WHERE IZAAK WALTON DIED 163 



is enough that such an individual, distinguished in his 

 lifetime as a preacher or a divine, was once a member 

 of the Cathedral body : the residence he occupied is 

 forgotten. 



I was struck with this anomaly when, ten years ago, 

 I became a member of the Chapter of Winchester. 

 Quitting my old rectory on the banks of the Meon, I 

 took up my residence in the Cathedral Close. There 

 are few more peaceful spots to be found anywhere. It 

 occupies the precincts of St Swithun's Priory. It is 

 protected on the north side by what Tennyson calls 

 " the long low minster," and on the south and west by 

 the lofty monastic walls. Its ancient gateway, its 

 mediaeval remains, its prebendal residences scattered 

 about the enclosure, its fine trees and quiet lawns, give 

 it a sense of calm tranquillity that cannot be gainsaid. 

 It is a very haunt of ancient peace. The Close 

 possesses, in addition to the Deanery and the Porter's 

 Lodge, and the picturesque, timbered dwelling-house 

 known as Cheney Court, ten houses for the use of pre- 

 bendaries. Until the middle of the last century the 

 number was twelve, but in 1840 the Capitular body was 

 reduced from twelve to five prebendaries, when two of 

 the smaller and less convenient houses were pulled down. 

 These ten existing houses doubtless assumed their pre- 

 sent form soon after the Restoration. Great havoc was 

 wrought in the Close during the period of the Common- 

 wealth, and it became necessary to rebuild several of 

 the houses, while all of them needed much restoration. 

 The actual date of this work may, in some cases, be 

 seen on the houses themselves, and other indications 

 point to their completion in late Jacobean times. 



I had not long been settled in my beautiful residence, 



