By C. E. Pouting, F.S.A. 



Monasticon (vi ., 536), the dedication is to the Blessed Virgin Mary, 

 St. Katharine, and All Saints.'''] 



We are thus ahle to fix the exact date of the commencement and 

 completion of the Church, the whole of which was carried out during 

 the bishop's lifetime. 



It is by such authenticated examples that we are best able to fix 

 the periods at which the various styles of Gothic Architecture pre- 

 vailed, and this is an especially valuable example as it marks the 

 change from one of the great divisions to another — from the " "Deco- 

 rated" (which Mr. Parker sets down as ending about 1360, and 

 and Rickman as 1377) to the " Perpendicular " (which both these 

 authorities consider as commencing about 1400). 



The value of this example is enhanced by the fact that, with the 

 exception of the porch, which appears to have been added to the 

 aisle wall, rather than built up with it, and is somewhat later in 

 detail, [the upper stage of the porch was probably added in the 

 sixteenth century, and the original parapet and cornice re-set at the 

 higher level] the building is all of one date, and it remains practically 

 unaltered, so that it presents to us a complete specimen of the 

 Monastic Church of the fourteenth century. 



The plan of the Church is cruciform, with central tower, and the 

 various parts are set out with great precision. It consists of a nave 

 of six bays with lofty clerestory, north and south aisles, north and 

 south transepts, and large chancel. Against the second bay of the 

 south aisle from the west is a porch of three stories, the lowest of 

 which is vaulted in stone. The middle one has a fireplaee, and is 

 approached by a turret staircase on the west side — the steps 

 going on up to the aisle roof, from which again by a step about 

 3ft. high the doorway of the upper room is reached. There are 

 other stair turrets at the western angles of the transepts, each of 

 which leads to its respective side of the nave, transept, and aisle 

 roofs, the parapets being ingeniously corbelled out and the angles 

 of the tower canted off to admit of passage, and that on the south 

 gives access to the tower by means of another turret starting from 

 the transept roof, and carried up the south-west angle. 



It will thus be seen that, with the exception of that of the north 



