m, are
preserved in this library, which is open to the public on Tuesday and
Friday in each week from eleven to one. The room is finely proportioned,
and has a magnificent open timber roof.

[Illustration: The Chapter-House.]

The #Chapter-House# opens upon the eastern alley of the cloister. The
present building is a very recent restoration of the original, which is
acknowledged to have been the finest existing Norman chapter-house
remaining in England. It was erected, or more probably completed, during
the time of Bishop Galfrid Rufus (1133-1140), and was in existence until
1796, during the episcopate of Bishop Barrington. At that time it was
almost totally destroyed, on the advice of Wyatt, who reported to the
chapter that it was in a ruinous state. The truth of this report is
doubtful, but the partial demolition of the building was ordered in
November 1795, and also the construction of a new room on the site. The
work of destruction was begun by knocking out the keystones of the
vaulting and allowing the roof to fall in. The eastern half of the
building was then altogether removed, and the remaining portion enclosed
by a wall. Its interior was faced with lath and plaster, a plaster
ceiling and a boarded floor being added. Fortunately authentic records
of its original appearance, both exterior and interior, are in
existence. They are the drawings made for the Society of Antiquaries by
John Carter in 1795. Its dimensions were 78 by 35 feet; the east end
being apsidal and the roof a vault of one span. Round the wall of the
interior ran a stone bench raised on two steps, which was surmounted,
except at the west end, by a wall arcade, of round-headed intersecting
arches, similar to that in the aisles of the cathedral, but with single
instead of double shafts. Above the arcade was a string course carved
with zig-zag ornament. The entrance was from the west end, and the east
end was occupied by two seats, one for the bishop and one for the prior.
In the apse were five three-light windows of the Decorated period, and
above the western door a five-light Perpendicular window, which
contained coloured glass, illustrating the "Root of Jesse." On either
side of this was a window of two lights, divided by a shaft and enclosed
under one arch, carved with chevron ornament. There was also a
round-headed Norman window in each of the north and south walls. A
doorway in the south wall led to three chambers, one larger, and two
smaller