XIV. Immediately beyond the transept a good general view occurs of the _retro-choir_ and Lady-chapel. The aisles extend to the end of the retro-choir, which is three bays in depth. The Lady-chapel forms an additional eastern bay. All this part of the cathedral is of the same general design as the choir; but, as a result of the lower level, the main arches are loftier than those of the choir, and a much finer effect is consequently produced. Together with the eastern transepts, this part of the church was, as has been already shewn, constructed before the western end of the choir; and besides the difference of mouldings, it is distinguished by the rich wall-arcade which runs round below the windows. Bishop GIFFARD (1268-1302) is said to have ornamented the columns “of the east part of the church” with brass rings, (which still remain, occupying the usual place of stone bands in Early English shafts,) but the main work was probably completed long before his accession. The brass rings occur on the intermediate piers throughout choir, presbytery, and Lady-chapel. Similar rings occur in Westminster Abbey, (in that portion of the nave which contains the choir stalls,) where they are probably of the same date as those at Worcester. Professor Willis has shewn that the shafts in this cathedral were originally fixed to the piers by iron cramps, such as may still be seen in the church at Pershore; and that the brass rings were additions for covering the joint[84]. The dog-tooth moulding does not occur in the arches of the retro-choir, and there are some slight differences between the foliage of the capitals in this part of the cathedral and of those in the choir. The restoration has included this part of the church, and the sculptures in the spandrils of the triforium (which were little more than shapeless masses of stone) have been restored by Boulton, under the direction of the architect. The windows in the aisles are triple lancets, at the back of inner arches, supported by slender shafts of Purbeck marble. The dilapidated Perpendicular tracery with which the lights were filled has been removed, leaving the windows in their original state. Under the windows runs a wall-arcade resembling that already described in the transept, with trefoiled arches, and sculptures in the spandrils. Many of these have been restored, but all deserve careful notice. The subjects are--masses of foliage; knights fighting with monsters; mystic animals, such as the basilisk and cockatrice, and others described in early bestiaries. In the north aisle is a bishop offering a church, and in the south the Crucifixion. Nothing like a definite arrangement can be traced throughout the series. The vaulting of both aisles is quadripartite, with small bosses. The east window of the north aisle has been filled with very good stained glass by HARDMAN, in memory of the late Hon. and Rev. Canon COCKS. That in the south aisle is a memorial of the Rev. ALLEN WHEELER, B.D.