ngs of the
main arch and of the two subordinate arches are plain, but much thicker
and bolder than those of the western doorway. On each side of the main
arch are plain niches with small carved brackets. This doorway on the
inner side is divided by a cluster of shafts, and above it is an oblong
piece of masonry ornamented with arcading enclosed in an obtuse arch.
Above the outer arches of the arcading, on each side, is a niche with
sculpture.

The chapter-house itself is octagonal in form, being divided into eight
bays. Seven of these are filled with windows, the eighth, that over the
entrance, being ornamented with blank tracery of the same design as that
of the windows. These windows are very acutely arched, and their tracery
is of the geometrical Decorated style. They contain five lights, each
light terminating in a trefoiled arch. The central light has further a
very acute arch above it, also filled with a trefoil. The two outer
lights on each side are joined together by an arch above them, in which
is a cinquefoiled circle. Above are three circles arranged pyramidally,
each containing nine cusps. The mullions enclosing the central light are
thicker than the others. All the mullions are broken up into very
slender shafts with capitals. It may be safely said that for elegance,
symmetry, and the ingenious filling of a given space, the tracery of
these windows is not surpassed in Europe.

Between the windows are clusters of shafts which support the ribs of the
vault. These shafts have fine capitals, and are separated from the
windows by blank spaces of wall set at an obtuse angle to the windows,
so that the shafts are pushed forward. Below is an arcade, famous both
for its richness and curiously beautiful design. It consists of a series
of canopies, six to each bay, under each of which is a seat forming the
half of an octagon. At each angle of these seats is a shaft of Purbeck
marble. The seats, or niches, are divided from each other also by shafts
of Purbeck marble. The use of Purbeck marble, both here and in the
doorway of the chapter-house, is worthy of note. It is unusual after the
Early English period, and might be advanced as an argument of the early
date of the chapter-house. In the bay which contains the entrance, there
is a seat on each side of the doorway. The capitals of the Purbeck
marble shafts are carved with unusual richness; but it is the canopies
which demand most attention. They are flat at the top,