“No instance of a genuine Anglo-Norman building,” says a well-known authority, “possesses, or was intended to possess, a stone roof, which is indicated by the position of the capitals. The Norman wooden roof was open to the timbers, and hence the conflagration of the ancient churches were disasters of frequent occurrence. That of Tewkesbury was completely destroyed by fire--“igne consumpta.” Far o’er the Severn’s crimson’d flood That blazing Abbey flung its fire, Till roof, and stall, and shrinèd rood Their mass of smoking embers strew’d On chancel, nave, and choir. [Illustration] <g>Cloister Bell-case.</g>--Among other striking remains of elaborate workmanship with which the church was so profusely adorned, is a richly carved fragment, with pinnacles, supposed to have been the case in which was suspended the Cloister Bell, which at stated hours summoned the monastic brotherhood to prayers. It is at once elegant in design, and delicate in execution; and were larger models wanting, it would be sufficient of itself to illustrate the beautiful style of architecture to which it belongs. Summoned by this bell, the whole brotherhood, with the Lord Abbot at their head, were wont to assemble for vespers; when the well-known hymn, in commemoration of the early life of their founder, Saint Benedict, was chanted in full chorus:-- Ille florentes peragebat annos Cum puer dulces patriæ penates Liquit, et solus latuit silenti Conditus antro. Inter urticas, rigidosque sentes Vicit altricem scelerum juventam; Inde conscripsit documenta vitæ Pulchra beatæ.