The New Guide to Peterborough Cathedral

onastery, and description of the architectu

r 655, the foundation for a monastic institution was laid at Medeshamstede; that it was completed seven years afterwards;-and was destroyed by fire in 870. The architectural character of the building at this period cannot be strictly ascertained; but, from the accounts given of it by monkish writers, it is supposed to have been of the pure Saxon style. The monas

which was raised upon it;[25] -yet, as we have no definite information respecting the size of the monastery, we must leave it to be imagined by the reader, and p

lthough it offends certain critics, who manifest more prejudice than discrimination in their reprobatory animadversion. That the Normans not only employed a peculiar style and character in the buildings of their own provence, and in England, after they possessed this country, is sufficiently proved by history, by the older edifices still remaining, and by the admission of the best informed antiquaries. It seems to me therefore absurd, as well as false, to say there is no Norman architecture-that the term is misapplied,-that the Normans were incompetent either to invent a novelty in art, or improve upon any thing of their Saxon predec

borough, and afterwards Bishop of Gloucester. "By him the noble west front, which he found in a very ruinous state, was perfectly restored from top to bottom; six-and-thi

ourselves of the excellent remarks made by the Rev. Owen Davys, son of bishop Davys, in his work on the cathedral, and also of the superior talent of a gentleman, formerly wel

rn Ga

e light the chamber over the gateway which occupies the situation of the chapel of St. Nicholas. The lower roof of this gateway is a good specimen of a plain Norman roof, being groined with bold cross ribs. The arcades on the right and left hand, which have lately been very judiciously restored, are also worthy of notice; one of the arches in each arcade is considerably larger than the others, and forms

Becket'

ights, which appear, at first sight, to be Decorated, but, upon further examination, the architectural student will perceive, by a tendency to right lines in the tracery, that they are of Transition character, of which they form good examples. The east window of this chancel is a very good one, it is of five lights, and the tracery is very beautiful, though of a description not at all uncommon; in fact most of the Decorated windows

e Gat

hich is entered on the north and south sides, through fine and lofty arches supported by clustered columns. The bases of all these columns, like those of many others about the remains of this abbey, are covered with soil which the lapse of years has caused to accumulate around them; this of course much diminishes the height of each shaft. This beautiful gateway is flanked at its angles by sq

t F

ly obliterated. It is indeed one of the finest specimens which the universe can produce, of the Pointed style of architecture. As a west front, scarcely any in this kingdom can be brought into comparison with it for beauty of proportion, and elegance of design. The west fronts of th

onsiderably the narrowest, the two side ones being of equal dimensions. These rest on triangular piers faced with shafts. At either extremity of this arcade are two lofty turrets, flanked at the angles by clustered columns, instead of buttre

ing north and south beyond the line of the side aisles. But before this design could be carried into execution, architecture itself had undergone a change; pointed arches were substituted for circular ones, and slender isolated columns for the clustered shaft, or solid cylinder. Hence the difference in style of the tower just referred to: the string moulding at the base of it, together with the superstructure, and the pinnacles

converting the intermediate space into a sort of piazza, by arches constructed in front of the nave and closed in above by a vaulted roof. This idea so unique and at the same time so splendid, he was enabled to realize: and posterity, at the distance of six centuries, beholds with ineffable delight and admiration, a composition, the outlines and details of which, for their beauty and variety, render it one of the noblest facades in existence. Towards the north and south are two lofty turrets, flanked at the angles by clustered shafts, rising from a projecting base and crowned with spires, the height of which from the ground, makes a square with the breadth

nave. Had the architect designed the three arches of equal breadth, the piers which sustain the centre arch must have stood immediately in front of these door-ways,

r inequality in other respects. This inequality has been still further obviated by the erection of a porch, which, after a minute inspection, appears to have been inserted by way of support to the central piers, both of which had previously swerved from the perpendicular, as may still be seen. Over each arch rises a lofty pediment, bounded by the wave and billet

capitals, and lined with the dog-toothed quatrefoil. The outer moulding of the central circle is composed of closely compacted trefoils, that of the others has the wave ornament. At the base of each circle is a series of trefoil arches, rested on isolated columns, four of which admit light into an apartment above the vaulting, and three contain statues. Th

are two lofty pointed arches resting on slender pillars. In the second stage are four trefoil arches similarly supported; this range is continued round the facings of the inner wall immediately over the doorways, and forms the base of the windows. The

