The tall chimneys rise up through the eaves of the little houses; octagonal at the top, they are perforated like a lantern, with two openings on each side. On them are shields bearing the arms of the see, of Bishop Beckington and his executors, Swan, Sugar, and Pope, sugar-loaves and swans abounding in the decoration. At the farther end of the close is the tiny chapel (finished by Bubwith, and finally consecrated in 1489, after Beckington had added the wooden ceiling and the chamber above), where compline is still said by the theological students. It is one of the most beautiful things in Wells--a jewel, like so much of its period--and it has been well decorated in sgraffitto and colour by Mr Heywood Sumner. An interesting feature of its exterior is that some of the old Early English carving was worked in with the masonry of the wall, by way of decoration, and very effective it is. A passage at the side leads to the Liberty, where are some of the prebendal houses. Over the entrance, and leading into the bridge of the Chain Gate, are the hall and its offices, which are approached by a fine staircase. In the hall is a painting of much interest, which represents Bishop Ralph seated on his throne, the vicars kneeling before him; the petition which he holds runs--_Per vicos positi villae, Pater alme rogamus, Ut simul uniti, te, Dante domos maneamus_; and the answer, which has the episcopal seal, is--_Vestra petunt merita, Quod sint concessu petita: Ut maneatis ita, Loca fecimus hic stabilita._ On the right are seventeen figures with ruffles, evidently added in Elizabethan times; corresponding inscription has also been added--_Quas primus struxit_, etc. There is also a pulpit over the fireplace, which is large, with good mouldings and an inscription, _In vestris prec[=i] habeat^s comedat[=u] do[=m] Ricard[=u] Pomroy quem salvet Ihs. Amen_. On the hearth are a pair of fine fire-dogs. Just outside the entrance to the vicars' close is a beautiful ORIEL WINDOW, which has been much copied in modern times. It springs from a corbelled head, from which foliate four cinquefoiled panels. The window now has only three square-headed lights, the centre one being large. Under its sills are rich panels, and it is capped by a slight crenelated cornice with a boldly-carved drip, from which springs a conical roof surmounted by a fleur-de-lys.