Wanderings in Wessex - An Exploration of the Southern Realm from Itchen to Otter by Edric Holmes
page 22 of 340 (06%)
page 22 of 340 (06%)
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On the wall of the north transept is a large painted figure of St Christopher. The chapel of the Holy Sepulchre (about 1350) stands between the transept and the choir. In the south transept Izaak Walton rests beneath a black marble slab in Prior Silkstede's chantry. The epitaph, written by Bishop Ken, may be quoted: ALAS! HEE'S GONE BEFORE GONE, TO RETURNE NOE MORE; OUR PANTING HEARTS ASPIRE AFTER THEIR AGED SIRE, WHOSE WELL-SPENT LIFE DID LAST FULL NINETY YEARS AND PAST. BUT NOW HE HATH BEGUN THAT WHICH WILL NERE BE DONE: CROWN'D WITH ETERNAL BLISSE, WE WISH OUR SOULS WITH HIS. Near by is an old oak seat used by the monks between the services, and a modern effigy of Bishop Wilberforce which strikes a Victorian note in its general effect. The cathedral treasury was once the repository of Domesday Book, also known as The Book of Winton. Just before the Great War commenced, the costly operation of underpinning the cathedral was brought to a successful conclusion. Much alarm had been felt after the architect's report was made public. There is little doubt that a more or less general collapse of the structure would have occurred had this very necessary operation been long deferred. Large sums were spent in the closing years of the |
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