erestory, and the space between the vaulting and the roof. That in the
south transept also gives access to the central tower and belfry, an
ascent of which, if the day be clear, will repay the visitor for his
fatiguing climb of three hundred and forty steps by the magnificent view
spread at his feet. The transepts were no doubt the earliest part of the
building to be vaulted; that of the northern arm being plain is probably
the earlier, while that of the south arm, though of similar character,
has zig-zag ornaments. Several of the priors of Durham were buried in
the transepts, the first, Prior Fossor, 1364, and the last, Robert
Ebchester, who died in 1484.

On the piers of the transepts projecting brackets may be noticed. These
are of Perpendicular date, and originally carried statues.

The crossing, or space between the four piers supporting the central
tower, gives us a fine view of the interior of the lantern.

The #Tower# is carried on four large clustered Norman piers with
semi-circular arches. Over the arches, and seventy-seven feet above the
floor of the church, is the lower stage of the lantern, round which is a
gallery with an open pierced parapet. It rests on corbels, each
alternate one being carved with a grotesque head. The walls are panelled
up to the base of the great windows,--each panel having two cinquefoiled
arches under a crocketed canopy and final; while between them are small
buttresses, also panelled, and ending in a finial which reaches the same
height as the canopy. Over the panelling is a string course ornamented
with that characteristic ornament of the Perpendicular period, the Tudor
flower, and above this on each face two tall windows near together. Each
window has two lights, and is divided by a transom. The roof of the
lantern is groined, with fine bosses at the intersections of the ribs.
The whole seen from below has a very fine effect, and must be very
different in appearance from the original Norman structure. The whole of
the lantern was refaced, and the statues which had been removed from
their niches were replaced, some thirty years ago, by the Dean and
Chapter of Durham.

[Illustration: Corbel in Choir.]

The #Norman East End.#--The original form of the Norman east end has
long been the subject of discussion and conjecture. It was practically
safe to assume that the choir ended in an apse, though whether the
aisles were also apsidal, or continued round a great apse as an
ambulato