Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Gloucester [2nd ed.]: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Espicopal SeeMassé, H. J. L. J. (Henri Jean Louis Joseph)
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Gloucester [2nd ed.]: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Espicopal See
Massé, H. J. L. J. (Henri Jean Louis Joseph)
Gloucester Cathedral
The "inner gate gave access to the inner court, known of late years as
Miller's Green, where the bakehouse, boulting-house, brew-house, stable,
mill, and such-like offices were placed. It was also the way to the
later Abbot's lodging. The existing gateway is of the fourteenth
century, and has a single passage, in the west side of which is a
blocked doorway. The passage is covered by a lierne vault."
"The gateway on the south side, towards the city, has been almost
entirely destroyed, and only a fragment of the west side remains. It was
known as 'King Edward's' gate, from its having been built by Edward I.
It was afterwards restored and beautified by Abbot Malverne, _alias_
Parker, 1514-1539. The remaining turret of the gate, on the west side
towards the church, is probably part of Parker's work." (Hope.)
On the south side of what is left of this gateway are the arms of King
Osric, as King of Northumbria. The stone bearing these arms was dug up
some seventy years ago and was placed in its present position.
In College Court, a narrow turning leading from the north side of
Westgate Street into the close, is a small gateway, consisting of a
flattened archway with canopied niches at the sides. This is also
supposed to have been built by Abbot Parker. The upper portion, which
was destroyed, has been converted into very commonplace offices.
In the north-west corner of the precincts was the #Vineyard#. The
vineyards of Gloucestershire used formerly to be famous. William of
Malmesbury, in the twelfth century, writes: "This county
(Gloucestershire) is planted thicker with vineyards than any other in
England, more plentiful in crops, and more pleasant in flavour. For the
wines do not offend the mouth with sharpness, since they do not yield to
the French (wines) in sweetness." The Gloucestershire vineyards survived
as late as 1701. The curious terraces or step-markings on the Cotswolds
in various places, locally called "litchets" or "lyches," are by some
supposed to have been portions of the sites of these vineyards.
"The #Dorter# (says Mr Hope) and its _basement_ are now destroyed, and
their plan and extent are at present uncertain: but owing to its south
wall having been partly that of the chapter-house also, one small
fragment has been preserved which ... helps to fix the position of the
dorter. This fragment, which may be seen on the north-east corner of the
chapter-house, is the jamb of one of the windows built between 1303 and
1313, and its date is clearly shown by the little ball-flowers round the
capital of the shaft." The dorter then may be assumed to have occupied
the space between the chapter-house and the end of the east alley of the
cloister.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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