XVIII. An ascent of five steps (rendered necessary by the height of the crypt below; see § XXVI.) leads to the Lady-chapel, [Plate VIII.]; very rich Early English, and dating from the first half of the thirteenth century, (circ. 1220). It is 45 ft. by 24, and consists of three bays, in each of which, on either side, (except where the bay on the south side is filled by the Audley Chantry,) are two large windows. When Professor Willis made his report in 1841, the eastern gable of this chapel (then used as the Chapter Library) was in a state of “ruinous disintegration;” and one of the first works entrusted to Mr. Cottingham was the rebuilding of this eastern end. The pavement of the Lady-chapel, and other restorations, have happily been completed under the direction of Mr. G. G. Scott.
At the east end are five narrow lancets, set back within arches resting on clustered shafts, and much enriched with the dog-tooth ornament. The wall above these windows is pierced with five foiled openings; of which the three central are oval, the exterior on either side circular. The windows have been filled with stained glass designed by Cottingham and executed by Gibbs, as a memorial to the late Dean Merewether,—to whom the cathedral is so greatly indebted,—who is interred at the north-east angle of the chapel. The subjects commence with the early life of the Virgin, and proceed through that of our Lord, terminating with the supper in the house of Mary and Martha. The glass is good, but suffers from the want of white and neutral tints.
A black marble slab, with a brass plate by Hardman, has been placed over the grave of Dean Merewether. The inscription bears record that “to the restoration of this cathedral he devoted the unwearied energies of his life till its close on the 4th of April, 1850.”
The very rich clustered shafts and arches of the side windows should be especially noticed. The capitals of the shafts are of Early English leafage; and there are small heads at the intersections and crowns of the arches. A circle enclosing a quatrefoil pierces the wall above these windows. The vaulting is plain quadripartite, and springs from shafts which descend upon a base raised slightly above the pavement.
The modern pavement of the Lady-chapel is laid with red and green tiles, in large square panels. The whole design is broad and good in outline; and is somewhat richer at the altar end, which is raised on one step. The aumbry and double piscina on the south side of the altar are reproductions of the originals, which were in a state of extreme decay. Of the two stained windows on the south side, the most eastern (of late fourteenth-century character) was removed from St. Peter’s Church in Hereford, and was given to the cathedral by the late R. B. Phillipps, Esq. The window below is filled with Munich glass.
In the central bay on the north side of the chapel is a very fine Perpendicular monumental recess, within which is laid the effigy (much earlier than the recess) of a knight of the Bohun family. The recess itself has an upper stage or canopy, with open tabernacle-work, in the arches of which figures have been placed, none of which originally belonged to it, with the exception of the two central ones, now headless, representing the Saviour and the Blessed Virgin. The figures on either side were found imbedded in a mass of mortar behind the oaken choir-screen, on its removal by Mr. Cottingham. They represent St. John the Baptist, St. Thomas Cantilupe, and St. Thomas of Canterbury,—the latter distinguished by the pall and the patriarchal cross,—the fourth figure is uncertain.
The effigy placed in this recess has generally been assigned to Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, temp. Edward III. He was not however interred in this cathedral; and although the effigy is certainly of that date, it probably represents some less distinguished member of that great family. The features, uninjured, are fine. The chain-mail, the fringed poleyns at the knees, the surcoat, and all the details, should be noticed. The dog at the feet turns upward, licking his paw.
The monument, with effigy, in the most eastern bay on this side, is that of Joanna de Bohun, Countess of Hereford, (called Joanna de Kilpeck, from her castle there,) (died 1327). It has been painted in accordance with the remains of colour on its several portions; but with very indifferent success. The effigy is a good example of costume. Male and female heads project at the angles of the canopy; and the border of the slab on which the effigy rests has small human heads and roses with their leaves, alternately. The will of the Countess bequeaths a considerable estate to the cathedral.
XIX. In the central bay on the south side is the Audley Chapel or Chantry, [Plate IX.,] constructed by Bishop Edmund Audley, (1492-1502,) before his translation to Salisbury in the latter year. The chantry here was no doubt intended for the place of his own interment; but during his episcopate at Salisbury (1502-1524) he built a second chantry in the choir of that cathedral, (see Handbook for Salisbury,) within which he was buried.
The Audley Chapel at Hereford is of two stages, access to the upper being afforded by a circular staircase at the south-west angle. The lower story is separated