Monument to Dean Stanley (Henry VII.'s Chapel). Archbishop Tait, bust (Poets' Corner). Window commemorative of-- George Herbert. William Cowper. DIMENSIONS Length of nave 166 ft. Breadth of nave 38 ft. Breadth of nave and aisles 71 ft. Height of nave and choir 101 ft. Length of choir 155 ft. Breadth of choir 38 ft. Length of whole church 511 ft. Height of central tower 151 ft. Height of west towers 225 ft. Area 46,000 sq. ft. PRINCIPAL BUILDING DATES 1050-1100--Fragments beneath pavement of choir, Chapel of the Pyx. 1245-1269--Choir and four eastern bays of nave, transepts, chapter-house, and north and part of east walk of cloister. 1330-1350--Cloisters, south and west walks. 1350-1512--West parts of nave, Henry VII.'s Chapel, abbot's pew, Henry V.'s Chantry, Jerusalem Chamber. 1739-1741--West front. Modern--North front of north transept. [Illustration PLAN OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY] ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL The city of Rochester has a distinguished past. It lies on the great high road to London, the Old Watling Street. Hence, all the great and Royal visitors passed through Rochester, and few events of historical importance which occurred in the Kentish corner of England were unconnected with this city. It was a Roman station. The Saxons called it _Hvof-Cæstre_. Ethelbert founded the Cathedral here in 604, and this first raised it to importance. Athelstan established a mint here, and at the beginning of the tenth century it was one of the principal ports of the kingdom. This was the cause of its undoing, as the Danes found it a convenient landing-place, and pillaged and ravaged the city. A Norman castle was built by Bishop Gundulf, of whom we shall hear more later. This fortress, of which there are extensive remains, has been frequently besieged. It was granted by the Conqueror to Odo, Bishop of Bayeaux, who was faithless to William and was besieged in this castle. Again, King John and Simon de Montfort, and Wat Tyler, all tried the strength of this mighty fortress. Many scenes of mediæval pageantry took place here. In the time of Henry III. a grand tournament was held here, and gay was the city with the presence of contending knights and squires and all the pomp of ancient chivalry. It were vain to name all the Royal visitors who have sojourned here. Here at the Restoration came the "Merry Monarch," and here, when the fortunes of the Stuarts were very low, came James II. in his secret flight, and embarked from Rochester on his fatal journey to France. The story of the city is full of interest; but its Cathedral was the primary cause of its greatness, and thither we must wend our way, and try to read its history.