233 



notes having been furnished for the guidance of the party by Mr. 

 Niblett, who was unhappily prevented by indisposition from attend- 

 ing and taking part in the excursion. At Evesham the party were 

 greatly indebted to the kind attention of the Vicar, Mr. Wood. 



The following are a few notes by Mr. Scarth on Gloucester 

 Cathedral : — 



The general aspect of Gloucester Cathedral is Norman, but altered and 

 repaired ; the perpendicular work is cemented against the Norman wall. The 

 transept and the choir are very fine, and there is a fine crypt below the choir. 

 Abbot Fri.cester's chronicle fixes the date of the several parts. A.D. 1058 

 Aldred tho Saxon built the church from the foundation, temp. Edward the 

 Confessor ; the Norman style originated in that reign. A.D. 1087 the Cathe- 

 dral was burnt. A.D. 1089, i.e., after the Norman conquest, the foundationof 

 the present Cathedral was laid by Robert, Bishop of Hereford, at the request 

 of Abbot Serlo. A.D. 1100 it was consecrated and Divine worship performed. 

 Between 11G3 and 1180 the north west tower fell. AD. 1222 it was rebuilt 

 by Helius, the sacrist, but this tower has disappeared. A.D. 12i2 the vault 

 of tho nave was completed by the Monks themselves ; it is Early English. 

 Abbot Thokey gave the body of Edward II. honourable burial in the church. 

 Ho came to be regarded as a martyr and a saint, and largo ofibrings were 

 made at his tomb ; hence riches flowed in to the abbey. Abbot Thokey con- 

 structed tho south aisle of the nave in the decorated style ; it was before Nor- 

 man, and it is now one of the most beautiful specimens of the decorated 

 period ; tho windows are like that in Morton College Chapel, Oxford. Marten 

 College was founded 1266, and the Monks of Gloucester established a College 

 there for their student Monks. Merton Chapel was begun A.D. 1280 ; Glouces- 

 ter College, 1283, Abbot Thokey began the south aisle of Gloucester 1307, 

 and probably derived his pattern from Merton College Chapel. The aisle of St. 

 Andrew was constructed by Abbot Wigmore, who built it out of the ofierings 

 made at Eing Edward's tomb. Abbot Staunton built the great vault of the 

 choir and the stalls of the choir on the prior's side. Abbot Horton built the 

 aisle of St. Paul, A.D. 1368-73. Abbot Frocester, who built the cloister, is 

 the chronicler from whom the above details are taken ; for the rest of the 

 details of the abbey we are indebted to Leland. (See also Professor Willis's 

 lecture at Gloucester, 20th July, 1860. Archaeological Journal, vol. xvii.) 

 A.D, 14.59 and 1470 the Lady Chapel was built by Abbots Hanleyand Farley. 



The tomb of Edward II. was inspected, and it is to be regretted 

 that the beautiful canopy work by which it is protected is not 

 cleaned, and the marble cleared of the whitewash which has 

 destroyed all its sharpness and variety. When the choir is finished 

 ■we may hope that some attention will be given to this and other 

 very striking monuments. 



