24 
THE CHARM OF ST. MARY’S ABBEY AND 
to that of St. Werburg in Chester Cathedral. In length it appears 
to have consisted of three compartments, and one in depth. The 
arches of these compartments are exquisitely carved with most 
delicate crocheting representing the thorn and maple leaf with 
fruit. The front spandrels are filled with quaint figure subjects, 
such as a man holding a hawk in his hand, and another with bow 
and arrow. At each end, the corresponding spandrels contain 
representations of the four Evangelists very dedicately carved. A 
large fragment of a supporting mullion is erected in the centre ; 
and when in the Hospitium was in two or three pieces. Here 
again the carving is most delicately executed, among the figures 
under the richly-crocketed canopies will be seen St. Cuthbert bear¬ 
ing the head of St. Oswald ; also, St. Edmund holding a bunch of 
arrows (erroneously described as St. Peter holding the keys) ; and 
near by is the figure of a contortionist supporting one side of the 
canopy. These fragments were discovered in Precentor's Court 
in the year 1835, and were presented to the Museum by Mr. 
Swineard. In the official Handbook of the Museum they are de¬ 
scribed as portions of a “fine doorway of Decorated work ’ and 
“ other fragments of the same series.’' The workmanship is that 
of the very best period of mediaeval sculpture—the early part of 
the 14th century, about 1310. If the little that we see of the 
colour decoration is indicative of the whole, then what a glorious 
Shrine it must have been. 
We must now proceed to the Reredos of the great High Altar 
of the Minster, another rich specimen of 15th century work in grey 
marble, wrought like fine lace, and marvellously preserved, every 
line as sharp to-day as when it left the mason's chisel. A large 
number of the fragments were brought here from the Hospitium, 
and the greater part of them were found and presented at the same 
time as St. William’s Shrine in 1835. A further discovery of them 
was made when making alterations to the Rectory of St. Michael- 
le-Belfrey, in Precentor’s Court, and presented to the Museum in 
1883. Previously portions were discovered on the Mount, in 
Lawrence Street, and Clifford's Tower, and given to the Society ; 
while others rested in the front wall of a house in IIungate, and 
another portion formed the head of a stable door in St. Andrew- 
gate, and two other pieces were in the possession of Mr. Milburn, 
the sculptor. Here, again, Mr. Brook has come to the rescue, 
and these fragments are now, through the generosity of their late 
owners, reposing as near to their original position as it is possible 
to place them. 
