140 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the ecclesiastics could retire for security, were .no doubt 

 suggested by these. 



The Cathedral is cruciform, having a central tower, 

 but without aisles or porches. Its internal length is 

 114ft. 6in., the width at the intersection of the transepts is 

 68ft. 3in. The height of the tower, including the square 

 belfry turret, is 83ft., and of the choir wall 18ft.; the 

 thickness of the wall 3ft. The Rev. J. Quine thinks the 

 Early English, Decorated, and Norman chancel was built 

 during the Episcopate of Michael, about 1195, and that 

 even then it may have been on an older foundation ; but 

 the tower, transepts, and nave were the work of Symon 

 (about 1220), previously Abbot of Iona, which may partly 

 account for the resemblance to Iona, and the position of 

 the Bishop's Palace adjoining the Cathedral on the north. 

 At a later date the so-called crypt was inserted under the 

 chancel, the floor of which was raised nearly three feet. 

 The north transept arch is Early Decorated, the southern 

 and western arches are later work. 



The fine embattled walls (four feet thick) surrounding 

 the islet are said to have been erected by Henry, fourth 

 Earl of Derby, in 1593. The approach has been ruined in 

 appearance by modern quays and cement work, but one 

 may still see some of the rude steps, cut in the solid rock, 

 leading to the portcullis door of the old square tower, 

 which is supposed to be early fourteenth century 

 work. 



(iodred II. died here in 1187, and King Olave also 

 died at Peel, in 1237. We read of Reginald's descent 

 upon it in 1228, when he burnt Olave's ships and those of 

 all the chiefs of Man. It seems, therefore, that Olave 

 must have had a stronghold here, though now no trace 

 remains, unless the entrance tower is of that date. Our 

 figure (fig. 42), giving a general view of the Castle 



