To the north of the cloisters was the square occupied by the college; on the north side of which, again, was the principal entrance. And on the south side of the square stood the chapel of which we now see the remains, showing that it must have been a very fine building of its kind. The elegance of the proportions and subtlety of the detail betray the hand of a very skilful architect. The dimensions of the chapel are 69 ft. × 23 ft. 9 in. × 45 ft. high. It was lit by three windows in each side 24 ft. × 9 ft. broad each, and the east window must have been a grand affair, as it occupies the whole of the east wall. The tower is 70 ft. high, to the north of which are the remains of the Infirmary.[89]
The cathedral cloisters, unlike most English cathedrals, never had an alley next the church, and it is most probable that no cloister existed before the time of Bishop Houghton.
But so fragmentary are the remains of the cloister and so complete its destruction that we will only give a brief outline of its state as inferred by Freeman, that the visitor may understand the ruins.
A reference to the plan will best locate the cloister, but it will be noticed that the massive western buttresses, which take the thrust of the nave, show traces of the cloister wall. Also the wall-arcade and vaulting-springers are visible on the south wall of the chapel of St. Mary’s. The sacristy to the chapel, which has a piscina, was over the eastern alley, and under this can be seen the lines of four bays of the cloister and part of a fifth. Apparently the east side of the cloister was never completed, as the buttresses show no sign of additions; therefore, although a covered way was obtained between the cathedral and college, the north door remained as a separate entrance from the prebendal and other houses.
The crypt[90] on which the chapel stands is roofed with a simple elliptical barrel-vault and rear arches of small lights cut into it on the northern side. Below the tower was the cloister entrance, but the steps up to the chapel have quite disappeared. The landing at the top of these steps and two bays to the north formed an ante-chamber to the chapel, and a turret-stair on the northern or garden side led down to the domestic buildings as well as to a room over the vestibule. This room had two windows, one of which looked into the chapel, as at St. Cross. It will thus be seen that there could not have been a west window.
The chapel is in four bays, but as the eastern bays were utilised, on the north by the existing recess for the founder’s tomb and on the south by the sacristy, there are only three windows. The great east window—as well as others—was denuded of much ashlar-work and tracery to help in Nash’s extraordinary concoction the west window of the cathedral.[91] This great east window filled up almost the whole of the wall, and must have been a fine example of the best sort of Perpendicular. Indeed, it would not be impossible to reconstruct it even now.
There is a legend (found by Browne Willis in an Elizabeth manuscript) that Houghton was excommunicated by the Pope Clement, and that he retaliated by returning the compliment, and further pictorially displayed the event in stained glass.[92] Clement died, however, in 1352, before Houghton was made bishop, but was succeeded by Innocent VI. The names may thus have got confounded, or the Pope may have been the Anti-Pope, Robert of Geneva, known at Avignon as Clement VII. Although the story is of doubtful authenticity it is quite in accord with Houghton’s vigorous character, being as he was the friend of Chaucer and John of Gaunt. He also established several ordinances for the diocese, which shows that he was no mere figure-head. He held the office of chancellor for two years.[93]
The tower of the chapel—the only part yet undescribed—was evidently designed for a broached spire, as is shown by the squinches within. But a settlement, owing to the close proximity of the river, evidently not only prevented further weights being imposed, but caused the south-west angle buttress to be added which is so prominent (vide p. 82).
Of the collegiate domestic buildings there only remain a few vaults, except a single entrance, with a four-centred arch, to the north.