A door on the platform above the steps descending to the transept opens to what was originally the east chapel of the transept itself. The arrangement resembled that of the south-east chapel. The arch of entrance from the transept (transitional Norman, and pointed) remains, walled up. Under the three eastern windows is a rich Perpendicular reredos, with three niches for figures.
XVI. The triforium of the choir is reached by the staircases at the angles of the transepts, and through the open arcade at their north and south sides. The triforium originally extended quite round the choir, the whole width of the choir-aisles, opening into chapels corresponding with those below. With the exception of the east end—between the south-east and north-east chapels—it remains entire; of late Norman character, with some alterations made during the Decorated period.
In the chapel above the south transept the Norman windows have been replaced by Decorated, enriched with the ball-flower. The double piscina in the small window, and the brackets for figures, with rich canopies, are Decorated, and deserve notice. Looking toward the transept, the manner in which it was re-cased is here readily seen. The circular Norman arch of the triforium encloses a pointed arch, with shafts at the angles. This arch is crossed by the ribs of the screen-work. In this part of the triforium is preserved an ancient painting on panel, representing the Last Judgment. It dates apparently from the end of the fifteenth century, but is of no very great interest.
The massive piers of the triforium above the choir-aisle remain unaltered. The arches are crossed with Perpendicular tracery. The south-east chapel opens
PLANS OF TRIFORIUM AND CRYPT, GLOUCESTER.
above the corresponding chapel in the aisle: it is plain Norman, with late windows inserted.
The manner in which the east end of the choir was re-constructed, to admit of the insertion of the great east window, and to allow of its being wider than the original walls of the choir, is best seen from this point. The eastern piers of the choir, and the portion of the triforium above, were entirely removed; but the Norman eastern chapel (corresponding to those south-east and north-east) was allowed to remain entire, both in the triforium and below. The last bay of the choir was extended laterally, so as to admit the light freely from the great window; and as access to the eastern chapel was cut off by the removal of the triforium, it became necessary to construct the passage at the back of the window, known as the “Whispering Gallery.” Here three flying buttresses should be remarked, which spring from the outer walls of the cathedral at the bend of the apse, and meet in a point behind the wall of the choir. These really sustain the weight above the triforium, so that the slight Perpendicular pier below (§ XIII.) is not called upon to do more than half the duty. In the Whispering Gallery much Norman stone-work has been re-used—a practice of common occurrence throughout the cathedral. Sound is transmitted through this gallery, which is 75 ft. long, 3 ft. wide, and 8 ft. high, in a remarkable manner. The lowest whisper, or the slightest scratch with a pin, is distinctly heard from one end to the other. The chapel into which it opens was part of the Norman chapel, altered on the building of the Lady-chapel, into which it looks. In it is a stone altar—perhaps that of the Norman chapel.
