among which we may observe the ornament called the mask, the only example of that form to be found in the cathedral.” This porch is the work of Gower, and the peculiar mouldings are readily traceable to the same artist who designed the rood-screen. Scraps of the previous Norman doorway, which was done away with by Gower, are still to be seen in the plinth. At one time there were five steps in the porch, but these were removed in 1885. The entrance to the upper chamber (added by Vaughan, c. 1515) is obtained from the nave by a turret-stair, and the room is now used as a clerk-of-work’s drawing office.
In 1849 Butterfield renewed the tracery of the aisle windows as it originally was in Decorated times, but it is not very attractive.
The Clerestory is Norman, of ashlar work, and the windows are rather wide, stumpy, and round-headed, with flat pilaster-like buttresses between each pair. But the restoration has deprived the exterior of much of its interest, although one can easily imagine that those of the next century will enjoy a very pleasing contrast between the purples of the Caerfai buttresses and the yellows of the window dressings, which are of Somersetshire oolite.
The South Transept still retains the outline of the arch of the great south window which was blocked up when the four existing Perpendicular windows of four lights each were inserted. A double buttress supports the south-east corner of the transept, and behind this is the present Chapter House.
The East End.—The south Presbytery aisle was put into proper repair at the time of the general restoration, and new windows were inserted. The upper tier of windows at the east end of the Presbytery have been well restored also by Scott, and his own description[5] may well be given:
“In restoring the eastern arm of the church, a question arose which, though but slightly suggested in my first Report, grew upon my mind as we proceeded to such a degree, that it was more than a twelvemonth before I could make up my mind as to which course to take. The case was this:
“This wall of the church had originally side walls, much lower than at present, with a high-pitched roof, and was constructed with some view to stone groining, though it is clear that this was never carried out, and was, in fact, deliberately relinquished.
“The east end had two ranges of windows, three most magnificent lights below and four above.
SOUTH DOORWAY.