Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Hereford: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See — John Shaqi
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Hereford: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal SeeFisher, A. Hugh (Alfred Hugh)
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Hereford: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See
Fisher, A. Hugh (Alfred Hugh)
Hereford Cathedral
_Photochrom Co., Ld., Photo._
The *Organ*, which occupies the first archway on the south side of the
choir, contains work by Renatus Harris. Mr. Phillips Bevan(4) writes of
it, "It was the gift of Charles II., and was very nearly destroyed by the
fall of the central tower. It has twice been enlarged since, once by Gray
and Davidson, and lastly by Willis. It has 16 great organ stops, 11 swell,
7 choir, 7 solo, 8 pedals, with 2672 pipes. A great feature in Willis’s
improvements is the tubular pneumatic action, which does away with
trackers and other troublesome internals. Sir F. Gore Ouseley having been
precentor of the Cathedral, it goes without saying that he made everything
about the organ as nearly perfect as possible, and, for the matter of
that, no lover of music should omit to hear the _Unaccompanied_ service
usually held on Friday morning."
In the south wall of the south choir-aisle are four Decorated arched
recesses containing four effigies of bishops, belonging to the
Perpendicular period. These effigies have been attributed, beginning from
the west, to R. de Melun, 1167; Robert De Bethune (died 1148), the last
Norman builder; Hugh Foliot (died 1234) or Robert Foliot (died 1186); and
William De Vere (died 1199).
On the north wall under an arch opening to the choir is the tomb of Bishop
De Lorraine or Losinga (died 1095), who superintended the building of the
fine west front of the cathedral so unfortunately destroyed. This effigy
also belongs to the Perpendicular period. The large size of the ball
flower and fine wood-carving of the Decorated period on these tombs is
noticeable.
Between the two eastern piers of the choir is the fine effigy and brass to
Bishop Mayhew, of Magdalen College (1504-1516). The effigy is wearing a
mitre, and is fully vested. In front of the monument are panels filled
with figures of saints, and over the effigy is an elaborate canopy, which
has been restored.
In the last bay to west of the south choir aisle a door gives access to
two Norman rooms, used as vestries or robing rooms, to enter which you
pass beneath the bellows of the organ. Exhibited in cases in one of these
rooms are some of the treasures of the cathedral, ancient copies of the
Scriptures, chalices, rings, etc., described in detail towards the close
of this section. A two-storied eastern chamber was added to the Norman
work in the Perpendicular period, and was used as the cathedral treasury.
Before leaving the south choir aisle the old stained glass windows with
figures restored by Warrington should be noticed, and the celebrated *Map
of the World* is well worth some study. It was discovered under the floor
of Bishop Audley’s Chapel during the last century, and appears from
internal evidence to have been probably designed about 1314 by a certain
Richard of Haldingham and of Lafford (Holdingham and Sleaford in
Lincolnshire).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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