ued round the front, the transepts, and the base of the north-west tower, together with the more modern base towards the south. In the fifth stage are four trefoil arches, like those of the second stage: these lie parallel with those at the base of the pediments, already described, and with those also of the side transepts. The sixth stage contains four long and narrow pointed arches, having corbe

ings and intersections: the pinnacles at the angles are hexagonal, corbelled at the

ach angle, surmounted also by a pediment, with a quatrefoil in the spandril, connects them with the spire in the centre, and sustains a lofty triangular pinnacle, which, like the pediments below, is decorated with crockets and a finial. In this respect the south spire differs from the other, which has no co

nd alterations which the whole front appears to have undergone when the appendage was inserted; and when the central window of the nave was enlarged, and that, and the others which now enliven the inner wall, were filled with perpendic

empannelled with niches. Besides these, the porch is flanked with staircases, one on each side, forming three parts of an octagon, and leading to an apartment now used as a library. The summit is closed with an embattled parapet, having a ped

with the piazza formed by the great arches and piers of the front, and keeping up the communicat

-those of the side aisles into three lights, both under cinquefoil arches, and the lancet windows of the transepts into two lights, under trefoil ar

. The central door-way is divided by a pillar, rising from a carved cylindrical base into two smaller arches; but the whole design and

s above are composed, cannot be too closely examined, or too much admired. This is that peculiar style of gothic architecture, in which the beauty of the pointed arch, with its accompaniments is best discerned; and, therefore, it is that judges are

these are so eclipsed by the grandeur in its leading features, that the eye takes in the whole as a single conception, and overlooks, in its contemplation of such a magnificent association of objects, the marks of difference that exist b

y and

leads into the deanery, which is a fine specimen of architecture, and bears the monogram of its

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orth, east

s we turn the eastern end of the building, we catch a glimpse of the ruins of the infirmary and great hall, with their magnificent arches and ivy clad columns. Proceeding round to the southern side of the cathedral, we enter the square, where are the ruins of the cloisters, through a fine old door-way with a pointed arch, surmounting others of a circular form, and enriched with sculptural mouldings and figures. The southern and western walls of the cloisters remain, and contain a singular variety of tracery, mouldings, columns, and door-ways. Two door-ways to the southern aisles of the nave are al

Dime

ts of the Cathedra

easuring from corner to corner o

de of it, is 471 feet. In this measurement are included

oor of the cathedral to the organ screen a

reen to the altar

38 feet. So that the distance from the w

or transepts within, including th

m the south wall to the north wall, is 78 fee

e to its painted wooden r

the church is 135 feet. The whole

arch at the west front o

nnacle at the corners of the west front is 156 fee

ior of th

eauty. The great pictured roof or ceiling in the nave of the church, is a curious specimen of fanciful ingenuity. The divisions are of a diagonal form fi

ginal walls,-excepting indeed the exterior walls of the triforium, which appear to have been raised, and a new roof formed when some great alterations were made to the church. On the eastern side of the transept is an aisle, the southern division of which is

this building. It "is open to the vaulted r

mpartments by thin ribs. Over the altar end it is painted with an emblematical representation of Christ as a vine, and his disciples the branches. The remaining portion of the roof,

which it belonged." At the suggestion, and under the immediate patronage of the then dean and chapter, a subscription was entered into for the purpose of erecting a new choir and organ screen; a

elds in the spandrils, which, together with the rainbow hues of the organ pipes, give it an appearance rather offensive to

o the choir is a brass plate w

h

N SC

th

ND ALTA

ted a.d.

bscri

rs of this cat

abitant

hbourhood of

n

of ecclesiastic

he ausp

. JAMES HENR

e

ew Pu

of the four evangelists. The three panels are richly carved, and in the centres are cut the figure of a lamb, a Norman cross, and the letters I.H.S. Greek marble has been employed as pillars for the stair rails, along which and around the upper part of the pulpit is Devonshire marble. The following inscription inlaid with gold is cut in the Greek mar

ume

in the centre aisle of the choir, from which the daily lessons are read; an ancient stone at the east end of the building, till lately supposed to be commemorat

f the cathedral, Catherine of Arragon, who died at Kimbolton Castle, in 1536; and Mary Queen of Scots, who was executed at Fotheringhay Castle f

of the prebendal gardens, where it was placed upon the base of an old Norman pillar, and used for holding flowers, but was removed by Dr. Monk, when dean of Peterborough, to the chapterhouse. The celebra

