Christ Church

Christ Church Arms
(9) Christ Church, college and cathedral, stands
on the E. side of St. Aldate's Street. The walls are of
Oxfordshire stone and the roofs are covered with lead
and slates. The history of the priory and church of St.
Frideswide will be dealt with under the account of the
Cathedral, but some account will here be given of the
monastic buildings as they subsequently formed an
integral part of the college. The W. end of the
Chapter House was re-built rather before the church
but after the middle of the 12th century. The chapter-house itself was re-built and no doubt enlarged in the
first half of the 13th century and the Dorter-range
extending to the S. of it was probably re-built at the
same time. The Frater was re-built late in the 15th
century and in the last decade of the century the Cloister
was re-built and a large Prior's Lodging added to the S.
of the Dorter by Robert Sherborne, later Bishop of
Chichester. The college, first called Cardinal College,
was founded by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525 on the land of
the dissolved priory; the foundation-stone was laid on
July 15th by John Longland, Bishop of Lincoln, and by
the end of the following year some of the Lodgings on
the W. and S. sides of the great quadrangle were ready
for occupation, the lower part of the gate-tower was
built, the Great Hall was begun and the walls of the proposed chapel on the N. side of the quadrangle and of the
college cloister were level with the ground; the
Kitchen had also been completed. At the time of
Wolsey's fall in 1529, the whole of the S. side of the
quadrangle and about two-thirds of the E. and W. sides
were finished though little or no progress had been
made with the N. range or the college cloister. It
seems probable that it had been Wolsey's intention to
destroy entirely the priory church and probably also
the claustral buildings, but the destruction of the church
extended only to the western bays; foundations
probably of Wolsey's work in the cloister never proceeded above ground-level; it is possible that these
were the foundations of the new steeple referred
to in the paybook of 1528. The college was refounded by Henry VIII in 1532 and the see of Oxford
transferred here in 1546, the W. end of the priory
church being closed in to form the cathedral. The
monastic buildings became part of the college, the old
Dorter the lodging of the canon of the second stall,
the old Frater the library, and the old Prior's Lodging
the E. side of the Chaplain's Quadrangle. The
Library was restored by Otho Nicholson in 1613.
Little further work was done till Samuel Fell, Dean
(1638–48), built the vaulted roof of the great staircase
under one "Smith, artificer of London"; this dean's
further work was interrupted by the Civil War but
John Fell, Dean and later Bishop also (1660–1686)
completed the E. and W. ranges and built the N. range
in its entirety; the N.W. towered angle of the quadrangle with the adjoining lodgings on the S. were
built in 1668 but the N. side of the quadrangle seems
to have been built in 1665; all four ranges of the
quadrangle were finished with balustraded parapets,
a raised terrace constructed within the bases of the walls
of Wolsey's cloister and a round fountain made (in
1670) in the middle of the quadrangle. The same
dean restored the Chaplain's Quadrangle, one range of
which had been destroyed by fire; in 1681–2 he partly
re-built and completed the great gatehouse or Tom
Tower, from the designs of Sir Christopher Wren
and under the supervision of Christopher Kempster
of Burford. At some uncertain date, probably in the
17th century, the building to the W. of Peckwater Quadrangle was erected. In 1706 the new building of Peckwater Quadrangle was begun from a bequest of Dr.
Anthony Radcliffe; it replaced three sides of old Peckwater Inn, and was finished in 1711. The remaining side
of the old inn was later replaced by the New Library
which was not completed till 1761. In 1720 a fire
destroyed the louvre and part of the roof of the Great
Hall, which was restored at considerable cost, to which
George I contributed £1,000; at the same time a
vault was inserted under the floor. The Anatomy
School, now the Chemical Laboratory, S. of the Hall,
was built in 1766 from the design of Henry Keene.
In 1773 the new building of Canterbury Quadrangle was
begun from the designs of James Wyatt and largely
at the expense of Richard Robinson, Archbishop of
Armagh; the gateway was finished in 1778; these
buildings replaced the old structures of Canterbury
College, which stood to the E. of the new library.
Wyatt also designed the existing early 19th-century great
stone staircase. A fire in 1809 completely gutted
the lodgings on the S. side of the quadrangle. In 1842
the terrace and steps in the great quadrangle were
restored. In 1862–5 the Meadow Building was erected,
the S. and part of the E. ranges of the Chaplain's
Quadrangle being pulled down. The great quadrangle
was restored in 1876–8, when the balustraded parapet
was replaced by battlements and towers carried up
over Fell's tower or Kill-canon and the hall staircase;
the W. entrance to the cathedral had been formed in
1872. The W. front of the college was largely refaced
in 1910–2 and the refacing of the buildings of Peckwater
Quadrangle was finished in 1931.
Architectural Description—The W. Range of the
Great Quadrangle has a symmetrically designed front
to the street with the gatehouse tower or Tom
Tower in the middle and projecting wings at the
two ends. The main range is of two storeys, but,
owing to the fall of the ground, there is a basement
under the S. end. The main building is the work of
Wolsey, but this only extends to about half the length
of the range N. of Tom Tower; beyond this the work
is of c. 1668. The range has a moulded plinth and a
string-course between the storeys of Tudor date or
character and a balustraded parapet of late 17th-century
date; the string-course has bosses, probably all restored,
carved with beasts, roses, shield supported by putti,
a leopard with a shield, fleur-de-lis and various badges
of Cardinal Wolsey. The restored windows are of
one or two cinque-foiled and transomed lights with
moulded reveals and labels. The projecting bays at
the N. and S. ends of the front have octagonal turrets
at the angles and both have a projecting bay-window
at the first floor level; these windows are of four
lights on the front and one on each return, and rest
on moulded corbelling. On the N. wing, above this
corbelling, are the arms of Wolsey surmounted by a
cardinal's hat and above the window are the arms of
Charles II; both carvings are restorations; the
angle-turrets have a series of carved cardinal's hats,
most of which have been restored. On the S. wing
the corbelling has scroll-work and three putti, the
middle one holding the pole-axe and pillar of Wolsey;
on the face of the bay is a restored shield-of-arms of
Wolsey with pillars, hat, motto "Dominus michi
adjutor" and his initials supported by putti; above the
bay-window is another shield of the same arms, possibly
original; the cardinal's hats on the turrets of this wing
have all been restored except three, which are much
decayed. Tom Tower (Plate 198) and gateway is of
two main stages, the lower substantially of Wolsey's work
and the upper of 1681–2. The lower stage is of two
storeys and has flanking turrets. The restored central
archway has moulded and shafted jambs and four-centred
arch in a square head with Wolsey's arms in the spandrels
and a moulded label; immediately above this is a deep
band of cusped panels enclosing various badges of the
king and the cardinal; the archway is fitted with
original oak doors of two leaves with a wicket in the
N. leaf; the leaves have vertical moulded panels on
the outside face, with vertical and diagonal latticeframing at the back. Above the archway is a restored
late 17th-century window with shafted jambs and two-centred arch with a crocketted ogee label and finial; in
the spandrel is a shield of the See impaling Fell; the
window itself is of double form divided by a niche;
each part is of two cinque-foiled lights with tracery
in a two-centred head; the niche has a crocketted
canopy and contains a statue of Wolsey by Francis
Bird, erected in 1719; below it is a cartouche with the
inscription "D.D. Jonathan Trelawney de Trelawney
Wolsei in episcopatu Winton. successor. A.D. 1719";
below the window is a range of panels with the Stuart
royal arms in the middle. The pair of restored and
richly panelled Tudor turrets, flanking the gateway,
are of two stages, the lower of square form with a
diagonal projection on each free face and the upper
octagonal and finished with late 17th-century ogee
cappings with pinnacles and vases at the angles;
between the stages is a quatre-foiled band with vases
on the diagonal projections. The late 17th-century
upper stage of the tower, designed by Wren, has
recently been refaced; it stands on a square base
tabled back at the angles and has a lower storey with
cornices above and below; this storey forms three bays
on each face, the outer semi-octagonal on plan with
cinque-foiled-headed panels and ogee capping; the
middle bay has either a clock-face or a square panel in
the form of a Gothic rose-window. The second storey
or bell-chamber is octagonal with buttresses and
pinnacles at the angles and finished with a lead-covered
ogee cupola; each face of the storey has a Gothic
window of two cinque-foiled lights with tracery in a
two-centred head with a crocketted and finialed ogee
label. The E. face of Tom Tower is generally similar
to the outward face but less restored, and in place of
the flanking turrets are slender shafted and panelled
pinnacles rising from the ground and finished at the
level of the main window-head with cusped heads
and crocketted spires. The main archway has shafted
jambs and moulded four-centred arch in a square head,
with traceried spandrels enclosing painted shields of
Wolsey and Henry VIII; the niche in the main
window has a figure of Queen Anne and below it an
inscription "Annae principi optimae secretarius ipsius
principalis Robertus Harley hac in aede posuit quod
illam coleret et hanc amaret"; above the canopy are
a rose and thistle, and below, the royal Stuart arms.
The gate-hall has, in the S. wall, a Tudor doorway
with moulded jambs and four-centred arch in a square
head with foliated spandrels and the initial W. The
vault (Plate 5) is an insertion by Wren, and to bring the
area to be covered to a square a further panelled and
shafted arch has been inserted at the back of both
the E. and W. archways of the gate; the vault is of
fan-type and springs from vaulting-shafts with moulded
capitals and bases; the cones have elaborate cusped
panelling at their heads and in the central spandrel is a
large round panel with a carved wreath, radiating ribs
and panels and a central rose; the vault is enriched
with an extensive series of shields-of-arms of benefactors, including larger shields of Wolsey, Henry
VIII, Charles II and James Duke of York, and smaller
shields of (N.E. cone) Robert Spencer Earl of Sunderland, William Bourke Earl of Clanricarde, George Earl
of Berkeley, Richard Boyle Earl of Cork, James Annesley Earl of Anglesey, Charles Gerard Earl of Macclesfield, Edward Seymour, Sir Justinian Isham, Sir Charles
Shuckborough, Sir Richard Newdigate and Sir Thomas
Middleton; (in S.E. cone) Donagh Maccarthy Earl of
Clancarty, James Bertie Earl of Abingdon, Antony
Cary Viscount Falkland, James Howard Earl of Suffolk,
Edward Hyde Viscount Cornbury, John Viscount
Scudamore, Sir Nicholas Pelham, Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Sir Nicholas l'Estrange, Francis Lutterell and
Dr. Richard Busby; (N.W. cone) John Dolben
Archbishop of York, Charles Somerset Marquess of
Worcester, Henry Bennet Earl of Arlington, George
Compton Earl of Northampton, Charles Viscount
Mordaunt, Thomas Thynne Viscount Weymouth,
George Morley Bishop of Winchester, Robert Shirley
Lord Ferrers, Thomas Lord Leigh, Hugh Viscount
Cholmondley and Thomas Needham Viscount Kilmorey; (S.W. cone) Heneage Finch Earl of Nottingham, George Savile Earl of Halifax, James Butler Earl
of Ossory, Thomas Herbert Earl of Pembroke, Thomas
Grey Earl of Stamford, Francis Viscount Newport,
Henry Compton Bishop of London, Thomas Wood
Bishop of Lichfield, Henry Yelverton Lord Grey of
Ruthin, George Booth Lord Delamer and Richard
Graham Viscount Preston. In the S.W. angle of the
gate-hall is set the upper part of a group of mediæval
shafts with moulded capitals. The bell-chamber is
approached by a late 17th-century spiral staircase of
wood with symmetrically turned balusters and central
newel. The great bell called Great Tom came from
Oseney Abbey, but was recast by Christopher Hodson
in 1680.

