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cathedral, being my contribution as a Berkshire gentleman." This favour is commemorated in an inscription on the west front of the organ.

Two small porches, one at the north end of the grand transept, and the other on the south side, near the Lady Chapel, were considered as neither adding to the beauty, or to the convenience of the building. They were accordingly taken down, and the walls and buttresses restored. These additions were no part of the original design; for they were obviously of a richer and later style. When taken down, the parts which joined the wall and buttresses of that on the north, were found to be finished in the same manner as the sides exposed to view. † There is now but one north entrance, which is by an original porch, for size and ornament worthy of the rest of the structure. ‡

On this occasion the necessary examination relative to the state of the tower and spire was not omitted. Mr. Wyatt, after plumbing the different parts, as described by Sir Christopher Wren, was of opinion that there had not been the slightest variation, either in the sinking of the four great legs,

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One of these porches has been re-erected in the garden of the College, by H. P. Wyndham, Esq. who bas added to it a kind of spire and pinnacles. Possibly it was at first part of a cross.

From the niches formed on each side within this porch, some have supposed that it was the GALILEE, or place appointed for penitents and those who lay under ecclesiastical censures, and who were not permitted to enter the church. At all events it appears probable from the entries in the Registers relative to the dispute between the archbishop of Canterbury and bishop Waltham, that sentences of excommunication were published before this porch.

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Published 1814 by W Dodsworth Tase Salisbury Me 3Brodie & Dowding Salisbury Murray them'estrat, & Modell & Davies Strand London.

or the decline of the tower and spire, since the survey in 1668. He likewise concluded that Sir Christopher was mistaken in supposing the south-west leg to have sunk seven or eight inches, and that to the north-west half as much. Had this been the case, the consequences must have been much more serious. In fact, the south-west leg has only sunk about five inches, and the north-west about half an inch more. This is evident from the mouldings between the tops of the arches of the side aisles and the vaultings above. The bases of the north-west and south-west piers are indeed as much lower than those of the opposite sides, as Sir Christopher mentions; but he must have overlooked the difference of the level on which these bases were set; those to the east of the transept having been originally so much higher. Of the five inches which these grand legs appear to have settled, Mr. Wyatt attributed two inches to the pressure of the nave and transept; for he found that all the columns between the side aisles and nave, from the western door to the transept, had uniformly sunk about two inches. That they had originally been level was evident, because they are still nearly so at the west end. On the whole he was convinced that no further mischief was to be apprehended from any sinking of the foundation; but, as the means of obviating future danger, he recommended the utmost care in keeping the bandages in repair, and free from rust, as well as the outside stone work both of the tower and spire.*

Among the efforts of a wretched taste, which, in attempting to ornament, had deformed the edifice, were various paintings on the vaultings of the choir and eastern transept. These were erroneously considered as coeval with the building, and consequently highly admired by those who regard

* Communicated by Mr. Wyatt.

But, on

the mere antiquity of an object as a sufficient title to admiration. a close inspection, they were found to conceal lines drawn in imitation of brick work, like those which then remained on the cieling of the nave and the principal transept, and may be still traced in the Chapter House and Cloister. Their antiquity, therefore, was much less remote than was generally supposed. Drawings of these were made for the Society of Antiquaries. Mr. Wyatt judiciously coloured the arches and ribs of the choir like the original stone, and contrasted the ceiling and walls with a lighter tint, which gives every part its due effect. Since his time the same plan has been carried into execution in the nave and principal transept, and the building may be considered as exhibiting nearly the same appearance as when left by the original architect.

It would, however, have afforded but an imperfect gratification to the man of taste, to have improved the interior of the structure, while the church yard itself was left in the most unsightly, not to say disgusting, state. The avenues were indifferent, and after heavy rains difficult to pass; for the water which was conveyed from the roofs ran along open gutters into a large ditch which traversed the church yard, where, in dry seasons, it stagnated and became extremely offensive. Accordingly a new circular underground drain was formed, three feet in diameter, which runs from the west to the east end, and receives all the water from the north side of the church. The ground itself was raised and levelled, and spacious gravel walks were made to the principal entrances. As this operation rendered it necessary to cover the graves, an exact plan of the church yard, with the dates and a reference to each place of interment, is now lodged in the muniment room. The area of the cloister has been since used as a

cemetery.

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