142 The Abbey-church. 



the vestry unbuilt, and much beside remained to be accom- 

 plished. These defects were remedied by Bishop Montague 

 between 1609 and 1616 ; and so the work which had been 

 begun 116 years before was at last completed. 



But not before the spoiler in a new form had appeared 

 upon the scene, — the leaseholder, with his "houses, dens, 

 shops, and taverns " standing on lands which he held from 

 the city, abutting on and disfiguring the church. These 

 parasites, which were allowed to encumber the site for a 

 very long period, so obstructed the ways that, for nearly 

 a century, the north aisle was used as a thoroughfare, until 

 Marshal Wade opened a public passage through the block 

 of houses on that side. Between 1823 and 1834, as the 

 leases fell in, the whole site was cleared; and, simultane- 

 ously, the Corporation expended a large sum in improving 

 the church under the direction of the late Mr. Manners, 

 city architect. It was then that flying buttresses were attached 

 to the nave ; the roofs of the choir and transepts were recon- 

 structed, and the whole covered with lead ; an enriched 

 parapet was carried around the building ; the clock removed 

 from the tower to the north transept ; and the old organ-loft 

 replaced by a screen designed by Mr. Blore. Many improve- 

 ments were also made in the pewing ; and the tablets which 

 disfigured the piers were transferred to the walls. Much 

 that was then done was good, and fit to remain ; but there 

 was not a little which, with many of the works eifected in and 

 immediately before the time of Bishop Montague, being 

 either incongruous with the earlier portions, or otherwise 

 bad, was marked for condemnation . by the generation who 

 witnessed the " Gothic revival." 



The Rev. Charles Kemble being appointed to the rectory 

 of Bath in 1859, soon gave the signal for, and was the chief 