Christ Church, Oxford
The Great Quadrangle (Plate 82) or Tom Quad (276½ ft.
by 271 ft.) is surrounded by a raised terrace the retaining
wall of which, in its present form, is modern, but
represents the base of the arcade-walls of Wolsey's
projected cloister. In the middle is a round basin
of 1670, with a modern curb and a modern lead figure
of Mercury. The surrounding ranges of building are
generally of two architectural storeys with modern
embattled parapets; the lower storey all round the
quadrangle has a wall-arcade from which was to spring
the projected stone vault of the cloister; though
almost completely restored this arcading represents
the original arrangement and was reproduced also on
the N. side when that and parts of the adjoining ranges
were built late in the 17th century; the bays of the
arcading are divided by triple shafts with moulded
capitals and bases and the four-centred wall-ribs or
arches have the springers of diagonal ribs; in the anglebays the vaulting-shafts are replaced by the broad
panelled and moulded responds of projected cross-arches. The doorways, generally, have moulded
jambs and four-centred arches in square heads with
labels; the windows of the lower floor are generally
of one or two cinque-foiled lights. On the upper floor
the windows of the chambers are either of two cinque-foiled and transomed lights or of small single cinque-foiled lights with labels; each of the large windows
commonly alternates with two of the small windows,
except on the N. side. The W. range has been very
largely refaced, but some of the doorways are partly
ancient and have carved spandrels; that in the fifth
bay from the N. has foliage, a Tudor rose and two
crockets on the key-stone; that in the eighth bay has
a dimidiated rose and pomegranate and a leopard's
head, which is repeated on the key-stone; the doorway
in the second bay S. of the entrance has Wolsey's
badges of the cross-staff and pillars and the griffin and
pillar; that in the sixth bay has foliage and a rose on
the key-stone; the arcading in the last bay is interrupted by a transomed window, probably representing
a 17th-century alteration; in the first bay is a stone
with a partly defaced inscription with the name John
Steyner (?) and the date 1572. The N. range is of
late 17th-century date and appears to have been completely refaced in the 19th century. In the E. bay is an
archway and passage, known as Kill Canon; it has an
archway with panelled and shafted jambs and panelled
four-centred arch; the building was raised by one
storey in 1876–8 and is known as Dean Fell's Tower;
it has modern statues of Fell and Dean Liddell; the
archway on the N. face is four-centred and has a
moulded and eared architrave; the niche above has
a shell head and is flanked by windows of two cinque-foiled and transomed lights. The passage-way has
a panelled plaster vault springing from moulded corbels. The N. face of the range, further W., is partly
of three storeys; it retains a number of 17th-century
windows, mostly altered or restored and many fitted
with 18th-century sashes; where original they follow
the lines of the earlier Tudor windows; the return
wall of the W. range continues the lines of the W. front.
The E. range has been almost entirely refaced towards
the quadrangle; the openings in the lower storey have
been considerably altered since Loggan's view was
drawn; some of the doorways are old or partly old;
that between the seventh and eighth bays has a Tudor
rose on the keystone and masons' marks on the spandrels; the doorway in the tenth bay has a re-set head
with a fleur-de-lis and roses on the key-stone. On
the E. side of the range the windows, on both floors,
seem to have been generally of two cinque-foiled and
transomed lights with moulded reveals and labels; most
of those on the lower floor have had the mullion and
transom cut away and sashes substituted and the rest
have been more or less restored and altered; one
doorway is original and of the same type as those in the
quadrangle; the spandrels have a Cornish chough
and a coiled serpent. Near the middle of the range is the
butt-end of a wall running E. and the full height of the
building. S. of the entrance to the cathedral, the range
forms two storeys with a basement and modern attics; in
the basement is an original doorway of the usual type
but without carvings. The S. range is similar to the
other ranges except in the E. half, where the Hall
occupies the upper storey and the Great Staircase
stands to the E. of it; these buildings will be described
later. Some of the doorways are original but partly
restored; that in the fourth bay from the E. has
carvings of the crossed pillars and the griffin and
pillar; that between the seventh and eighth bays has
carvings of a Tudor rose and a leopard's head and
crown; the doorway in the twelfth bay has carvings
of the crossed keys and crown of the see of York
and a leopard's head; that between the fifteenth and
sixteenth bays has a leopard's head with an arrow in
its mouth and a shield of Wolsey's arms and putti;
on the key-stone is a half-angel; the doorway in the
westernmost bay has a cross-staff with the tassels of a
cardinal's hat and the crossed keys and papal crown of
York. The S. face of the range is finished with a
modern balustraded parapet; the walling of the upper
storey has been almost completely refaced; a number
of original windows remain more or less restored;
the return face of the tower at the S. end of the W. front
repeats the features of that front and the building here
is of three storeys.
The interior of the ranges flanking the Quadrangle
is devoted to lodgings. Those to the S. of the
Gatehouse and in the W. half of the S. range preserve
their original arrangements least altered. These rooms
are approached off the staircases, there being one set
of rooms on each floor and on each side of the staircase. In the range S. of the Gatehouse two staircases
are of original timber-framing and the doorways in
the entrance lobbies are also original; they are of oak
with four-centred arches in square heads with spandrels
carved with a leaf, dog, rose, cross of St. George,
initials ihc., griffin and pillar, leopard's head and crown,
etc. The rooms flanking the northern stair retain
their moulded ceiling-beams; the S. room is the Law
Library. The other rooms have been considerably
altered and the rooms of the canon of the sixth stall
in the S.W. tower have been completely modernised.
The rooms N. of the gatehouse have been extensively altered, but there is an original staircase
immediately N. of the gatehouse; the adjoining part
retains its moulded ceiling-beams and there are two
original fireplaces with moulded jambs and four-centred heads; a fireplace further N. has an early
17th-century overmantel of two arched bays, divided
and flanked by enriched pilasters; two original oak
doorways also survive. A certain amount of 16th
and 17th-century panelling remains in the upper rooms.
The original range terminated about half-way between
the gatehouse and the N.W. tower and high up in the
cross-wall is an original window now only visible from
the N.; it was formerly of two four-centred lights.
The 17th-century range to the N. contains the Junior
Common Rooms on the ground floor; the staircase
is partly of this date and on the first floor are two
fireplaces with moulded jambs and four-centred heads;
one of these is carved with the fleur-de-lis, portcullis,
rose and thistle; this was formerly in No. 2 Brewer
Street. The N. range is entirely of late 17th-century
date and is now assigned to the lodgings of the canons
of the first (the Archdeacon), the fifth and the
fourth stalls. The first of these contains an original
staircase (Plate 45) with turned balusters and close
strings; there is also some 18th-century panelling.
The middle residence has been entirely modernised.
The E. residence has a certain amount of 18th-century
panelling and doors; the study is lined with 17th-century panelling and the fireplace has flanking pilasters
and an overmantel of two panelled bays divided and
flanked by free shafts supporting an entablature; the
staircase is similar to that in the W. residence; one
room on the first floor has a fireplace and painted panelled
overmantel of c. 1730. To the N. of this range a
number of sections of foundations were uncovered in
1893; they perhaps formed part of Wolsey's unfinished
N. range and are indicated on the plan. The E.
range is occupied by the Deanery and the residence
attached to the third stall; both these have been ex
tensively altered. The N. part of the range is of
the 17th century, but further S. the arrangement was
perhaps similar to that in the W. range. In the
Deanery some of the original moulded ceiling-beams
and framed partitions remain, together with two oak
doorways, similar to those in the W. range, and one
having spandrel-carvings of a rose and a winged man.
The 17th-century staircase has turned balusters and
close strings; the Servants' Hall is lined with early
18th-century panelling; on the first floor the Smoking
Room is lined with late 16th or early 17th-century
panelling and has the low-pitched king-post trusses
of the roof exposed; in an adjoining room is a stone
fireplace with moulded jambs and four-centred head.
The next residence to the S. has been entirely modernised. At the S. end of the range, the ground floor room
has original moulded ceiling-beams and the walls are
lined with early 18th-century panelling finished with a
cornice; the fireplace has a panelled surround and an
early 17th-century overmantel of three bays divided and
flanked by Doric pilasters supporting an entablature;
the side bays have arched panels and the middle bay
an enriched panel with a broken pediment. The
Lecture Room on the first floor has a fireplace, possibly
in part original, with a four-centred arch in a square
head and foliated spandrels; above the head is a
frieze of quatrefoils enclosing shields or paterae. The
S. range, W. of the Hall, has been entirely modernised
internally early in the 19th century.
The Great Staircase occupies the lower part of the
square tower at the E. end of the S. range. It is
entered from the quadrangle by an early 16th-century
open archway with moulded, shafted and panelled
responds and four-centred arch, mostly restored on the
outside; on the soffit are the arms of Henry VIII,
Wolsey and the sees of York and Winchester; the
spandrels on the inner face have the arms of Wolsey
and Winchester and the label has stops, carved with
half-angels holding hats. In the E. wall is an archway
of the same period with moulded jambs and four-centred arch; in the same wall are four Tudor windows
each of two cinque-foiled and transomed lights in a
four-centred head with a label; the lower parts of the
three S. windows had a lower tier of lights, filled in
in the 17th century. In the S. wall is a Tudor doorway,
completely restored on the N. face; higher up are two
windows similar to those in the E. wall but never of
more than two tiers; there was a third window to the
W. but it has been blocked except for the upper part.
In the W. wall is a blocked doorway. The staircase
itself is of early 19th-century date, when the whole
arrangement seems to have been altered. The vaulted
roof (Plate 84) erected by Samuel Fell (1638–48) rests on
moulded corbels and a central moulded pier with eight
attached shafts having moulded capitals and bases; the
roof itself is of Gothic fan-type with a complete central
cone and semi-cones against the side-walls; the cones
have two tiers of cinque-foiled panels and the flat spandrels between them are filled with circular rose-panels of
similar type; the central bosses of these panels are
carved with the Royal Stuart arms, the Prince of
Wales' feathers, the arms of the University and those
of the founder. In the W. wall at the first floor level
are two doorways, the northern Tudor and southern
modern; the northern has moulded, shafted and
panelled jambs and a four-centred arch in a square
head with a moulded label and quatre-foiled spandrels
enclosing a leopard's head and leaves; the lower part
of this doorway is filled with a modern balustrade
and there is now no access to it from the staircase;
it is difficult to see what was the arrangement of the
earlier staircase, which was of timber and must have
landed in front of this doorway; in that case, however,
it would appear that the landing must have cut across
the head of the entrance-archway from the quadrangle.
The existing top stage of the staircase-tower was
erected in 1879 when also the niches and statues were
placed above the entrance from the quadrangle.
Between the tower and the hall is an ante-room, taking
the place of the 'screens'; it has two Tudor windows
in the N. wall each of two cinque-foiled and transomed
lights in a square modern head with a label. In the
S. wall is a partly restored Tudor doorway with
moulded and shafted jambs and four-centred arch in
a square head with a rose and the initials T.W. with a
cardinal's hat in the spandrels; further E. is a recess
with a four-centred head enclosing the doorway from
the buttery and the serving-hatch, both with four-centred heads. The doorway to the Hall is apparently
modern.
The Great Hall (114½ ft. by 39¾ ft.) was finished in 1529
and is of eight bays (Plates 82, 83, 85) divided by buttresses and finished with a modern parapet and pinnacles, replacing a 17th-century balustraded parapet.
Each bay, except the last on the N. and the last but one
on the S., has a partly restored window of four cinque-foiled and transomed lights in a four-centred head with
moulded reveals and label; the W. bay on the N. forms a
shallow projection between the buttresses and contains a
window, similar to the others but with two transoms;
the internal splays are panelled and the arch is set in a
square head with the arms of Henry VIII and Wolsey
in the spandrels. The oriel or bay-window, in the
second bay from the W. on the S. side, is of two bays
on the S. face with slender buttresses between the bays
and at the angles; each bay has a window of three
cinque-foiled lights with three transoms and tracery
in a four-centred head with moulded reveals; the sidewalls of the oriel have stone panelling in the form of a
similar window with a pointed head; only the outward
light in each case is pierced; the oriel is entered under
a tall four-centred arch with shafted jambs and spandrels
carved with the founder's arms; the roof has a panelled
fan-vault of stone with pendants; the central boss is
carved with Wolsey's arms and putti as supporters
and a second boss has a leopard's head and crown.