COND TO NONE FOR STRENGTH AND STVRDYE LIMM A SCAREBABE MIGHTY VOICE WITH VISAGE GRIM HEE HAD INTERD TWO QVEENES WITHIN THIS PLACE AND THIS TOWNES HOVSE HOLDERS IN HIS LIVES SP

n the wall is a neat marble tablet to the Rev.

t Andreas, and two of his predecessors

s quibus est pri

us, Andreas

ulus; pro claus

a free translat

ts, of whom the f

artin, the

ncloses]; therefore for t

to the memory of Mary, the wi

agistrate of this city, and steward to the Rev. the Dean

se, founded by king Peada, are the statues o

oots and crosier, were found by some workmen when making a foundat

and remained for twenty-five years, when it was disinterred and removed to Westminster Abbey, by order of her son,

t hand, to the memory of Joseph Stamford, who died in 1683; and

Lockier, who died 1740; and below, a small tablet to J

e building know

ew Bu

respects, as well as in the general aspect of its details, this building so nearly resembles the noble chapel of King's College, Cambridge, as to warrant the supposition that they were both erected from the designs of one architect. The New Building is lighted by thirteen very fine windows, two of which are filled with modern painted glass. The space belo

autiful marble monument, erected by Sir Humphrey Orme, the

r son John William Owen; underneath which is a black tablet, surmounted by a shield, bearing a coat of arm

ian order; on which is a portraiture of the gentleman for whom it was erected, lying on his left s

ch he fairly acquired, and increased by an honest industry, and managed with excellent prudence, and disposed of to laudable purposes. His charity (even in the time of his life) was very large, extensive, and exemplary; of which he has left a lasting monument in this city, by founding a charity school, and endowing it with a freehold estate, of above o

njugal affection, Mary, his sorrowful rel

n the front of the tomb, is

es. She gave also to Fleet ￡250, for founding a charity school in that parish. To the poor of this city, she extended her daily bounty, so private as not to be told; so large as not to be equalled; to which

ary, the mother of the Rev. J. S. Pratt, formerly a prebendary of this c

D.D., forty-five years archdeacon of this diocese, and for near

ix bishops, viz.:-Cumberland, Kennett, Hinchcliffe, Madan, Marsh and Davys; ta

pposed to be that of Abbot Will

some marble monument to Bishop Cumberland, great gr

ife; near which, is a monument erected to his intimate friend William Tournay, D.D., also a prebendary of thi

of an ancient shrine, suppo

le tablet to Louisa

f the choir, is a splendid monument to Richard T

who died March 25th, 1642; above which is an epitaph to Dorothy, the wife

to that in the south aisle, with a small brass inscr

is a monument by the celebrated Gibb

an, prebendary of this church, who, having by all christian virtues and good qualities, been an ornament to her worthy family, and an honour to all her relations in her life, resigned up her soul to God with admirable patience at h

of this cathedral, chaplain to Charles II., and

he Rev. John Workman, M.A., formerly a prebenda

Rowles, of Washingley, and

ry of this cathedral, and Susannah, his wife, who liv

William Waring, A.M., formerly master of t

other representing St. Peter's deliverance from prison. In the north-east corner is a tablet to the Rev. John Stevens, A.M., rector of Folksworth, Hunts.; and in the centre of the east wall is a stained glass window,

Or

swell, ten in the choir, eight in the pedal organ, and six couplers. These improvements were made by H. P. Gates, Esq., of the Vineyard, and are commemorated by a brass plate on the south side of the organ, inscribed as follows: "To the praise and glory of God and memory of John and Frances Gates, this organ was

