In the chapel, on the north side (which was perhaps dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr), was formerly, as shown in the plan by Brown Willis, the Blackleech monument, now in the south transept.
When the Benson screen was put up three Abbots were found interred in their robes, and another coffin with two skulls in it. This fact gave a possible clue to the identity of one of the Abbots. One probably was Abbot Gamage, and the two skulls probably belonged to his brother, Sir Nicholas Gamage, and his wife, who were buried near the Abbot.
The present Organ was built originally during 1663-1665 by Thomas Harris, the father of the celebrated Renatus or René Harris, and the cost was defrayed by public subscription, to which, however, the inhabitants of Gloucester contributed but little. The contract was for the sum of £400, exclusive of the sum for the building of the organ-loft, and the decoration of the pipes and the case. The gilding and painting was entrusted to Mr Campion in November 1664, and the work was finished in December 1666. This artist was celebrated as a painter of heraldic subjects, and the work done by him, chiefly on the large pipes of the Great, is particularly beautiful.
The shield, which has been removed from the west front of the case, was undoubtedly that of Charles II., and two of the large pipes facing the nave bear the letters C.R., with a crown over them. Other arms represented are those of James, Duke of York (king in 1685), and his first wife, Anne Hyde.
The organ was repaired by Bernhard Schmidt before 1683. It was formerly in the gallery of the south transept, over the stalls, but was placed on its present screen in 1820 by Dr Griffiths.
It was improved by Willis in 1847, and again in 1888-89, and further additions are contemplated. The case is of oak, and is a fine piece of Renaissance work. A good view of it can be obtained from the triforium, looking across from south-east to north-west.
The following is a specification (kindly sent by Mr A. H. Brewer, the organist of the cathedral), from which it will be seen that the instrument is worthy of the cathedral:
| GREAT ORGAN. | ||
| CC to A, 58 Notes. | ||
| 1. | Double Open Diapason | 16ft. |
| 2. | Open Diapason, No. 1 | 8ft. |
| 3. | Open Diapason, No. 2* | 8ft. |
| 4. | Claribel Flute | 8ft. |
| 5. | Flute Harmonique | 4ft. |
| 6. | Principal | 4ft. |
| 7. | Twelfth | 3ft. |
| 8. | Fifteenth | 2ft. |
| 9. | Mixture | |
| 10. | Trombone | 16ft. |
| 11. | Trumpet | 8ft. |
| 12. | Clarion | 4ft. |
| SWELL ORGAN.† | ||
| CC to A, 58 Notes. | ||
| 13. | Double Open Diapason | 16ft. |
| 14. | Open Diapason* | 8ft. |
| 15. | Vox Angelica | 8ft. |
| 16. | Salcional | 8ft. |
| 17. | Lieblich Gedact | 8ft. |
| 18. | Gemshorn | 4ft. |
| 19. | Fifteenth | 2ft. |
| 20. | Mixture | |
| 21. | Contra Posaune‡ | 16ft. |
| 22. | Hautboy | 8ft. |
| 23. | Clarionet | 8ft. |
| 24. | Cornopean | 8ft. |
| 25. | Clarion | 4ft. |
| CHOIR ORGAN. | ||
| CC to A, 58 Notes. | ||
| 26. | Stopped Diapason | 8ft. |
| 27. | Dulciana | 8ft. |
| 28. | Flute | 4ft. |
| 29. | Clarionet | 8ft. |
| 30. | Cor Anglais‡ | 8ft. |
| SOLO ORGAN.$ | ||
| CC to A, 58 Notes. | ||
| 31. | Flute | 8ft. |
| 32. | Clarionet | 8ft. |
| 33. | Oboe Orchestral | 8ft. |
| 34. | Tuba Mirabilis | 8ft. |
| PEDAL ORGAN.@ | ||
| CCC to F, 30 Notes. | ||
| 35. | Open Diapason | 16ft. |
| 36. | Bourdon | 16ft. |
| 37. | Ophicleide‡ | 16ft. |
| 38. | Octave‡ | 8ft. |
| COUPLERS. | ||
| 39. | Choir to Pedals. | |
| 40. | Great to Pedals. | |
| 41. | Swell to Pedals. | |
| 42. | Solo to Pedals.‡ | |
| 43. | Choir to Great. | |
| 44. | Swell to Great. | |
| 45. | Solo to Great.‡ | |
| * Stops so marked are by Harris, 1660. † The swell organ was added by Willis in 1847. ‡ Stops so marked were added in 1898. $ The whole of the solo organ was added by Willis in 1898. @ Up to within the last fifteen years there was but one stop on the pedal organ. |
The Choir, of the beauty of which but little idea can be obtained from the nave, is entered by visitors, as a rule, from the north aisle of the choir. Its dimensions are—Length, 140 feet; breadth, 33 feet 7 inches; height, 86 feet; east window, 38 feet wide and 72 feet in height.