In the W. wall of the hall is a window of seven cinque-foiled and transomed lights with tracery in a four-centred head with moulded reveals and label. The
walls below the window-sills are lined with early
19th-century panelling and the fireplaces are of the
same date. The roof was damaged by fire in 1720
and subsequently repaired with the omission of the
louvre; it is now difficult or impossible to say what
parts are original Tudor work and what are repairs
of this age. The roof (Plate 81), probably by Humphrey
Coke, master-carpenter, is of low-pitched hammerbeam type and of eight bays; the trusses rest on
moulded and panelled stone corbels with cresting and
carvings of the arms of Henry VIII and Wolsey, those
of the sees of York and Winchester and the various
badges of the cardinal; the timbers are all moulded
and the hammer-beams have curved braces with
traceried spandrels with the arms and badges of the
founder and the sees he held including a saltire perhaps
for the see of Wells; the hammer-beams have ranges
of quatre-foiled panels on the sides, enclosing similar
badges and below are shields with the initials T.W.
and T.E.; the side-posts terminate in elaborate
pendants with leopard's heads on the soffit; the
collar-beams have curved braces, with traceried
spandrels, forming four-centred arches; at the apex
of each arch is a boss carved with the arms and badges
of the founder, the sees he held and two with the date
1529 in addition; above the collar-beam are king-posts
and a series of open cinquefoil-headed lights; between
the trusses and springing from the ends of the hammerbeams are four-centred arches with traceried spandrels;
there are two wall-plates divided by a frieze of quatre-foiled panels enclosing the founder's badges, initials
and roses. In the oriel on the S. of the hall is a series
of glass roundels and shields-of-arms partly of the
16th century but very extensively restored and some of
them entirely modern; the roundels bear Wolsey's
badges and the arms are those of Henry VIII, York
impaling Wolsey, and Standon impaling Tame.
In the W. window are various shields of Wolsey and
his sees, his badges and initials in roundels and a shield
of Henry VIII.

The Great Hall
The rooms beneath the great hall were remodelled
after the fire of 1720, when the present vaulting was
inserted; this vaulting was removed from the Senior
Common Room about 1875; this room is partly lined
with 19th-century panelling finished with an entablature and has a marble fireplace of the 18th-century.
In the W. wall is an original doorway with moulded
jambs, four-centred head and carved spandrels and in
the outer N. wall a fireplace of similar form now cut
through for a doorway. In the wall, under the E. end
of the hall, are two two-centred arches, each of two
hollow-chamfered orders; the heads have been cut
away for the later vaulting.
The Kitchen stands to the S. of the Hall and is one of
Wolsey's original buildings though much refaced;
it is of a single tall storey open to the roof; the walls
are ashlar-faced, finished with a restored embattled
parapet and low gables and have diagonal buttresses
at the W. angles; the E. and W. walls have both a
large projecting chimney-stack with a restored embattled parapet; flanking it in the upper part of the
E. wall are windows of two four-centred and transomed
lights; there are two lower and two upper windows
in the corresponding position in the W. wall, the
lower of two and the upper of three cinque-foiled and
transomed lights; at the W. end of the N. wall are
two similar windows but both of three lights. The
Kitchen is roofed from N. to S. in three bays with
low-pitched king-post trusses; the tie-beams have
curved braces and the spandrels have each three
openings with three-centred heads. The three original
fireplaces have chamfered jambs and moulded four-centred heads and there are original doorways in
the N. and S. walls, fitted with panelled doors; in
the middle of the N. wall is a blocked arch, probably
a serving-hatch originally. The range, between the
kitchen and the Hall, forms two blocks and has a
modern upper storey; the W. side of the N. block
has been refaced in the 18th century and again recently,
but the E. side retains two Tudor doorways and a
restored window; the W. side of the S. block retains
traces of the original low gable, before the addition of
the upper storey. Inside the N. block is a Tudor
doorway with carved spandrels. The Scullery-range
S. of the kitchen is of Tudor date, but has a modern
upper storey; the walls have been much refaced and
the windows have been restored. To the S.W. of
the kitchen is the old Anatomy School built in 1766;
it is a simple Renaissance building of two storeys and
a basement and is finished with a cornice and plain
parapet; on the N. front is a Doric porch.
The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Christ, (Frontispiece) was built as the church of an Augustinian Priory.
The walls are of rubble with ashlar and dressings all of
local Oxfordshire stone; the roofs are covered with lead
and slates. There seems no reason to doubt that a
monastery was founded here early in the 8th century
by or for St. Frideswide, though the evidence is of
much later date. The church of this foundation
seems to have been burnt on St. Brice's day 1002
when certain Danes took refuge in it, and was subsequently restored under Ethelred II. By the Conquest the monastery had become a 'minster' of the
normal Saxon type and it so remained until 1111 or
perhaps rather later when it became a priory of Austin
Canons, to which Henry I granted a charter in 1122.
It is improbable that any remains of the pre-Conquest
building survive. Recent excavation (1936) has rendered highly improbable the existence of the supposed
apses E. of the N. aisle and Lady Chapel, which were reported on by Mr. J. P. Harrison in 1887 and also by Mr.
J. H. Parker. A small chamber (7 ft. by 5½ ft.) lying N.
and S. under the E. arch of the crossing, was found
in 1856; it is not now accessible and its date and
purpose are uncertain. A tomb-slab preserved in the
S. transept may possibly date from the late pre-Conquest
or early post-Conquest period. After the establishment of the priory it seems probable that a new church
would have been built; there is, however, little evidence of this except for the rather awkward planning of
the S. transept and the presumed design of adding a W.
aisle to the later church at this point, a design which
was never carried out; the cutting of the angle respond,
between the transept and the S. aisle, into the S. wall
seems to imply that this wall is earlier than the reconstruction; in the W. side of the S. transept, furthermore, are two early 12th-century shafts re-used in the
triforium and there is a fragment of the same date incorporated in the vault of the clearstorey-passage.
There was a parish church of St. Frideswide on some
part of the site, till its union with St. Edward's in 1298.
The evidence seems sufficient to presume some early
12th-century structure which was superseded by the
existing building. This seems to have been begun after
the middle of the 12th century; there is a reference to
the tower in 1172 and the E. part of the church was probably completed when the body of St. Frideswide was
translated in 1181; the whole church, judging from the
detail, must have been completed within twenty years
after this date. This late 12th-century church consisted
of an eastern arm of five bays with aisles stopping one
bay short of the E. end, a N. transept of three bays with
E. and W. aisles and a chapel projecting one bay to
the E. of the E. aisle at its N. end; a S. transept
architecturally similar to the N. transept but with the
cloister occupying the W. aisle and a passage occupying
the S. bay; crossing and central tower; and a nave of
indeterminate length with side aisles. The nave is
said to have extended three bays beyond the existing
building making seven bays in all, but no direct evidence
of this seems to be available and the references to the
demolition of the steeple under Wolsey seem to
indicate that there was a tower, or possibly two towers,
on the W. front, which was the only portion of the
church then destroyed. The next alteration to the
church seems to have been the addition of the top
stage and spire to the central tower; this dates probably from the first quarter of the 13th century.
Before the middle of the same century the Lady Chapel
was built forming an outer N. aisle to the presbytery;
arches were pierced in the N. wall of the 12th-century
aisle and a single arch between the new chapel and the
12th-century N. transept chapel. A second translation
of the body of St. Frideswide took place in 1289.
The Latin or St. Katherine's Chapel was built in the
early part of the 14th century and an initial date is
perhaps indicated by a royal grant of stone from
Wheatley for the fabric of the church in 1316. This
chapel replaced the small N. transept chapel and arches
were pierced between it and the two E. bays of the
Lady Chapel. Shortly after, c. 1330, the chapel of St.
Lucy, E. of the S. transept, was extended slightly to the
E. and the E. wall and window re-built. At this
period also a large three-light window was inserted
in the E. wall of the presbytery. Probably towards
the close of the 15th century the clearstorey of the
presbytery was remodelled and the stone vault with
pendants set up. The absence of any trace of Renaissance detail seems to negative the possibility that this
vault is Wolsey's work and it seems more probable
that he intended to pull down the whole church.
Preparations were made to roof the N. transept in a
similar manner but the work was not proceeded with;
a sum of £30 was left towards this work by James
Zouch in 1504 and to this work no doubt belong
the great N. window and the rebuilding of the N. aisle
of the nave. The priory was suppressed by Wolsey
in 1524; its net value in the previous year was
£148 16s. 3½d. a year. The building of Wolsey's
college 1524–29 necessitated the destruction of the
W. end of the church and according to Buckler three
bays of the nave extending W. for about 50 ft. were
demolished. Either at this time or more probably
when the see was transferred here by Henry VIII in
1546 a wall was built between the fourth columns W.
of the crossing; this wall had a large window in the
upper part. At the same time, or perhaps earlier, stone
screens were inserted in the E. arcade of the N. transept.
Under Dean Brian Duppa 1629–38 the cathedral was refitted and many of the windows altered for new painted
glass. In 1856 these fittings were removed under J.
Billings and certain restorations effected. The general
restoration, under Sir Gilbert Scott, began in 1870.
The W. wall was removed, one bay added to the nave
and the present entrance built; the E. window was
removed and replaced by the existing restoration of
what was considered to be the late 12th-century
design; much of the S. aisle of the presbytery was
also re-built and the screens were removed from the
transept-arcade.

Christ Church Cathedral
The church is of great architectural interest, the
late 12th-century work and the presbytery vault are
both highly remarkable. Among the fittings the
glass and monuments are noteworthy.
Architectural Description—The Presbytery (68 ft. by
20 ft.) is of five bays (Plate 88) and mainly of late 12th-century date. The lower part of the E. wall is of rubble
and ancient, the upper part, between the buttresses, is
modern except for the angle shafts of the arcade at the
base of the gable; the circular and two round-headed
windows replace a 14th-century window of three lights,
but the rear-arch of the round window and the internal
side-shafts are survivals of the original arrangement
but have been restored. The clasping buttresses are
mainly original, ashlar-faced and with three ranges of
arcading; the lowest range has intersecting semi-circular arches with roll mouldings, springing from
keeled shafts (one on E. face modern) with simple
foliated capitals and moulded 'hold-water' bases;
the arcade on each face is of four bays; the middle
arcade is of two bays on each face, with semi-circular
moulded arches and round shafts with more elaborate
foliated caps and moulded bases (one shaft on the E. is
modern); the topmost arcade is of three bays on each
face with moulded two-centred arches and shafts with
simple foliated capitals and moulded bases; the arcade
on the S. face of the S. turret is blocked. The N.
and S. walls extend one bay beyond the aisles; this
bay has on each side a late 12th-century window,
partly restored and of one round-headed light of two
orders, the inner chamfered and the outer moulded
and springing, on the E. side only, from a shaft with
a foliated capital and moulded base; on the W. jamb
is the start of the impost of the aisle-window; the
rear-arch is moulded and springs from shafts similar
to those on the outside face; both faces have labels;
the S. window is more restored than that on the N.
The main arcades, on each side, are of four bays and
enclose the triforium; the main arches are semi-circular and of two moulded orders with a moulded
label; the piers are cylindrical and the responds are
semi-cylindrical, all with square plinths, moulded bases,
carved capitals and moulded abaci; the capitals (Plate
101) are of bell-form with interlaced or stiff-leaf foliage
with large crockets projecting under the angles of the
abacus; the larger crockets of the second column on the
N. are carved with heads and there is also a carved head
in the foliage of the first column on the N. These
main arches have plain round sub-arches with moulded
labels and springing from half-capitals on the outward
faces of the main piers; these capitals have plain or
crocketted foliage and square moulded abaci; above
these arches the triforium string-course lines with the
abaci of the main arcade; the triforium has an opening
in each bay, consisting of two plain round arches
springing from a central shaft and half-shafts against
the responds; all have foliated capitals and moulded
bases with spur-ornaments. Between each arch of
the main arcade rises a late 12th-century vaulting-shaft
with a tapering termination, with a band of cable,
nail-head or dog-tooth ornament and resting on
beast-head corbels; the shafts imply that the presbytery
was designed to receive a stone vault and it is probable
that this was actually erected as there is evidence was
the case in the transept. The shafts terminate in late
15th-century capitals at the level of the enriched
clearstorey string-course which is of the same period;
the capitals have carved foliage and the string-course
carved paterae on a running stem.
