re is a passage here all round the choir. Below the triforium a
stringcourse of chevrons runs all along.

[Illustration: The Choir.]

Between the choir bays and the apse is solid wall, rather longer than
the distance between the central lines of adjoining piers. Here are two
massive half-pillars, reaching to the roof, undoubtedly meant to be
crowned with a round arch like those to the transepts; and this seems to
shew that the intention was to vault the apse with stone. The apse is by
far the best large Norman apse remaining in this country. At Norwich,
where is the only possible rival, the lower part only is semicircular
and original, the whole of the upper part being of Decorated date, and
pentagonal. This apse is in five divisions, separated by clustered
shafts which rise to the roof. Originally there were three tiers of
round-headed Norman windows; the nine windows in the centre were
enlarged and filled with very good tracery in the Decorated period, and
the lower windows also on the other two sides. When, in the
Perpendicular age, the new building was added, the three lowest windows
were removed altogether and the wall beneath them, leaving three open
arches. The inner wall surface of the five lowest windows has been
filled with elegant hanging tracery of fourteenth century date, the
designs being all different. In some cases this tracery is placed just
below the Norman stringcourse, but in others the stringcourse has
been removed to make room for it. There was no necessity to convert the
two lowest side windows into arches; and they accordingly remain there
to this day; but being no longer exposed to the outer air all the glass
is gone, though the notches that held it, and the strong bars that
protected it, have been suffered to stay. There was never any ambulatory
round the apse outside; we can still see, from the new building,
portions of a stringcourse which was external, as well as other
evidences that the apse was the end of the church. It is also known that
there was a highway at the east end of the church, almost touching it.
In the stage corresponding to the triforium are to be seen on the walls
the remains of painted coats of arms, the shape of the shield suggesting
that they are as early as the thirteenth century; some also have been
cut in half by the later Decorated alterations.

[Illustration: View from the Triforium South of Choir.]

The choir roof is vaulted in wood. In the time of Dean Saunders