s graceful net tracery and very elegant cross
above, might suggest an earlier date, yet a glance at the side windows,
which are distinctly of transitional character, tells us that 1360 or
1370 may be assigned as the period of erection. About 1404 the abbey
gave the materials of the nave of this chapel to the town, to assist in
rebuilding the parish church on the present site; but the chancel had
been too recently built to be removed. Since the establishment of the
Cathedral the chancel seems always to have been used as the Cathedral
Grammar School, until the year 1885, when the School was removed to new
buildings in the Park Road. It was next used as a museum by the Natural
History and Archaeological Society, until their collection outgrew the
room and they removed to larger premises in Queen Street (see p. 111).
For a time it was a Needlework School of Art, and now it is a Rovers Den
in connexion with the Scout movement.
All the other ancient buildings on the west, the Plumber's Office, the
Sister House, the Treasurer's Office, have long disappeared. The Minster
Almshouses, adjoining the wall of the Deanery garden, are the only
buildings on the north side. They have no ancient features.
[Illustration: Cathedral Gateway, 1791.]
The door immediately to the right of the great gateway as we enter the
close leads to a vaulted chamber which was once the gaol. A few steps
bring us to a very magnificent gateway, leading to the Palace grounds,
over which is a chamber, called the =Knights' Chamber=. This is of Early
English date, with a fine groined roof. The gates and postern are placed
at some distance from the outer archway, adding greatly to the dignity
and effect of the whole composition. The delicate arcading of the sides,
and the excellent clustered shafts, are good examples of the period:
unfortunately the bases of the shafts are now hidden by accumulation of
earth. On the north and south faces are long niches with figures: three
on the north are said to be King Edward II., and the Abbot and Prior of
the period; those on the south are Apostles. The chamber above is used
for meetings, etc.
Much of the line of buildings to the east of this gateway is modern, but
it harmonizes excellently with the ancient work. Near the Cathedral is
some mediaeval work, and the office at the end, on the ground floor,
has a good stone groined roof. This is believed to have been the
Penitentiary.
The _Deanery Gateway_, at the north-
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