The clearstorey was remodelled but not entirely
re-built late in the 15th century; the five bays on each
side have each a window of three cinque-foiled ogee
lights in a four-centred head with a moulded label,
all partly restored; flanking the windows, externally,
are remains of the imposts of the 12th-century clearstorey-windows; the rear-arches are four-centred
and cinque-foiled, with a central boss; the soffits
have panelled vaults similar to the side portions of
the main vault of the presbytery; the splays are
pierced by the clearstorey wall-passage (Plate 97),
with two-centred openings and a barrel-vault of the
same form; enclosing the openings are cinque-foiled
and sub-cusped arches with carved spandrels and above
them are trefoil-headed panels similar to the soffits
of the rear-arches; flanking the windows, internally, are
trefoil-headed wall-panels. The late 15th-century stone
vault (Plate 102) is of five bays and of lierne type with
pendants; the main moulded ribs, with a solid panelled
web at the back of them, spring from the vaulting-shafts; constructionally they form four-centred arches
across the building but, apparently, the main ribs butt
against the pendants, beyond which they are continued
only as minor vaulting-ribs; the pendants are octagonal
and pierced with trefoil-headed openings, below which
is a foliage boss (leopards' heads on W. pair) and above
is a carved cornice and cresting; from the pendants
spring the ribs of the main vault with ridge, diagonal,
subsidiary and lierne members forming an elaborate
star-shaped design in each bay; the main panels are
cusped and at the intersections are carved bosses; all
have foliage and those along the central rib have figures,
etc. as follows:—(a) head of Christ, (b) Virgin and
Child, (c) Crowned Virgin, perhaps St. Frideswide,
flanked by two angels, (d) an archbishop, (e) a bishop
flanked by two figures. Above the extrados of the
vault, in the eastern bays, rectangular piers rise above
the pendants and these are supported by butting arches
springing from the haunches of the vaults of the sidespaces between the line of the pendants and the side
walls. These side-spaces are covered, in each bay, by
a transverse segmental-pointed vault with two ranges
of trefoil-headed panels and a central foliage-boss.
The vaulting-shafts in the E. angles of the building
are of late 12th-century date, those at the W. end are
entirely of late 15th-century date; they have concave
faces and rest on corbels with foliage and heads of a
king and queen. Between the W. end of the vault
and the 12th-century tower-arch is a series of canopied
niches, two on each side with small lierne ribs between
the two upper canopies; the niches contain figures of
St. Mary Magdalene and St. Peter (?) on the N. and St.
Katherine and St. Paul (?) on the S.; they stand on
corbels carved with foliage and beasts; below the
lower pair of corbels are two 14th-century corbels
with crouching figures of men, one playing a lute.
The side walls of the presbytery are finished with a
plain restored parapet with a series of carved masks on
the string-course, and much restored on the S. side.
The North Aisle (10½ ft. wide) is of four bays (Plates
91, 101) with a late 12th-century stone vault; this has
semi-circular hollow-chamfered cross-arches between
the bays and moulded diagonal ribs; the cross-arches
spring on the N. from half-round shafts with crocketted
capitals, square abaci and moulded bases with or without spur-ornaments; the diagonal ribs spring from
similar but smaller shafts in the E. angles, but the
original corbels in the other bays have been replaced
by 13th-century corbels when the outer wall was
pierced by arches; on the S. side the vaulting springs
from the capitals of the sub-arches of the main arcade.
The E. wall retains its N.E. clasping buttress and in the
lower part of the rubble wall is a rough arch or recess
with the arch set back from the responds which are
carried down some 3 ft. below the existing pavement,
which represents the original 12th-century floor-level;
the head of this arch is visible externally and the late
12th-century plinth stops on either side of the former
opening; it must thus be of the same date as the rest
of the wall. The E. window of three trefoiled ogee
lights with tracery in a two-centred head is largely
modern except for parts of the 14th-century splays,
moulded rear-arch and parts of the external head and
label. The three E. bays of the N. wall are each
pierced by a mid 13th-century arch, two-centred and of
two moulded orders; the responds have grouped and
filleted shafts with foliated capitals and 'hold-water'
bases. The W. bay of the aisle forms also the S. bay
of the E. aisle of the N. transept.
The Lady Chapel (15½ ft. wide in E. part, 13½ ft.
wide in W. part) is a mid 13th-century addition (Plate 91)
to the original N. aisle; the E. part was widened when
the Latin Chapel was added in the 14th century. The
14th-century E. window is of four cinque-foiled lights
with tracery in a two-centred head; the shafted splays
are of the 13th century and have foliated capitals and
moulded abaci; the N. side was probably re-set in the
14th century. Below the sill is a rough internal recess
with a rubble arch; the former opening starts above
the 13th-century plinth and blocking-course. The N.
wall has an arcade of three bays; the two eastern arches
are of early 14th-century date, two-centred and of two
moulded orders springing from a pier of four groups
of grouped shafts with moulded capitals and bases;
the capital on the S. face is of the 13th century re-set
and is foliated; the responds are generally similar to
the pier. In the third bay is a mid 13th-century arch
cut through the late 12th-century S. wall of a former
chapel; it is generally similar to those in the S. wall
but the capitals are moulded. The 13th-century stone
vault of the three bays is quadripartite with moulded
ribs and cross-ribs, the latter repeated between the third
bay and the transept aisle; the vault of the two E. bays
was partly reconstructed when the chapel was widened
early in the 14th century; the vaulting shafts are of
triple form with foliated or moulded capitals.
The Latin Chapel (56½ ft. by 19 ft.) was built c. 1320
and is ashlar-faced with a moulded plinth and gabled
buttresses. The E. window is modern except for the
rear-arch. In the N. wall are four windows, partly
restored; they are each of three cinque-foiled lights
with varied flowing tracery in a two-centred head with
a moulded label and rear-arch. The stone vault is
of four bays with moulded transverse, wall and diagonal
ribs and slighter ridge-ribs, the latter with carved
paterae, and a series of bosses along the middle rib
as follows—(a) foliage, (b) foliage and flowers, (c)
monster and foliage, (d) head of bishop and foliage,
(e) foliage, (f) water-leaf foliage, (g) squirrel and
foliage, (h) crowned head, (i) head; there are subsidiary bosses, mostly foliage, against the side-walls.
The vault springs from vaulting-shafts with moulded
capitals and bases; the shaft between the third and
fourth bay on the S. is of late 12th-century date and
has a crocketted capital with a square abacus; it was
the middle shaft of the original chapel of two bays,
projecting from the transept; the S.E. angle-shaft
of this chapel also survives but has lost its capital.
The South Aisle (11¼ ft. wide) is a late 12th-century
structure, much re-built in the 19th century. The
walling is of rubble with ashlar buttresses; the upper
part is largely refaced except in the W. bay. The
early 14th-century E. window, modern externally,
is of three trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a two-centred head; the shafted splays have foliated capitals
and ball-flower ornament; the rear-arch forms part
of an adaptation of the E. cell of the vault; this has
an added ridge and subsidiary ribs, with foliage-ornament and springing from the splay-shafts; the
main late 12th-century vault is similar to that in the
N. aisle but the responds of the outer wall remain
unaltered and the vaulting-shafts in the E. angles
have foliated caps and that on the S. is cut short at
the string-course below the windows; flanking the responds (Plate 101) of the S. wall, the diagonal ribs spring
from corbels carved with foliage and heads. In the S.
wall are three windows; the two easternmost are modern but the westernmost is of late 12th-century date and
similar to the side-windows of the presbytery; below
it is a blocked 12th-century doorway; it has chamfered
jambs, round arch and label; the moulded imposts
have been re-cut in the 15th century; set in the blocking
is a fragment with cheveron-ornament.
The Crossing and Central Tower (17 ft. by 20 ft.) is
of late 12th-century date up to the top of the lanternstage of the tower; the bell-chamber and spire (Plate
86) are of the first half of the 13th century. The semi-circular E. and W. arches of the tower are of three roll-moulded orders except the inner order on the E. which
has been altered later to a hollow chamfer; there is a
label on the inner face of each arch; the outer orders die
on to the walls but the inner order springs from half-round shafts with moulded or tapering terminations
about 10 ft. from the floor and capitals carved with
stiff-leaf foliage (crockets on the E. side); the imposts
carved with similar foliage are carried along under the
outer orders. The N. and S. arches are similar to
those on the E. and W. but are two-centred and the
inner order is plain; the responds have each one
half-round and four round shafts, with 'hold-water'
bases and capitals carved with stiff-leaf foliage or
crockets; there is a label on the inner face of each
arch. In the angles of the crossing, above the springing
of the arches, are four late 15th-century corbels carved
with three male heads and a dog or monkey; these
seem to have been inserted for a projected vault.
Above the arches runs a string-course and between
this and the string-course of the lantern-stage, is, on
each face, an open arcade to the wall-passage; this
arcade is of seven bays with plain round arches, round
shafts and half-round responds, with capitals carved
with simple leaves, water-leaves or enriched scallops.
The lantern-stage has in each face a wall-arcade of four
bays with round chamfered arches, springing from
shafts with simply foliated capitals; the outer bay on
each side is pierced with a round-headed window with
rebated outer jambs; between these windows rises
the weathering of the former high-pitched roofs of the
four arms of the church; the stage has plain semiround turrets at the outer angles. The early 13th-century bell-chamber has, in each face, two windows,
each of two pointed lights with a quatrefoil above,
all set in an outer arch of two moulded orders; the
outer order springs from shafts with foliated capitals
and forms part of the external wall-arcade which,
with much narrower bays, is continued round the
angle-turrets; these turrets are finished with square
pinnacles of grouped shafts with ribbed pyramidal
cappings; the main walls finish with a corbel-table of
moulded and pointed arches on moulded corbels.
The spire is octagonal with angle-ribs; it rests on two
ranges of squinch-arches, one two-centred and the
other round; the top part and capping is modern,
the original stonework being now set up in a garden.
In each cardinal face of the spire is a projecting gabled
window, each of two pointed lights with a quatrefoil
above, in a moulded outer order.
The North Transept (43½ ft. by 19½ ft.) is mainly of
late 12th-century date. The main arcades (Plate 89),
both on the E. and W., are of three bays and generally
similar to those of the chancel but with rather more
advanced foliage to the capitals; the vaulting-shafts in
the S. angles are original and have foliated capitals; the
short shafts over the S. column are also original with
capitals and head-corbels; the other shafts have been
altered at the top and have foliated capitals of c. 1510;
of the same date is the clearstorey string-course with
foliage-bosses and heads; there is evidence on both sides
that a late 12th-century vault has been removed and
preparations made for a vault similar to that in the
presbytery; this, however, was not set up, but the clearstorey on each side of the N. bay was altered in somewhat
the same way as in the presbytery and has a similar
window of c. 1510; the other bays have each a late
12th-century clearstorey-window of one round-headed
light with external jamb-shafts and a moulded rear-arch with side-shafts, standing on the foliated capitals
of free shafts with moulded bases; flanking these
shafts are small round-headed openings to the clearstorey-passage, with half-shafts as responds; the
passage has a round barrel-vault. The N. wall has
square clasping buttresses, similar to those at the E.
end; they have three ranges of arcading, the two lower
with pointed arches and the topmost with round arches;
all have shafts with foliated capitals; the buttresses
are finished with tabled cappings and shafted octagonal
pinnacles with pyramidal terminations; the lower
part of the N.E. turret is covered by the angle of the
Latin Chapel. Between the buttresses is a large
restored window of c. 1500; it is of five cinque-foiled
lights with tracery in a two-centred head and casementmoulded reveals; the internal sill has a moulded
cornice carved with five winged angel-heads and two
small heads; below it is a range of five panels with
cinque-foiled ogee heads and tracery; in two of these
panels is a four-centred head with a label and a half-angel at the apex.
