Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal SeeSergeant, Philip Walsingham
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See
Sergeant, Philip Walsingham
Winchester Cathedral
Eastward of the feretory the building is known by the name of the
#Retro-choir#, and presents a very old and pure example of Early English
work from the hands of Bishop de Lucy. The aisles are said to have been
used as a model in the building of Salisbury Cathedral. Similar
processional aisles may be seen also at Hereford on a minor scale. This
part of the cathedral is lower and consequently appears broader than the
more westerly portion. There is a considerable amount of wall-space,
only interrupted by the numerous imposing chantries erected on the
floor. The lower part of the walls is remarkable for some fine, though
simple, blank arcading, dating also from De Lucy's time; while light is
given by pairs of lancet windows, the rear arches being borne on groups
of detached shafts. Many of the original chased tiles of the pavement
remain to this day, and, in fact, there has been little interference
with De Lucy's work. Unfortunately, however, as has been remarked, much
of it has settled considerably, throwing the south-eastern angle
altogether out of the perpendicular, one vaulting-shaft having in this
manner been bent back and cracked in half. The effects of the subsidence
can easily be seen in the photograph of the south aisle of the
retro-choir looking toward the east.
As one passes beyond the feretory through the retro-choir, the #Chantry
of William Waynflete# stands to the north of the central alley. The
canopy is very elaborate and beautiful, and plentiful traces of the
original colour still can be seen, especially on the groining. On each
side are three flat-headed arches, those at the east end being closed,
while on each side of the piers adjoining the west end there are narrow
open arches. Corniced and battlemented screens fill these arches to
mid-height. The figure on the tomb is a modern restoration, very
elaborately clad in full pontificals, while the hands are clasped about
a heart, representing the _sursum corda_, or lifting up of the heart.
The chantry is kept in repair by Magdalen College, Oxford, which
Waynflete founded. Its situation, like that of the companion tomb of
Cardinal Beaufort, makes it very impressive. There is no altar now. At
the east end is a blank wall surmounted by three empty canopied niches,
while at the other are two open gratings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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