and
plaster partition from the sides of the pillar at the west end of the
chapel.

[Illustration: THE CATHEDRAL FROM THE NORTH AT THE END OF THE SEVENTEENTH
CENTURY.]

THE CATHEDRAL FROM THE NORTH AT THE END OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

By this clearing the beauty of the chapel so long obscured became again
manifest: its symmetrical proportions, the remains of its ancient
painting, the disclosure of two most interesting monuments, two aumbries,
a double piscina, the chapel of Bishop Audley, but more important than
all, two of the most beautiful specimens of transition arches to be found
anywhere, Early English in form, but ornamented in their soffits with the
Norman moulding and the zigzag decoration, corresponding with the
remarkable union of the Norman intersecting arches on the exterior of the
building, with its pointed characteristics.

The further examination by Dean Merewether and Mr. Cottingham, the
architect, showed that the great central tower of the cathedral was in
imminent danger of falling, and might at any moment entirely collapse.

Above the Grecian altar screen of Bishop Bisse they were struck by the
traces of Norman mouldings, whilst on traversing the clerestory gallery
the remains of Norman ornaments were everywhere to be found, the gallery
itself being still existent at each side, returned behind the wooden
coverings, up to the splays of the eastern windows.

The whole incongruous covering of the east end of the choir shown on p. 77
was then removed, and the change effected was most striking. It was
evident that long before the introduction of the Grecian screen in 1717,
the original arrangement had been disturbed by the insertion of a
Perpendicular window, to support which the low circular arch in the centre
had been constructed; on either side of this window were now to be seen
the mouldings and featherings of the original early decorated lights, on a
level with the lateral clerestory range; below these the Norman arcade,
based upon a string course of nebule ornaments.

"But below," says Dean Merewether, "the beauty of beauties was to be
traced,--the thickness of that part of the wall is 8 feet; on either side
of the arch, 24 feet in span, were portions of shafts, corresponding with
the pair of Norman shafts exposed to view seven years ago. The bases of
these (standing on a sort of plinth, which was continued through those
already referred to), as well as