The East Aisle of the N. Transept (11 ft. wide) has
been much altered by the addition and rebuilding of
the chapels to the E. It retains its late 12th-century
cross-arches between the bays; they are plain and
semi-circular and spring on the E. from foliated imposts; the N.E. respond retains also two shafts with
foliated capitals; the vault of the S. bay continues
that of the N. aisle of the presbytery; the vault of the
middle bay has moulded ribs of different section and
has a foliated boss at the intersection; the N. bay
forms part of the Latin Chapel.
The West Aisle of the N. Transept (11½ ft. wide)
is substantially of late 12th-century date, altered in the
15th century when the buttresses were mostly re-built
and the existing windows inserted. The N.W. angle
retains its original clasping-buttress, now surmounted
by a modern pinnacle; set on the W. face of this
pinnacle is a much weathered figure of a woman,
probably St. Frideswide. In the N. wall is a much
restored 15th-century window of three cinque-foiled
and transomed lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with a label; above it is an original
quatre-foiled opening, lighting the roof-space. The
W. wall has a 15th-century plinth; in each free bay
is a window similar to that in the N. wall but with the
internal splays carried down to a seat; under the
northern window, externally, is a blocked opening,
probably constructional. The vault is original and
of three bays with hollow-chamfered cross-arches and
moulded diagonal ribs; these spring from the half
capitals of the main arcade and, on the W., from vaulting shafts with crocketted or interlaced foliage-capitals
and 'hold-water' bases.
The South Transept (27 ft. by 19½ ft.) is of late 12th-century date (Plate 87) and is structurally of three bays
but the S. bay includes the passage from the cloister to
the cemetery and a modern gallery above it; it is consequently only at the clearstorey-level that the full
length of the transept is open to the church. The main
arcades with the enclosed triforium and the clearstorey
of the two N. bays are generally similar to the unaltered
portions of the N. transept except that the main arch
of the middle bay on the W. is unpierced and the
columns on this side are engaged in the wall; the
triforium opening in this middle bay has shafts with
scalloped capitals and moulded bases; the latter are
much earlier in character than any others in the church
and can hardly be later than the early part of the 12th
century; they are thus re-used material; the opening
now forms a window. The original vault of the
transept has been removed but remains of the makinggood can be seen on the walls and, here only, the moulded
springers of the original vault have survived above
the two remaining middle shafts; they indicate a
ribbed vault, probably of quadripartite form. Above
the N.E. main arch are set two corbels carved with
half-figures of an angel and a king and probably of
late 16th or early 17th-century date. Above the
gallery at the S. end, the clearstorey windows are
repeated and the main arcade-arches form wall-arches
only. In the S. wall, at the high level, is a restored
early 14th-century window of five trefoiled ogee lights
with intersecting tracery in a two-centred head; the
moulded rear-arch and label with head-stops of a bishop
and a queen, are of the same date but the lower part
of the splays is formed by late 12th-century free shafts
with foliage or enriched scalloped caps and moulded
bases; standing on these shafts are jamb-shafts
similar to those of the clearstorey windows and
flanking the free shafts are narrow openings to the
wall-passage, similar also to the clearstorey windows.
The Passage (11½ ft. wide) forming the lower part
of the S. bay of the transept is a 12th-century structure,
with a plain half-round barrel-vault, springing from
chamfered string-courses on the side-walls. In the
E. wall is a window, modern except for part of the splays
and rear-arch which formed part of a 12th-century
doorway; part of the round head of this doorway
is visible externally. In the N. wall is a modern doorway from the transept. In the W. wall is a 15th-century doorway with moulded and shafted jambs
and four-centred arch. The room above this passage
is very largely modern and has a modern vault supporting the gallery above. This arrangement replaces
an intruded structure formerly used as the Head
Verger's house. In the N. wall are incorporated
some portions of earlier work apparently in situ.
Towards the W. end internally is the W. jamb
and part of the segmental rear-arch of the former
doorway from the night-staircase of the dorter, which
apparently came down over the vault of the passage;
further E. are two vertical chamfered jambs with a
segmental half-arch between them; this was presumably a recess only, but its purpose is uncertain.
The East Aisle of the S. Transept (11 ft. wide
originally) retains an original N. bay, forming the W.
bay of the S. aisle of the presbytery; it has a ribbed
vault similar to the other bays of the S. aisle and a
plain cross-arch to the S., springing from an impost
on the E. with 'stiff-leaf' foliage. The S. bay forms
St. Lucy's Chapel which was extended slightly to the
E. early in the 14th century. It has an E. window of
this date and of three cinque-foiled ogee lights with
net-tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded
label; the moulded and trefoiled rear-arch springs
from grouped shafts, in the angles of the chapel, with
moulded capitals and restored bases. In the S. wall is
an early 16th-century doorway with moulded jambs
and four-centred head; in the S.W. angle is a 12th-century vaulting-shaft with a foliated capital, indicating
that the aisle never extended further S.
The Nave (75 ft. by 21½ ft.) is now of five bays
but the W. bay is entirely modern. The general
arrangement is similar to that of the N. transept but
the work is of the very end of the 12th century; the
alternate columns are octagonal and the foliage is
much more developed; it is varied in each capital.
The triforium-arches are not pierced and the
main arches of the windows of the clearstorey are
pointed. The vaulting shafts are original except for
the moulded and foliated capitals which are of c. 1500.
The nave formerly had a blocking wall of the 16th
century between the fourth pair of piers; this was
removed in the restoration of 1870 when the fifth bay
was reconstructed.
The North Aisle of the Nave (11¼ ft. wide) is now of
three bays (Plate 101) and is mainly of the 15th
century. It is generally similar to the W. aisle of
the N. transept, except that the vaulting is of 17th-century or modern plaster, except the arch opening into
the transept aisle; the moulded corbels on the N.
wall are also of plaster. In each bay of the N. wall
is a window of c. 1500, similar to those in the W.
aisle of the N. transept. In the W. wall is a window
of c. 1637 and of two plain pointed lights in a two-centred head.
The South Aisle of the Nave (11½ ft. wide) has, in
the two E. bays, a late 12th-century vault generally
similar to that of the N. transept aisle; it springs from
vaulting-shafts with foliated capitals against the S. wall;
the vault of the two W. bays is a restoration in plaster.
The engaged cylindrical column of the transeptarcade has the half-capital of its sub-arch cut into the
wall of the aisle, which seems to imply that this wall is
of earlier date than the general design of the church.
The first two bays of the S. wall have each a partly
restored window of c. 1500 and similar to those in the
N. aisle; the third bay has a modern window and the
fourth bay a window and doorway, both modern
except the rear-arch of the window. In the W. wall
is a window, modern except for the splays and rear-arch which are probably of the 17th century; below
it is a 16th-century doorway with moulded jambs and
four-centred arch in a square head.
The Roof of the lantern of the central tower, has two
main moulded cross-beams, with a carved pendant
at the intersection; each quarter is divided into
sixteen panels by moulded ribs; each panel has traces
of a painted cross; the work appears to be of late
16th or early 17th-century date. The roof of the N.
Transept is of c. 1510; it is flat-pitched and of three
bays with moulded tie-beams, curved braces and wall-posts; each bay is divided into sixteen main and
sixty-four smaller panels; the roof rests on plain stone
corbels. The roof of the S. Transept is of c. 1500,
except the S. bay which is modern; it is similar to
that in the N. transept but each bay is divided into
twelve main and forty-eight smaller panels; in the
middle of each main panel is an applied boss. The
roof of the nave appears to be of c. 1500 but is said to
have been renewed in 1816; it is flat-pitched, with
moulded tie-beams, principals, purlins, plates and ridge;
there are posts between the tie-beams and the ridge,
wall-posts standing on the vaulting-shafts and curved
braces under the tie-beams; the spandrels of these
braces have trefoil-headed openings and the spandrels
flanking the king-posts are traceried; the spaces between the purlins and the principals have three ranges
of square panels, eight in the width of the bay; at the
rib-intersections are bosses carved with foliage, heads
etc., and the panels themselves are traceried.
Fittings—Bells: twelve; 3rd, 4th and 6th by
Abraham Rudhall, first two dated 1698; 7th by Ellis
Knight, 1640; 9th and 10th ascribed to a London
founder c. 1400, from Oseney Abbey, and inscribed
"In multis annis resonet campana Johannis" and
"Stella Maria Maris sucurre piissima nobis" respectively; 12th dated 1598, perhaps by Robert Atton;
also litany-bell, blank, probably 17th-century. Books:
(Plate 105) In presbytery—bible of 1632 or 1639 and
prayer-book of 1636, bound in velvet and silver with the
arms of the college, saved from the flames in 1647.
Brasses and Indents. Brasses: In N. aisle of presbytery—
(1) of [James Courthopp or Courthope, M.A. canon,
1557], figure of priest in surplice and amess, inscription,
part of marginal inscription and one symbol of evangelist, indents of three others and rest of marginal
inscription; (2) to Thomas Palmer, 1558, inscription
only. In Lady Chapel—(3) of John Bisshop, 1588–9,
figure of youth kneeling at prayer-desk; (4) of Thomas
Thornton, M.A., 1613, kneeling figure of man in gown
at prayer-desk; on floor, (5) of Edward Courtenay,
c. 1450, figure of man in civil dress with shield-of-arms
of Courtenay with a label; (6) of John Fitzal[leyn,
1452], figure of man in civil dress with mutilated
inscription. In S. aisle of presbytery—on S. wall,
(7) of Stephen Lence, M.A., 1587–8, on stone tablet
with shaped head, figure of man in cap and gown.
In N. transept—on N. wall, (8) of Henry Dow, B.A.,
1578, (palimpsest) on tablet, kneeling figure of man in
gown at prayer-desk with scroll and achievement-of-arms; (9) of Thomas Morrey, M.A. [1584], on tablet,
kneeling figure of man in gown at prayer-desk with
scroll. In W. aisle of N. transept—on W. wall,
(10) to Robert Hughes, 1632, circumnavigator, inscription only; (11) to Leonard Hutten, D.D., 1632,
canon, inscription on scrolls in marble frame. In
nave—on second N. column, (12) of John Walrond,
1602, plate with figure of man in civil dress, kneeling
at prayer-desk, with scroll and two shields-of-arms,
painted inscriptions on stonework above and below.
