emned; but in those days the Abbots had
only themselves to please, there were no well-educated reporters
and writers to discuss their doings in morning papers: they felt,
therefore, quite at their ease, hoping for the best, and in this
instance succeeding admirably, not only as regards their own wishes
and intentions, but in leaving for posterity a splendid
architectural history in stone."

"The plan of the building is cruciform, and consists of a Nave and
Choir, with Aisles on the north and south sides of each; North and
South Transepts, at the intersection of which with the Choir rises
the Tower; and at intervals round the Choir Aisles are four small
apsidal Chapels. At the east end is the Lady-Chapel, prior to the
erection of which, a fifth Chapel, similar in form and dimensions
to the other four, existed at the east end; as may be seen in the
plan of the Crypt."

[Illustration: NORMAN REMAINS

Remove from the Building all that has been erected since
A.D. 1200, and this sketch will be found to fairly
represent that which is left of the Church of the 11th
and 12th centuries.

From a Drawing by F. S. Waller, F.R.I.B.A.]

The whole building, according to Professor Willis, is full of peculiar
fancies, which all appear to be characteristic of a school of masons who
were extremely skilful, and glad of an opportunity of showing their
skill. The mediaeval masons, he thinks, were "perfectly practical and
most ingenious men; they worked experimentally: if their buildings were
strong enough, there they stood; if they were too strong, they also
stood; but if they were too weak they gave way, and they put props and
built the next stronger." That was their science--and very good
practical science it was--but in many cases they imperilled their work,
and gave trouble to future restorers.

The arrangement of the buildings differs in one very essential point
from almost every other in the kingdom. The cloisters and the claustral
buildings were, as a rule, on the south side of the church, for the sake
of shelter, and also of sunshine. At Gloucester they are on the north
side of the church, the reason being (according to Mr Fosbroke) that
when Aldred laid the new foundations farther south, the cloisters found
themselves on the north side.

Dallaway has said very truly that "Few churc