 
 The Nave is one hundred and 
 ninety-two feet, the Choir one 
 hundred and seventeen feet. 
 
 The West Front is one hundred 
 and fifty feet, two inches, in breadth, 
 this is greater than that of Notre 
 Dame, in Paris, and that of Notre 
 Dame d' Ami ens, both con temporary 
 buildings. 
 
 Each arm of the central Transept 
 is one hundred and thirty one feet 
 within the walls, and one hundred 
 and fifty without. 
 
 The Central Tower is one hundred 
 and fifty-seven feet to the parapet, 
 and one hundred and eight-two 
 feet to the finials of the pinnacles. 
 
 The Towers flanking the West 
 Front are one hundred and thirty 
 feet high. 
 
'8 MONOGRAPH ON THE 
 
 The height of the Nave from 
 floor to apex of vault is sixty seven 
 feet. 
 
 The height of the Choir is 
 seventy three feet. 
 
 The Cathedral is built of Doulting 
 stone a shelly lime stone, quarried 
 at a village of that name about 
 seven or eight miles from Wells. 
 
GENERAL LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY 
 
 RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED 
 
 This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the 
 
 date to which renewed. 
 Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. 
 
 4ar 
 
 54f 
 
 APRS 1954 LI) 
 
 REC'D LD 
 
 JAN 19 '65 -2 
 OCT 2 7 1966 3 
 
 AUG 3019684ft, 
 OCT ? :968 1 % 
 
 JAN -4 1969 
 
 REC-D LD 
 
 LD 21-100m-l,'54(1887sl6)476 
 
 SEN(TON!LL 
 
 FEB I 6 1337 
 
 U. C. BERKELEY 
 

 M309430 
 
1