See also Monument (9). Indents: In N. aisle of
presbytery—(1) of inscription and shield, now under
altar; (2) figure of woman and inscription; (3) to
Andrew de Soltre, rector of Ralleye (or Kalleye), 14th-century, mutilated cross with inscription in separate
capitals; (4) inscription and two scrolls; (5) of figure
and inscription; (6) of four shields and figure; (7) of
half-figure of priest; (8) of figure, scroll, four shields
and inscription; (9) fragment, of man and wife and
inscription; (10) of foliated cross with figure in
head; (11) of priest under crocketted canopy with marginal inscription and roundels at angles; (12) of kneeling
figure, inscription and plate. In Lady Chapel—(13) of
man with four shields, foot and marginal inscriptions,
now covered; (14) to a burgess of Oxford, cross with
inscription in separate capitals, 14th-century; (15) of
priest with scroll, inscription and four shields; (16) to
Johan de Coleville, large cross with defaced inscription
in separate capitals, 14th-century; (17) of part of
figure and inscription; (18) inscription only; (19) of
figure, scrolls and inscription; (20) of man, shield and
inscription; (21) of figure, part only. In Latin Chapel—
(22) inscription and perhaps figure. See also Monuments (2 and 19). Coffin-lids: In N. transept—(1)
loose slab from Oseney Abbey, broken and part missing,
with vine-scroll border and inscription in capitals
referring to the viscera of [Ela] Countess of Warwick,
[1297–8]. In S. aisle of presbytery—(2) slightly coped
slab. In gallery of S. transept—(3) loose broken
slab (Plate 9), with hollow-chamfered edges, top covered
with design of concentric circles and with crude face at
top, 11th-century. Glass: In Latin Chapel—in
three N.W. windows, all lights with borders of running
vines, fleurs-de-lis, leopards, leopards' heads and
monsters; filling of grisaille quarries of foliage and
flowers; across middle of lights, band consisting in each
window of elaborate spired and crocketted canopies
with figures and inscriptions below each; in second
window (Plate 99), St. Catherine with wheel and sword,
St. Frideswide with book and sceptre and St. Margaret
with dragon, cross and palm, in tracery vine-scroll,
head of Christ and dove; in third window, the
Annunciation with the Virgin and St. Gabriel and an
archbishop in mass-vestments with combined crozier
and cross-staff, inscriptions missing, in tracery, vine-scroll and two men's heads; in fourth window (Plate 99),
crowned nun with sceptre and book, short name ending
in da (?Hilda), the Virgin and Child and St. Catherine
with wheel and sword; in tracery vine-scroll, shield
of Courtenay with a label, and heads of a king and
bishop, late 14th-century made up with modern glass.
In S. aisle of presbytery—in third S. window, large figure
(Plate 98) of Bishop Robert King in cope, with background of a ruined church, achievement-of-arms of King
and shields of the see and Oseney Abbey impaling the
same, glass probably by Bernard van Linge, c. 1630–40.
In St. Lucy's Chapel—in E. window, in main lights,
upper part only of large interior scene probably of a
church, by Abraham van Linge, c. 1630–40, below
17th-century shield-of-arms of Dolben, nimbed head
of man and kneeling figure of saint, 14th-century; in
tracery complete early 14th-century glass (Plate 100), in
situ, subjects beginning from top, Christ in majesty, two
censing angels with vine-foliage, two kneeling canons,
diaper work, shield-of-arms of England and France
ancient, six monsters, bird, beasts and small human
figures, three larger lights with diapered backgrounds
and figure-subjects of St. Martin and the beggar, the
martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury with arms on
the shields of the knights, and St. Augustine preaching,
queen's head, St. Cuthbert with the head of St. Oswald,
St. Blaise and a king's head, all with foliage. In N.
transept (re-set here in 1927)—in N. window of E.
clearstorey, in three main lights, portions of landscapes
by Abraham van Linge, in heads of lights, three angels
with musical instruments and at bottom, part of a
frame with the date 1696, probably by William Price
sen. and part of former E. window; in N. window of
W. clearstorey, in three main lights, portions with
numerous figures and houses etc. in the background,
possibly parts of windows by Abraham van Linge
representing Christ disputing with the Doctors and the
Entry into Jerusalem. In W. aisle of N. transept—
in N. window, in tracery, part of a city and other
buildings; in tracery of two W. windows; two
burning cities, no doubt Sodom and Gomorrah; all
by Abraham van Linge. In N. aisle of nave—in W.
window (Plate 98), in two main lights, Jonah seated beneath the gourd with the city of Nineveh in front, below,
the inscription "Carolus Sunbanke pr[ebendar.] Windsor S.T.P. hū. eccl. olī alu[mnus]" and "Abraham van
Linge fecit 163.", in spandrel, 17th-century achievement-of-arms. In chapter-house—in N.E. window,
five panels, (a) jumble of figures, border and inscription,
16th or 17th-century; (b) achievement-of-arms of
Thomas Ravis, Bishop of London, with date 1607;
(c) royal Stuart arms; (d) achievement-of-arms of
Herbert Westfaling, Bishop of Hereford and Vicechancellor, died 1602; (e) Pilate washing his hands,
foreign, 16th-century; in S.E. window, five panels,
(a) the Virgin and Child with an inscription mentioning
Robert Canon (or a canon) and the date 1519; (b)
achievement-of-arms of Herbert Westfaling; (c)
roundel with a leopard's head and crown; (d) achievement-of-arms of Thomas Godwyn, Dean of Wells,
1584; (e) figure of a cardinal, early 16th-century;
in second S. window, five panels, (a) lily-pot, early
16th-century; (b) late 16th or early 17th-century
achievement-of-arms; (c) pole-axes and cross-staff
of Wolsey; (d) achievement-of-arms of Martin Heton,
Bishop of Ely, died 1609; (e) female saint, early
16th-century. In window of staircase S. of chapter-house—various quarries with fleur-de-lis, tun, roses
and foliage, border of fragments including crowned
Ws., two small quatrefoils and three large roundels
with two capital Ms and the initials Ihc, the strokes
of the two former have delicately rendered figures
of the Virgin and angels and the latter, figures of the
Crucifixion with the Virgin and St. John and instruments of the Passion, early 16th-century. In sacristy
—now loose, panel made up of odd pieces including
a figure of God the Father and a roundel of foreign
glass with a feast, etc. 16th and 17th century. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Monuments: In N. aisle of
presbytery—under E. bay of N. arcade, (1) reconstructed base for the shrine (Plate 96) of St. Frideswide,
including parts made probably for the translation of
1289, plinth incorporates range of quatre-foiled panels
enclosing foliage and heads including a king and three
queens, open arcaded upper part on modern piers, two
bays at sides and one at each end, arches deeply moulded
and formerly trefoiled, with foliated cusp-points, many
broken away, moulded labels with foliage-stops and
mitring with horizontal cornice at top, spandrels and
angle-pieces with elaborate foliage-decoration, at E.
end fig-leaf and vine plant, at W. end, hawthorn leaves
and berries and white bryony, on N. side, ivy, oak and
sycamore leaves with a broken face and a bird, on S.
side columbine, maple and celandine each with a female
face; all foliage carved naturalistically. In Lady Chapel
—under E. bay of N. arcade, (2) monument and
chantry-chapel (Plate 90), called the watching-loft
and of late 15th-century date, structure in the form of a
small chapel and of two storeys, the lower of stone and
the upper of oak; N. face of three wide and three
narrow bays with a doorway to the W. all divided by
panelled piers with crocketted heads and finished above
with a range of trefoiled and crocketted heads, pendant
between the piers and raised to a higher level above the
doorway, above these a cornice of running vineornament and a cresting of Tudor flowers, three larger
bays to the E. fitted on the outside with pedestal-seats
and three smaller bays filled at a rather higher level
with quatre-foiled and sub-cusped panels enclosing
blank shields, five bays pierced towards interior of
monument, doorway fitted with 17th-century panelled
door; S. side generally similar but whole side treated
as nine smaller bays without seats or doorway; W.
end flanking arcade-pier, two niches finished as smaller
bays at sides; interior of stage filled with slab of
altar-tomb having indents of brass figures of man and
wife in horned head-dress, five shields and marginal
inscription; lower stage roofed by fan-vault (Plate 4)
of stone with cinque-foiled panels and foliage-bosses,
panelled E. and W. walls; upper stage reached by staircase at W. end and itself of two storeys and of nine bays
from E. to W., lower storey closed and with a range of
as many canopied niches (much broken) divided by
buttresses, upper storey open and with three-centred
heads to the lights and elaborate spired and graduated
crocketted canopy to each bay; same treatment repeated
at W. end; upper stage roofed with a low-pitched ribbed
vault; under second bay of N. arcade, (3) of [Elizabeth
(Mountfort) wife successively of Thomas, second Lord
Montague and Thomas, Lord Furnival, 1354], altar-tomb (Plate 94) and effigy of stone and marble; altar-tomb with moulded plinth and slab, sides of three bays
divided by pairs of shafts, middle bay with three and
side bays with two cinque-foiled panels, five containing
weepers and the spandrels with four shields-of-arms
alternately Montague and Mountfort, the weepers
represent one man, one woman and three nuns, two
with croziers on N. side and two men, a bishop and
two women on S. side, many figures headless and
mutilated; at ends of tomb, quatre-foiled panels enclosing, at E. end standing figure of woman with symbols of St. Mark and St. Luke, at W. end, the Virgin and
Child, the other two evangelists' symbols and two shields
as above; effigy of woman (Plate 95) on slab with dog
at feet and mutilated angels at head, figure in sideless
gown and cloak with diaper-decoration in gesso,
reticulated head dress, much original colour on tomb,
effigy, weepers and shields. Under next bay W.,
(4) ascribed to Alexander Sutton, Prior, 1316, altar-tomb, effigy and canopy (Plate 92), plain altar-tomb with
moulded top edge, divided on S. only into three bays by
buttresses of the canopy, canopy of three bays resting on
shafted and buttressed piers, terminating in pinnacles
(broken off on S.), in each bay a moulded and cinque-foiled arch under an acute crocketted gable with a trefoiled spandrel and profuse ball-flower ornament, between buttresses at angles, small trefoil-headed niche
containing mutilated figure, soffit of canopy formed of
ribbed vaulting in three bays with foliage-bosses; effigy
of priest (Plate 94) in mass-vestments with feet on lion
or dog, head under three-sided canopy with cusped
heads, pinnacles and crockets. In E. aisle of N.
transept—S. of Latin Chapel, (5) ascribed to Sir
George Nowers, early 15th-century, stone altar-tomb
and effigy, altar-tomb with five round quatre-foiled
panels on each side and one at each end all enclosing
shields with repainted arms on S. side and W. end
only (a) a cheveron between three leaping greyhounds impaling
Darcy, (b) the same impaling Damory, (c) the same
alone, (d) the same impaling Basset, (e) the same
impaling Lucy, and on W. end (f) Nowers impaling the
first coat; effigy (Plate 95) (partly of alabaster but
mostly repaired in 17th or 18th century) in bascinet,
camail, jupon, etc., head on helm with bull's head crest,
feet on lion, remains of arms of Nowers on jupon, figure
does not fit altar-tomb and is said to have been brought
from Tackley; on E. piers, (6) of [Robert Burton],
1639, author of the Anatomy of Melancholy, oval
stone tablet (Plate 30) with scrolled frame, cartouche-of-arms and painted bust of man; (7) of [William]
Goodwin, S.T.D. Dean, 1620, painted stone tablet
(Plate 30) with enriched side-pilasters, arched recess
with bust of man in gown and hood with book,
cornice and cartouche-of-arms; on W. wall of Latin
Chapel, (8) to Alice (Peyton), wife of Edward Lowe,
1648–9, wooden tablet with pediment and shield-of-arms.
