Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Wells: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal SeeDearmer, Percy
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Wells: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See
Dearmer, Percy
Wells Cathedral
The word _Buttress_ means that the figure (generally a sitting one) is
on the west face of the buttress in question. Bishops ("Bp."), unless
otherwise stated, wear the usual vestments--mitre, chasuble, dalmatic,
tunicle, stole, maniple, alb, and apparelled amice. Kings ("K.") and
Queens ("Q.") wear crowns. A favourite attitude is described as
"holding cord"; this cord being the lace or cord of the mantle, which
crossed the chest and prevented that garment from falling off the
shoulders. The mantle seems to have had an uncomfortable tendency to
slip down, and thus it became a habit constantly to pull the cord
forward, whence the frequency of this attitude. This cord was wrongly
described by Cockerell as a necklace, with which it has, of course, no
connection. The word "trampling" refers to another common feature in
these tiers; kings are generally represented as trampling on a small
figure under their feet, to signify their success over their enemies.
The figures of the fifth tier are rather taller than those of the
fourth. The first twenty figures on our list, those of the fourth tier
up to King Ina, may represent the twenty bishops of the diocese from
Athelm to Jocelin, in direct order, since the corresponding series of
the fifth tier contains figures which cannot be those of bishops. I
have, however, kept to Cockerell's names to avoid confusion.
FOURTH TIER.--88. _South Tower_--_Buttress_--Sitting Bp.; much
decayed, supported by metal clamps.
89. Bp. Savaric. Much defaced, head grotesquely so.
90. Bp. Robert. Much defaced, head grotesquely.
_Missing._
91. _Buttress._ Bp. Reginald de Bohun, sitting; somewhat decayed.
92. Bp. Ethelweard, good drapery, well--preserved; no hair or beard.
93. Sighelm, good drapery, well-preserved; ring of curly hair and
beard.
94. Alfry, in hood; large curly beard.
95. Etheleage, monastic dress, cowl and scapular; large curly beard.
96. Bp. Asser. Short and stout figure, in attitude of benediction.
97. Bp. Heahmund. Short and stout figure, in attitude of benediction.
98. _Buttress._ Bp. Wolfhelm. Fine seated figure, in attitude of
benediction.
99. Bp. Ealhstan. Stout common-place figure; rather mutilated.
100. Bp. Wilbert. Stout common-place figure; rather mutilated.
101. Bp. Denefrith. Stout common-place figure; better preserved.
102. Bp. Ethelnod. Stout common-place figure; better preserved.
103. _Buttress._ Bp. Aethelhelm, first Bishop of Wells* (reproduced on
p. 22). Noble figure, sitting in attitude of benediction.
104. Bp. Herewald, in attitude of benediction.
105. Bp. Forthere, head bent slightly forward.
106. Bp. Ealdhelm. A fine figure. _Central Window (South)._
107. K. Ina, looking over right shoulder, hand gone. (These central
figures, Ina and Ethelburga, are supposed to be of later date than the
rest.) _Central Window._
108. Q. Ethelburga. Wears the long kirtle with girdle, from which are
hung an ink-bottle and aulmoniere. _Central Window (North)._
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