WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL, HAMPSHIRE. THE Cathedral of Winchester is generally esteemed one of the most interesting buildings in England, whether considered with respect to the antiquity of its foundation, the importance of the transactions that have taken place there, or the characters of the personages with whose mortal remains it is hallowed. It is also curious as an instructive example of architecture, whether of Saxon, Norman, or English style. The structure erected by the Saxon kings Kinegils and Kenewalch is entirely destroyed, but of that built by Ethelwold the crypt beneath the high altar is yet remaining. The walls, the pillars, and the groining of this crypt are still in nearly their original state, and are, as Mr. Milner observes, "executed in a fine and bold, though simple and unadorned manner, that gives no contemptible idea of Saxon art. The Saxon church built by Kenewalch," continues the same gentleman, "did not extend so far towards the west, probably by 150 feet, as Walkelin afterwards built it. In consequence of this scale of the ancient church, its high altar, tower, transcept, and the habitations of the monks, were consi derably more to the east than they were afterwards WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL. placed. Walkelin began his work by taking down all that part of the church that was to the west of the aforesaid tower, in the place of which he built up from the foundations the present large and massive tower, which hence bore his name; the lofty capacious north and south trancepts, and the body of the church of the same height with them, and reaching to the full extent of the present fabric. He also built new cloisters, and all the other offices requisite for a cathedral monastery, in the situation which they ever afterwards held, on the south-west side of the church." Walkelin's buildings were completed in the year 1093, in the course of which all the offices that were left standing of the ancient monastery, and whatever else remained of the old church, except the high altar and the eastern aisles, were taken down, and in the next year the old high altar appears to have been removed, as the relics of St. Swithin, and other saints were then found under it. Abundant "The specimens of the work of Walkelin yet remain. most conspicuous of these," observes Mr. Milner," is the square massive tower, 140 feet high and fifty feet broad, which is seen at the present day in as perfect and firm a state, to all appearance, as when it was built 700 years ago, and which was celebrated, in ancient times, for being the firmest in all England." Numerous remains of antiquity in Winchester Cathedral will be given in our future numbers, and the present descriptive matter continued. |