peculiar—north-east of the north transept. Its site was chosen in all probability because St. Etheldreda’s shrine occupied the sacred east end. Walsingham’s great work, however, is the celebrated Octagon.
On the eve of St. Ermenilda’s Day, February 12, 1322, just after the monks had finished matins, the central tower fell and destroyed three bays of the choir. There was no wicked king in this case to blame for the calamity, as was the case with the similar tower built by Simeon’s brother at Winchester (see pages 55-56).
“No one could possibly have been found in the whole kingdom better qualified to cope with the great disaster that took place at Ely in 1322 than the officer of the house who had the special custody of the fabric. The originality and skill with which he designed and carried out the noble work that takes the place of the central tower, which is without a rival in the architecture of the whole world, are beyond all praise. The exquisite work in the Lady-Chapel would in itself have been sufficient to establish Walsingham’s reputation as an architect of the very highest order of merit; but it would have revealed nothing, if it stood alone, of the consummate constructive genius which he displayed in the conception of the octagon.
“The building was begun as soon as the space was cleared. The stonework was finished in 1328, little more than six years after the tower fell. The woodwork of the vaulting and lantern took longer time; but this also was quite complete in 1342. Walsingham had become prior in the previous year. The weight of the lantern, it need hardly be said, is not borne, though it looks like it from below, by the vaulting that we see. There is a perfect forest of oak hidden from sight, the eight great angle posts being no less than 3 feet 4 inches by 2 feet 8 inches in section.
“With such a man as Walsingham on the spot we cannot be wrong in assigning to him the authorship of all the architectural designs that were carried out in his lifetime. It is believed—for the date is not exactly known—that he died in 1364. Besides the Lady-Chapel and Octagon, he must have designed the singularly beautiful bays of the presbytery between the Octagon and Northwold’s work. The exquisite way in which the main characteristics of the Early English work are adapted to the Decorated style demands our highest admiration. The arrangement of the three western bays on each side is exactly like Northwold’s work, while the additional grace and beauty of ornamentation mark the advance in taste that distinguished the Decorated period. Bishop Hotham undertook the whole expense of rebuilding this portion of the cathedral. He did not live to see it completed, as he died in 1337, but he left money for the purpose.”—(W. D. S.)
Walsingham, though elected bishop by the monks, was not confirmed by the Pope. However, when they placed the brass over his resting-place in front of the choir they represented “The Flower of Craftsmen” (Flos operatorum was his epitaph), with mitre and crozier.
Ely suffered less than many churches during the Puritan wars.
The most important work of late years has been the restoration of the octagon and lantern, as originally designed by Alan de Walsingham.
The great West Tower (Early English and Decorated) was built before the Galilee Porch, about the last year of the Twelfth Century. It is surmounted by an octagon with a window of three lights in each face. An octagonal turret ornaments each corner. Windows and arcades mark each story. A fine view of it is obtained from the south side.
The Galilee Porch is one of the finest examples of Early English in existence and is only surpassed by Bishop Hugh’s Choir at Lincoln.