In E. aisle of S. transept—N. of St. Lucy's chapel, (9) to
Robert King, S.T.P., first Bishop of Oxford, 1557,
Purbeck marble altar-tomb and canopy (Plate 97), altar-tomb with moulded plinth and slab with partly restored
brass inscription on edge, sides each with three elaborate
traceried panels and similar panel at W. end, shield in
middle of each with brass missing, octagonal shafts
at angles carried up to support canopy, the whole
finished with a frieze of quatrefoils and an embattled
cornice, sides of canopy with septfoiled and sub-cusped
four-centred arch with shields and tracery in spandrels,
W. end with trefoiled and sub-cusped arch and traceried
spandrels, S. side of seven cusped lights in a flat four-centred head, elaborate panelled and traceried soffit
following lines of side-arches and cinque-foiled panelling
against E. wall. In St. Lucy's Chapel—on N. wall,
(10) to Sir Henry Gage, 1644–5, Governor of Oxford
for the King, white marble tablet with rounded head;
(11) to Sir William Pennyman, Bart., 1643 and Anne
his wife, 1644, white marble tablet with scrolled top
and shield-of-arms; (12) to John Squire, 1714, white
marble tablet; on S. wall, (13) to Richard Gardiner,
S.T.D., 1670, canon, black and white marble tablet
with books, broken pediment and cartouche; (14) to
William Villiers, Viscount Grandison, 1643 (erected after
1670), white marble pedestal supporting large urn with
trophy of arms at back, signed I. Latham; (15) to Sir
Peter Wyche, 1643, ambassador at Constantinople, and
Jane (Meredith), his wife, 1660, black and white marble
oval tablet (Plate 33), with elaborate draped frame with
four cherubs, urn and three shields-of-arms; (16) to Sir
John Banks, 1644, chief justice of the Common Pleas,
oval white marble tablet with scrolls and cartouche-of-arms, monument by John Stone; (17) of William
Brouncker, Viscount Brouncker, 1645 and Winefred
(Leigh) his wife, 1649, white marble wall-monument
with figures of man and wife at table, Corinthian side-pilasters, broken pediment, cherubs and cartouche-of-arms; (18) to Edward Littleton, Lord Littleton of
Mounslowe, 1645, keeper of the Great Seal, white and
grey marble monument (Plate 29) with moulded base,
pedestal, armour and urn, the whole flanked by Ionic
columns supporting a curved pediment and cartouche-of-arms, monument erected 1683. In N. transept—
against N. wall, (19) ascribed to James Zouch, 1503,
altar-tomb with moulded plinth and slab, two round
quatre-foiled panels on front and one at each end, each
enclosing a shield charged with an inkhorn and pencase,
on slab, indent of brass figure of man and inscription,
against wall at back, slab with indent of brass kneeling
figure of man with scroll and another plate in front,
arched label above slab with half-angel at the apex;
(20) to Richard Heylin, S.T.D., 1670, canon, alabaster
oval tablet with scrolls and cartouche-of-arms; (21) to
Dr. Thomas Lockey, 1679, canon, similar to last with
blank cartouche. In W. aisle of N. transept—on W.
wall, (22) to James Whale, M.A., 1649, white marble
tablet with cartouche-of-arms; (23) to Richard Swayne,
1634, black marble slab; (24) to John Torksey, M.A.,
1702, precentor, white marble draped tablet (Plate 35)
with cherub-heads. In N. aisle of nave—on N. wall,
(25) of Alexander Gerard, 1601, painted kneeling figure
of man at desk under moulded label; (26) to John
Wall, S.T.D., 1666, canon, oval tablet with alabaster
bay-leaf wreath and cartouche-of-arms; (27) to William
Levett, S.T.P., 1693–4, President of Magdalen and
Dean of Bristol, white marble tablet with drapery,
cherubs and achievement-of-arms; on W. wall, (28) to
Sebastian Smythe, S.T.P., 1674 and Dorothy his wife,
1683, white marble tablet with three cartouches-of-arms at top; (29) to John Weston, LL.D., 1632,
canon, black marble and alabaster wall-monument
with Doric side-columns, entablature and cartouche-of-arms; (30) to William Creede, S.T.P., 1663, canon,
black marble and stone tablet with scrolls, pediment
and achievement-of-arms. In S. aisle of nave—on S.
wall, (31) of Edward Pocock, S.T.D., 1691, Regius Professor of Hebrew, white marble wall-monument (Plate
29) with bust of man in gown and cap, shield-of-arms on
carved apron; (32) to John Corbet, M.A., 1688, white
and black marble oval tablet (Plate 33), with scrolls, cherubs and cartouche-of-arms; on W. wall, (33) to James
Narborough, 1707, white marble tablet with scrolls
and shield-of-arms. In ante-chapel—against S. wall,
(34) to John Fell, Bishop of Oxford, 1686, white marble
monument (Plate 29) with central pedestal, achievement-of-arms and two urns each with a shield-of-arms, monument formerly in Latin Chapel, where mitre and crozier
(head only) still hang. Floor-slabs: In N. aisle of
presbytery—(1) with date 1642, on same slab as
Indent (3); (2) with date 1643; (3) to Antony
Radcliff, S.T.P., canon, 1705; (4) to Roger Altham,
D.D., 1714, canon, with shield-of-arms; (5) to I.H.,
1691–2; (6) to H.H., 1686. In Lady Chapel—(7) to
Sebastian Smith, S.T.P., 1674, with shield-of-arms, on
same slab as Indent (15); (8) to Jasper Mayne, S.T.D.,
1672, canon; (9) to Henry Aldrich, S.T.P. Dean,
1710, with shield-of-arms; (10) to John Potter,
1710; (11) with incised cross and defaced inscription,
mediæval. In Latin Chapel—(12) with date 1640;
(13) to C...., 1691–2; (14) with date 1654. In
St. Lucy's Chapel—(15) slab with achievement-of-arms, early 18th-century; (16) to General Sir John
Smith, 1644, with shield-of-arms. In N. transept—
(17) to George Atherton, 1701; (18) to Michael
Thomson, 1700; (19) to John Heycock, 1700; (20)
to James Radcliff, 1700; (21) to A.H., 1651. In W.
aisle of N. transept—(22) to John Corbet, 1688;
(23) to P. Bagshawe, 1714; (24) to William, Viscount
Brouncker, [1645] and Winifrid, his wife [1649],
with shield-of-arms. In N. walk of cloister—(25) to
E.H., 1691 (?). Organ and Organ-case: on screen in
nave—organ originally built by Bernard Schmidt in
1680, but greatly enlarged and re-built at various times
during the 19th and 20th centuries; case, on both E.
and W. faces, of five bays divided by two large and two
smaller towers finished with pierced carving and
cornices and standing on brackets with cherub-heads
or acanthus-foliage, bays with pierced carving at top
and bottom of each, middle bay with pierced cresting
and side bays with large carved scrolls above the
cornices, late 17th-century; screen may incorporate
some 17th-century portions including enriched Ionic
pilasters and round arches with carved key-blocks and
shields in the spandrels, made up with modern work.
Paintings: In presbytery—on S.E. respond, traces of
panel with nimbed figure in foreground, probably early
16th-century; on E. face of S.E. pier, traces of landscape with part of doorway and a shield-of-arms above
of Marmion of Oxfordshire quartering Cottesmore (?),
probably early 16th-century. In N. aisle of presbytery
—remains of paint on vaulting including masonrylines on webs. In Lady Chapel—remains of paintings
on mouldings and vault, masonry-lines on E. bay, on
middle bay of vault, eight censing angels, 14th-century.
In S. aisle of presbytery—on vault of E. bay, figures of
two angels, figure playing a musical instrument, two
standing angels in the splayed vault of the E. window
with roundels enclosing shields below, 14th-century;
on vaulting further W. remains of scrolls and masonrylines, probably 13th century. In S. transept—on E.
pier, remains of a series of roundels. In chapter-house
—on vault, remains of foliage-scrolls and much
masonry-lining, in two E. bays, eight painted roundels,
four in each bay, (a) St. Peter, with church and keys,
(b) St. John the Evangelist, with book, (c) St. Matthew,
with book, (d) St. Paul, with sword and book, (e)
angel, (f-h) outlines of roundels only, 13th-century.
Panelling: In Latin Chapel—against N. wall, re-set
early 17th-century panelling. In St. Lucy's Chapel—
against E. wall, thirteen panels, with cusped, crocketted
and panelled heads, divided by buttresses, late 15th-century. Picture: In Latin Chapel—of St. Katherine,
Venetian school, style of Bonifazio Veronese. Piscinae:
In Lady Chapel—in E. wall, recess with moulded jambs
and trefoiled head and shelf, 13th-century. In S. aisle,
of presbytery—in S. wall, recess with hollow-chamfered
jambs and ogee arch in a square head with foliated
spandrels and large paterae, 14th-century, sill modern.
In St. Lucy's Chapel—in S. wall, recess with round
head and round drain, possibly 12th-century. Plate:
(Plates 104, 105) includes a footless paten of 1566, a set
of two cups of 1661, two flagons of 1661, an alms-dish of
1660 and two candlesticks, all given by Dean Fell and
with repousse ornament and the candlesticks each resting
on three lions, paten of 1698, a set of cup and cover-paten, paten and alms-dish of 1699, given by Dr.
William Stratford, canon, in 1729, also two vergers'
staves, surmounted by doves and one of them inscribed
C.ii.R. with the date 1660, etc. Pulpit: (Plate 42) of
oak, hexagonal and panelled in three heights with enriched mouldings, top and bottom range with carved
arabesques in panels, middle range with two richly
carved arches in each bay, central enriched post as
stem with four carved satyrs set against it, sounding-board with panelled and enriched soffit, two enriched
pendant arches on each face, cresting and obelisks at
angles, springing from angels, six crocketted ogee
struts meeting in middle and supporting a pelican,
standard of sounding-board, with two enriched arched
panels and a carved panel above, early 17th-century.
Recesses: In Latin Chapel—in N. wall, with moulded
jambs and ogee head, 14th-century. In S. transept—
in S.W. pier, with chamfered jambs and ogee-head,
probably early 16th-century. In vestry—in N. wall,
two, rectangular, date uncertain. Stalls: In Latin
Chapel (Plate 43)—in seven lengths, fronts of two types,
one with plain panelling, the other with buttresses and
panelling with cusped heads and tracery, standards with
popey-heads (Plate 48), carved with foliage, grotesque
heads, Ihs monogram, a heart, two angels with a cardinal's hat and shield with crossed keys, cardinal's head,
evangelists' symbols and two kneeling figures, stalls at
W. end have moulded divisions and four misericordes
carved with foliage, early 16th-century; two misericordes
and stalls on N.W., probably 14th-century; two 17th or
18th-century iron candlesticks on S.W. stall; on S. side,
vice-chancellor's throne (Plate 47), consisting of a seat
with panelled back, frieze of vine-ornament and a broken
pediment and an enclosed desk with enriched arcaded
panels and a frieze with birds and strapwork, at back,
a standard with a large strapwork-panel, supporting a
semi-hexagonal canopy with an entablature, 17th-century, made up with modern work. Tiles: In
Lady and Latin Chapels—numerous slip-tiles with
ornamental designs, also the arms of the see of Exeter,
a double-headed eagle and lions, probably 14th-century.
In S. transept gallery—similar ornamental tiles, loose.
In passage S. of cloister—in recess on W. side, similar
tiles with a lion, eagle, etc. Miscellanea: In S. transept
gallery—numerous architectural fragments, 12th-century and later; also a large square stone base with a
socket probably for a stone Cross (Plate 9), base sculptured on all four sides with figure-subjects (a) Adam and
Eve with the tree of knowledge, (b) the sacrifice of Isaac,
(c) seated figure with standing figure on each side,
(d) the giving of the Law and the golden calf, carving
much mutilated, late 12th-century. In the garden of
the Archdeacon's house N. of the great quadrangle—
various architectural remains including the top of the
spire, most of one of the stone screens formerly in the
arches of the N. transept, window-heads, panelling
etc.
The Cloister (94 ft. N. to S., alleys 11 ft. wide) was
re-built by Robert Sherborne within ten years after
1489. The W. part of the cloister was destroyed for
Wolsey's building and the N. alley is now of seven
and the S. alley of five bays. Under the range to the
W. is a length of rubble walling (about 77 ft. from the
E. wall of the cloister) which probably represents the
W. wall of the cloister; another 18 ft. further W. is a
second rubble wall probably the W. wall of the W.
range. In the open square of the cloister are
rubble foundations which seem to have nothing
to do with the monastic buildings; their level is so
high, relative to the cloister-plinth, that it seems probable that they represent some projected building of
Wolsey's age, which was to replace the existing cloister.
The arcade-wall of the cloister (Plates 83, 86) is generally
similar on the three surviving sides; each bay has or
had a window of three cinque-foiled ogee lights with
tracery in a four-centred head with a moulded label;
the rear-arches have panelled soffits; the windows have
been more or less restored, the tracery etc. on the E.
being entirely modern; the middle bay on this side
was formerly a doorway; in the W. bay on the S. side
the window has been cut down to form a doorway;
in the fourth bay on the N. side is a modern archway
and the adjoining bays on the W. are largely modern.
