The Cathedral Church of Peterborough: A Description Of Its Fabric And A Brief History Of The Episcopal SeeSweeting, W. D. (Walter Debenham)
History
The Cathedral Church of Peterborough: A Description Of Its Fabric And A Brief History Of The Episcopal See
Sweeting, W. D. (Walter Debenham)
Peterborough Cathedral
The series of basins of Alwalton marble was found, during the recent
underpinning of the west front, in use as foundation stones; they appear
to be of late Norman date. One window in the north transept aisle and
all three in the south have fine geometrical tracery. The three chapels
in the south transept were used as vestries until a few years ago, when
the space beneath the bell-tower and part of the north aisle of the nave
was converted into a large vestry for both clergy and choir. In the
chapel here nearest the choir there remains the lower part of the newel
staircase which led to an upper chapel. On the west side of the south
transept has been erected a building which has in its time served many
different purposes. It can hardly be called an aisle, as there is only
access to the transept by a single ogee-headed doorway, which is a
Decorated insertion. This building is of late, almost transition, Norman
date; and is not very many years later than the transept itself. It can
be seen from the cloister court that it had originally three gables. The
roof is vaulted. In an inventory of goods made in 1539, printed in
Gunton, there is one chapel described as the "Ostrie Chapel," which is
believed to refer to this building. In a plan drawn in Bishop Kennett's
time and dedicated to him, the south part is called "The Hostry Chapel,
now the Chapter-House," and the north part is called the "Chapel of St.
Sprite or the Holy Ghost." In some plans it is called the vestry. It has
also been employed as a muniment room, as a Chapter-house, and (as now)
as a practising room for the choir.
[Illustration: The Transepts, looking North.]
Near the south-western pier of the central tower access can be obtained
to what remains of the =Saxon Church=. It was when the foundations of
this pier were reached, in 1883, that the first indications of an
earlier building were brought to light. First a solid piece of wall was
discovered, and soon after a substantial piece of plaster attached to
the wall, running north and south, which has since proved to be the
eastern wall of the north transept of the Saxon Church. The workmen also
came upon a plaster floor, on which were remains of burnt wood, reddened
stone, and other evidences of a conflagration. As the work of excavation
proceeded at intervals, fresh discoveries were made. The walls of the
north transept, choir, and part of the south transept, can be traced.
Just outside the eastern wall can be seen portions of two Saxon tombs
which were originally in the grave-yard.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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