Ch

nd near Cambridge; the rest that we have mentioned, is oak, very finely carved in the decorated style of architecture. The bishop's throne especially, with its ogee canopies, and elegant and almost f

ith the names of all the Abbots, Bishops, and Deans from the foundation

Abbots of th

te of their

654 Acha

73 Robert of

s Alexa

tin of R

ter St. Ed

William H

Iohn de

72 Robert

2 Richard of

William of

Godfrey of

1063 Adam

66 Henry

069 Robert

98 Henry of

1103 Nich

07 Willielm

ury 1114 Johan

geli 1128 Rich

cti 1133 Willi

rville 1155 Rob

1177 Iohn C

eas

the last Abbot and

Bishops of P

te of their

. 1541 Richard Cum

d. 1556 White K

.d. 1560 Robert Cl

d.d. 1584 Iohn

. 1600 Richard T

d.d. 1630 Robert

d.d. 1632 Iohn Hi

d. 1634 Spencer

d. 1638 John Pa

.d. 1660 Herbert

d.d. 1663 George

d. 1679 Francis

1685 William Conn

of London, was presented to that living, when Mr. Davys became curate of Swaffham Prior; he afterwards removed to Kensington, and was appointed tutor to the Princess Victoria. Shortly after this he was presented to the rectory of All-Hallows, London, and in 1831 to the deanery of Ches

en he was nominated to the Deanery of Jersey, and the Rectory of St. Heliers. In 1843 he was elected to the Mastership of Pembroke College, with a canonry at Gloucester annexed, and almost immediately afterwards he was presented by the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester to the Rectory of Taynton. In 1850 he was appointed one of Her Majesty's Commissioners of Inquiry for the University of Oxford, and in 1859 was elected Vice-Cha

Mr. Magee received deacon's orders at the hands of the Bishop of Chester, and in the following year was ordained priest by the Bishop of Tuam. His first curacy was that of St. Thomas, Dublin, which he was obliged to resign through ill health, and after a two years' residence abroad he accepted a curacy at St. Saviour's, Bath, in 1848. Two years later he was appointed to the joint incumbency of the Octagon Chapel, Bath. During his residence in Bath, Mr. Magee published two volumes of sermons. In 1859 he was nominated an Hon. Canon of Wells Cathedral, and received the d

Deans of P

te of their

.d. 1541 Richard

.d. 1543 Samuel F

.m. 1551 White

d. 1558 Richard R

d.d. 1560 Willi

d.d. 1585 Iohn M

d. 1590 Francis

d. 1598 Iohn Th

d.d. 1608 Rober

.d. 1612 Charles

d. 1616 Charles M.

d.d. 1622 Peter

. 1630 Thomas Ki

.d. 1638 James He

. 1640 Thomas T

d.d. 1660 George

1664 Augustus P.

9 J. J. Stewart P

was Tyrwhitt's Hebrew Scholar. Eight years afterwards he took the degree of B.D., having in the meantime been ordained deacon in 1847 and priest in the same year that he took his master's degree. In 1855 he was appointed examining chaplain to the Bishop of Norwich, and was made prebendary of S. Andrew's and canon of Llandaff cathedral in 1869. In 1872 he became pr?lector in Theology of Trinity College, Cambridge, and in 1873 took his degree of D.D., and became Fellow of Trinity College. In 1875 Her Majesty was pleased to graciously appoint him one of her hon. chaplains, and in the same year he was appointed Hulsean Professor of Divinity. In 1851 and 1852 he was examiner for the Classical Tripos at Cambridge, and select preacher before the University on several different occ

RINTER, MARKET-PL

BOOKS

ISHE

ER, Printer

ACE, PETE

ery Rev. J. J. Stewart Perowne, D.

n by the Very Rev. J. J. St

y the Rev. Brooke Foss Westcott, D.

Perowne, D.D., Dean; "The Word of God," by the Rev. B. F. L. Blunt, M.A., Vicar of Scarborough; and "Preparation," b

and Monastic History. By Thomas Craddock. Fcap.

THEDRAL. By G. S. Phillips.

a sketch of his life. The work is illustrated by four photographs from scarce engravings, sho

Thorney Abbeys. By the Rev. W. D. Sweeting, M.A., Head Master of the King's School, Peterborough, Illustrate

Fletton, Glinton, Helpstone, Marholm, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville, Paston, Peakirk, Stanground, Thorpe, Watern

in verse. By Rev. A. S. Newman, M.A. Cro

the Rev. W D. Sweeting, M.A., wi

s found in the neighbourhood of Peterb

use of Junior Classes, Book

r Village Choirs. By John Speechley, late O

of Schools, with rules for mental accounts.

collection of Poems suitable for Home and Schoo

in Peterboro' Cathedral, wi

ed on side,

evelled

on side, red ed

o limp, gilt

p, gilt or

mp, gilt or

key Moro

CATHEDRAL. In various size

eeting's "Notes on Parish Churche

52 Neighbouring Places, with

OCK BOOKS

SURVEYOR'S BO

t to Landlord or Landl

al, Banns of Marriage, and Marriage

NOTICES.

