The Three Choirs: A Handbook to the Cathedrals of Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester / A Complete Description of the Buildings, a History of Each Diocese and Biographical Notices of the Bishops

by R. J. King

On a bracket against the wall adjoining the shrine is a bust of Bishop Field, (died 1636). On the floor is a slab with effigy of John d’Acquablanca, Dean of Hereford, (died 1320). He was the nephew of Bishop d’Acquablanca, whose monument (see post) is close by. Under the north window of the aisle is a stone coffin, found under the centre of the north arch of the tower, during the restoration of the piers. It may be the coffin of Bishop John de Breton, (died 1275).

Under the great north window of the transept is a richly canopied tomb with effigy of Bishop Thomas Charlton, (died 1369). This effigy was not disturbed by Wyatt, and remains in its original position. West of this monument is the effigy of Bishop Westfaling, (died 1602). The canopy was destroyed by Wyatt. This is the bishop who is said so rarely to have smiled after his consecration to the episcopate; (see Pt. II.)

In the pavement adjoining the choir-aisle, a very good small brass has been inserted for John Philips, (died 1708, aged 32,) whose family were natives of Herefordshire, although the poet himself was born at Bampton in Oxfordshire, of which place his father was rector. His principal work, however, “Cider,” belongs essentially to Herefordshire. A monument to Philips was placed in Westminster Abbey by Lord Chancellor Harcourt, and bears an inscription written by Bishop Atterbury.

MONUMENT OF BISHOP D’AQUABLANCA.

(FROM THE NORTH TRANSEPT.) Plate V.

XIII. The north choir-aisle is entered through the original Norman arch; which (together with that opening from the nave-aisle) was cleared by Mr. Cottingham from the masonry with which it had been nearly closed, in order to strengthen the tower piers. Between this aisle and the eastern aisle of the transept is the very beautiful monument of Bishop d’Acquablanca, (1240-1268). [Plate V.] The effigy lies under a canopy supported by light shafts of Purbeck marble. The gables of the canopy are crowned with floriated crosses, the central cross bearing a figure of the crucified Saviour. The monument may be compared with that of Bishop Bridport at Salisbury, (died 1262,) which is, however, far richer and more elaborate. The tomb of Bishop d’Acquablanca was originally richly coloured; and an attempt at restoration was made by an amateur in 1861. It was soon, however, discontinued,—not unwisely, as the commencement remains to prove.

The Norman piers of the choir and the monuments described in § X. should be noticed from the aisle, the pavement of which has been laid in square panels of red and green tiles, with a border of grey stone. In the north wall of the aisle is a series of arched recesses, of Decorated character, with the open-flower ornament in the mouldings, episcopal heads at the crown of the arches, and heads of ecclesiastics at the intersections. In the first of these recesses east of the transept, is an effigy assigned to Bishop Geoffry de Clive, (died 1120). This is one of the series of Perpendicular effigies already noticed, (§ X.) Beyond this recess a door opens to the turret staircase leading to the Archive Room and Chapter Library, (see § XXIII.,) above the north transept. The effigy in the next recess (also Perpendicular) is given to Bishop Hugh de Mapenore, (died 1219). The window above is filled with stained glass, by Clayton and Bell, as a memorial of John Hunt, organist, died 1842, and his nephew James, “who died of grief three days after his uncle;” as appears from an inscription on a small brass plate at the side of the window. Beyond the entrance to Bishop Stanbery’s chapel is an arch open to the chapel itself, under which is a Perpendicular effigy assigned to Bishop Richard, (called “de Capella,”) died 1127.

XIV. Bishop Stanbery’s Chantry (1453-1474) [Plate VI.] is a good example of rich late Perpendicular. It is 16 ft. by 8 ft.; with two windows on the north side, (filled with stained glass, which forms part of the Musgrave memorial; see post,) and on the south the entrance, and the arch with effigy already mentioned. The west end is covered with tracery and shields in panels; and the east has shields with emblems above the place of the altar. The ceiling is richly groined. The grotesque capitals at the angles of the chapel should be remarked; as should the shields with emblems of St. Matthias, St. Thomas, and St. Bartholomew, over the arch on the south side. Other shields bear the arms of the see and of the deanery, with those assigned to St. Ethelbert, and to Leofric of Mercia.