Between the windows are two-stage buttresses and
above them, on the N. side, an embattled parapet;
on the E. and S. sides a storey has been added, probably late in the 16th century; it has windows of two
square-headed lights and an embattled parapet. The
cloister was designed to receive a vault which was at
first erected only over the S. and part of the E. alley.
The vault springs from moulded shafts against the
piers and the outer walls, with carved capitals and
moulded bases; flanking the shafts against the arcade-wall are cinquefoil-headed panels. The four N.
windows in the E. alley have cinque-foiled rear-arches.
The whole of the vaulting in the N. alley and that of
the five N. bays of the E. alley is modern. The vaulting
of the rest of the E. and of the S. alley (Plate 163) is
of late 15th-century date; each bay has moulded cross,
diagonal, ridge, subsidiary and wall ribs with carved
bosses at the intersections and short lierne-ribs near
the springing. The bosses are mostly carved with
foliage with numerous human heads or faces; in
addition there are five shields-of-arms, (a) a cheveron
between three birds (?) rising, (b) a cheveron between
two rings in chief and a beast (?) passant in base, (c) three
bars with three roundels in chief, (d) a cheveron between three
bull's heads razed and (e) a fesse indented, also figures of
God the Father with the Agnus Dei, evangelists' symbols, St. Frideswide holding a book, with four nuns,
a wild boar, T-cross, etc. The upper floor of the E. walk
of the cloister has a pent-roof with chamfered beams.
In the E. wall are two 16th-century fireplaces one with
moulded jambs and four-centred arch in a square head
and the other with chamfered jambs and four-centred
head. This and the upper storey of the S. walk have
a two-light square-headed window in each bay.
The E. range of the cloister includes the chapter-house and the former dormitory, now the house attached
to the second stall.
The Chapter House (53½ ft. by 23½ ft.) except for the
12th-century W. wall and part of the N. wall, is a rebuilding (Plate 106) of the first half of the 13th century.
It is of four bays with a quadripartite vault with moulded
cross, diagonal and wall-ribs, with foliated bosses (Plate
107) at the intersections carved also with figures, (a)
Christ in Majesty, (b) the Virgin and Child, (c) probably
St. Frideswide, crowned female figure, (d) a lion with one
head and four bodies. The vault springs from single
shafts in the angles and triple shafts (one filleted) between
the bays, with carved 'stiff-leaf' capitals (Plate 108) and
moulded bases on corbels (Plate 108) carved as follows—
N. side, (a) man's head, (b) king's bust, (c) bust of
canon, (d) grotesque bust, (e) woman's head; S.
side, (a) king's head, (b) woman's bust, (c) bust of
canon, (d) grotesque bust, (e) bishop's head. The E.
window is of five graduated lancet-lights with external
labels, moulded internal reveals and rear-arches springing from attached shafts with foliated capitals and
moulded bases; the three middle lancets have inserted
15th or 16th-century transoms with four-centred heads
below them; on the inner face of the wall is a free
arcade of the same form as the windows and with
shafted jambs, quatre-foiled shafts with rows of dog-tooth ornament, 'stiff-leaf' foliage capitals and moulded
bases; the two middle shafts are tied back to the
outer face of the wall; the outer order of the moulded
arches is carried on moulded corbels, with sprigs of
foliage, over the shaft-capitals; the spandrels (Plate 103)
between this arcade and the vault are carved with scrolled
foliage. Below the E. window is a blocked 16th-century window of two square-headed lights, with
moulded reveals and label. Set against the E. wall,
inside, is the foundation-stone of Wolsey's College at
Ipswich dated 1528 and given to the chapter in 1789.
The first bay of the N. and the two first bays of the S.
wall have each a single lancet-light set in a triple
internal arcade, with moulded and shafted jambs and free
banded shafts, all with foliated capitals and moulded
bases; the splays of the lancet-lights are moulded and
shafted and have foliated capitals and moulded bases.
In the third bay on the S. is a modern doorway and
staircase. In the fourth bay on each side is a square
sunk panel (Plate 108) carved with an angel holding a
shield of (a) the Empire, and (b) Richard, Earl of Cornwall. These panels were brought from Rewley Abbey,
when the L. and N.W. railway-station was built.
The mid to late 12th-century doorway (Plate 106) in the
W. wall has a round arch of four orders, the two innermost have cheveron-ornament continued down the jambs
except for the lowest part where the cutting has not
been finished; the two outermost orders are roll-moulded (the inner with nail-head ornament) and spring
from shafts with hold-water bases, carved foliage
capitals on the N. jamb and scalloped capitals on the
S. jamb; the flat label has an enrichment of small
arches and leaves; the internal face of the doorway is
of three orders, the inner with cheveron-ornament,
the middle plain and the outer moulded and springing
from attached shafts with carved or scalloped capitals,
moulded bases and a label similar to that on the outer
face. Set in the doorway is an early 17th-century oak
frame, fitted with a panelled door of the same age.
Flanking the doorway are two 12th-century windows
considerably restored; they had been transformed into
round windows probably in the 17th century; they
have plain round heads and internal labels, but the
horseshoe form of these is modern. High in the W.
wall is a triplet of restored 13th-century lancet-lights
with shafted splays and moulded rear-arches; the
whole is enclosed under a moulded segmental-pointed
rear-arch springing from shafted splays.
The Old Dorter Range, now the house attached to the
second stall, was perhaps originally a 13th-century
building but has been extensively altered and re-built
in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. It is now of
three storeys with attics; the E. wall has been largely
re-built with re-used masonry but two buttresses may
be mediæval; some of the lower windows and doorways are of the 16th century but the upper windows are
mostly 18th-century insertions or alterations. In the
ground-floor, towards the cloister, there is a sunk
quatre-foiled panel of the 15th century and a doorway
of the same period, with moulded jambs and four-centred arch in a square head with a label and headstops; towards the passage, under the frater-range
are two doorways, the northern blocked and the
southern probably of the 16th century and with a four-centred head; above them is a length of 15th-century
string-course with carved bosses. This passage is
continued to the end of the Dorter range, the part S.
of the frater being of three storeys; in the ground
floor on the W. are two late 15th-century windows
(Plate 129) each of two trefoiled and sub-cusped lights
with vertical tracery in a square head with a label and
defaced angel-stops; these windows probably formed
part of the prior's lodging built by Bishop Sherborne;
the windows above are largely modern. At the S.
end of the passage is a re-set late 15th-century archway
with moulded jambs and four-centred head. Inside
the building, the S. cross-wall on the ground floor has
a late 15th-century doorway with moulded jambs and
four-centred head. On the first floor the main rooms
have been refitted c. 1720; a staircase however incorporates some late 16th-century balusters. On the
second floor one room is lined with panelling of
c. 1600 and has an overmantel of three bays with
terminal figures and arched panels bearing the arms of
Wolsey and two pelicans. The S. staircase is of c.
1700 with twisted balusters and newels with ballterminals. In one of the attics is a 16th-century
fireplace. Included in this range but now approached
from the chapter-house is a room on the first floor,
lined on three sides with late 16th-century panelling,
made up with modern work; the early 17th-century
overmantel rests on fluted pilasters and has enriched
arcaded panels with carved frieze and cornice.
The Frater (80½ ft. by 25½ ft.), later the Old Library
and now rooms, flanks the S. side of the cloister.
It was re-built late in the 15th century and was then of
two storeys; when it became the Library is uncertain
but the small block between it and the great staircase
was added in the 16th century and it was restored in
1613 by Otho Nicholson. After the new library was
built it was converted into rooms and is now of four
storeys; the inserted floors do not, however, interfere
with the original windows on the N. side. On the N.
side (Plate 83) the wall towards the cloister has two
ranges of openings, the upper oval and the lower with
four-centred heads; they are perhaps all of early 17th-century date; in the E. bay is a late 15th-century arch,
with a four-centred head opening into the passage;
in the E. wall of the added block, which occupies the
site of part of the S. walk of the cloister, is a 16th-century doorway of the usual type. The former frater
has four original windows in the N. wall, each of three
cinque-foiled ogee lights with vertical tracery in a
two-centred head with moulded reveals and labels.
The E. wall is partly covered by buildings but above
the passage is the head of a partly restored original
window of ten narrow pointed lights in a four-centred
head. The S. wall is divided into six bays by buttresses; the first free buttress from the E. has corbels
carved with a man and a head, supporting the semi-hexagonal projecting bay of the frater-pulpit; it has
been almost entirely refaced. The windows have also
been restored; they are of 17th or 18th-century date
but in the second bay from the W. are some traces of
the jambs and head of one of the original frater-windows. The W. wall had a large window to the frater;
it is now blocked, but the lines of sill, jambs and two-centred arch are visible; below it are two blocked
doorways, with four-centred heads, opening into the
former screens and monastic kitchen which lay to the
W. and have been destroyed.
Peckwater Quadrangle lies to the N.E. of the main
quadrangle. The new building was begun in 1705
from the designs of Dean Aldrich, but the S. end
of the W. range incorporates earlier work probably
of the 17th century. The building flanks three sides
of the quadrangle and has recently been almost completely refaced; it is of three storeys with a basement
and attics. The elevations (Plate 93) to the courtyard
consist of a rusticated ground-storey surmounted by a
main order of two storeys; this has Ionic pilasters between each bay supporting a continuous entablature and
balustraded parapet; the middle part of each range
projects slightly and has six attached Ionic columns
and a pediment over the entablature; the frieze on
the N. range bears the inscription "Atrii Peckwateriensis quod spectas latus extruxit Antonius
Radcliffe S.T.P. hujusce aedis primo alumnus deinde
canonicus." The windows and doorways on the
ground floor have plain architraves and triple key-blocks; the windows on the first floor have alternate
straight and segmental pediments and the windows
on the third floor are square with architraves. The
same features are carried round the S. ends of the two
side wings, but the back elevations of all three wings
are plainly treated with ashlar walling and unmoulded
openings. The interior is symmetrically divided into
sets of rooms and staircases; many of the main rooms
are lined with original panelling with dado-rails and
cornices and the fireplaces have flat stone surrounds. The staircases have twisted balusters, close
strings and square newels with moulded pendants.
The block adjoining the S.W. angle of the W. range
was built late in the 16th or early in the 17th century,
but the E. and S. fronts and the interior were remodelled
early in the 18th century and the exterior generally
has been largely refaced in recent years. The E.
side has a Renaissance composition ranging with the
main Peckwater building and of two bays with pedimented windows and balustraded parapet; under the
S. end there was formerly a carriage-way now blocked
by a modern addition on the W. The E. archway has
a four-centred arch and an eared architrave, surmounted
by a broken pediment. The W. side of the block
retains much of its original form though the windows
have been fitted with sashes; many of them retain
their moulded jambs and labels. The late 17th or
early 18th-century staircase (Plate 45) in the N.E. angle
of the building has heavy turned balusters and square
newels with ball-terminals. The Library forms an
isolated building on the S. side of Peckwater
Quadrangle. It was begun in 1716 from the design
of Dr. George Clarke, but was not completed till 1761.
It is of two storeys on the N. front with a single order
of Corinthian columns supporting the main entablature; a Doric entablature, at the first floor level, is
supported on pilasters.
The buildings of Canterbury Quadrangle lie immediately
to the E. of the Library. The existing buildings were
begun in 1773 from the designs of James Wyatt, the
gatehouse was finished in 1778 and the S.W. block was
built in 1783. The gatehouse has a round-headed
outer arch flanked by Doric columns supporting an
entablature and attic; the inner arch is flanked by
niches and has a pediment below which is the inscription "Munificentia alumnorum praecipue Ricardi
Robinson Archiep. Armach."
The Outbuilding, N. of the N. range of the main
quadrangle, was built late in the 16th or early in the
17th century. The walls are of rubble and there are
some original windows with elliptical heads to the lights
and later windows with square heads. The roof is of
five bays with heavy tie-beams and curved braces. An
Outbuilding, S. of the S. range of the great quadrangle,
is probably of the 17th century.
Condition—Good.