RMS. BANKR

Strongly bound. 100 pa

BOOK. To commence at any time

In red and black.

For letting Unfur

IPT

in, 1/-; Coloured, 1/6; Mounted on Cloth in c

APP

es, together with the amount of the donation, may be entered. It will be seen that the need of Restoration is urgent, the central tower being much shattered, and its south-eastern pier presenting a very unsightly appearance.

ors in aid of the Restoration, because the Cathedral is open free of all charge throughout the day

tno

Ret

is History of Peterborough Cathedral, viz.-"Mede or Mead, a meadow; ham, a shel

Ret

1820, a dagger was found, which is supposed to have belonged

Ret

Norman, and not a Saxon work, and some centuries later in date than the massacre of the monks. He considers that the figures are not martyred monks with their abbot, but Christ and his eleven disciples. It has been further conjectured by Canon Westcott th

Ret

this prince, and of the extraordinary miracles said to have been performed by his remains after death,

Ret

hat Hereward, knowing the disposition of the Norman abbot would lead him to enrich himself at the expense of the monastery, took this means of removing temptatio

Ret

ord, signifying to sta

Ret

required to bring his church key to the sacrist of the monastery, yearly,

Ret

holas near it;" but Gunton is doubtless corr

Ret

the land, he let it to him with the understanding that, instead of his paying four stones of wa

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th holy oil, should be dedicated within two years.-See B

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y Chapel through a door, on the right side of which was a sma

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stones are still remaining in Spittle-field. It was left by

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he abbot did not make a similar offer to his companion; Godfre

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s, "It was granted by charter of the abbot, and presents many curiosities-mentioning particularly the ab

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e sessions at Peterburgh bef

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The Lady Chapel. A building of corresponding

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le and gentlemanly conduct, secured the good esteem of Mary. At a later period, a little before the queen was executed, she presented him with a p

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inke it inconvenient that ye monument and hir body should be in severall places, we have ordered that hir said body remayning now interred in that our Cathedrall Church of Peterborough shalbe removed to Westminster to hir said monument; and have committed ye care and chardg of ye said translation of hir body from Peterborough to Westminster to ye reverend father in God our right trusty and wel beloved servant ye Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, bearer hereof, to whom wee require you (or to such as ye shall assigne) to deliver ye corps of our said deceased mother, ye same being taken up in a decent and respectfull manner as is fitting. And for that there is a pall now upon ye hearse over hir grave which wilbe requisite to be used to cover hir

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pulled down), rescued it again by the offer of ten shillings, 'for that old latin bible' as he called it, and about which he pretended to enquire. The name of the bible by the help of the ten shillings, preserved this precious treasure from the flames, whither it was going, as Mr. Austin hath left a record in the beginning of the book; with a copy of the soldier's acknowledgement:-'This booke was hide in the Church by me Humphrey Austin; February, 1642. And found by one of Coll. Cromwelle souldyers when they pul'd down all the seats in the quire, April 22th, 1643. And I

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its choir, was remarkably fine, that its windows of painted glass were of a most superb description, and that, in the number, and beauty of its monuments and brasses, it excelled most of the other churches of the realm. Its central tower, though then in an incomple

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access and deportment of that beast. Presently comes Prince Wulfade, and enquired of St. Chad concerning the hart, who answered, That he was not a keeper of beasts, but the souls of men, and that Wulfade was then, as an hart to the water brooks, sent by God to the fountain of living water: which Wulfade hearing with astonishmen

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fury against the sons, King Wolfere, the father, watching the time when his sons were gone to pray, followed them, and entering the oratory, slew both his sons with his own hand; and he, and Werbode demolishing the place, left the

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nton says, "St. Chad had his cell in the county of Stafford, was the first bishop of Lichfield, where he founded the cathedral church, and there lieth buried." And this

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cepting one or two, which are composed of fragment

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of, Peada laid such stones, as that eight

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athedral Church of P

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, afterwards bis

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ural Account of Pet

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two door-ways to the southern aisle of the nave, both having

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12th century. It is worthy of remark, that one door-way in the wester

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t page 4 of

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e; but, being much dilapidated, they were in the time of Dean Monk, taken do