DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32039#0039
THE VICARS’ CLOSE AT WELLS.
17
Plate VIII. shews at the bottom a Plan of the Chapel, one half of the
ceiling is dotted in, which is of oak, divided into four compartments by richly
moulded girders, each divided again into four, which are again subdivided into
four panels; on the intersections are pateras or bosses, one of which is drawn
at large at A. Above is the plmi of the Lnbrary, which communicates with the
Chapel by a small circular staircase; one of the quarrels of the windows is
given one-third full size.
Plate IX. gives the Door-case and Oak Door at large ; on the tracery
are placed four shields, which are so mutilated as to be hardly made out: the
first, to the left, arms unknown; on the second are those of the united see of
Bath and Wells, on the sinister side of the saltier ought to be shewn two keys
indorsed ; the third unknown ; on the fourth are those of Nicholas Bubwith,
who was bishop of this see in 1407; they are a fesse engrailed, gules, between
tliree groups of conjoined holly-leaves, four in each, and correspond with those
on his monumental chapel in the nave of the cathedral :• these arms occur,
also, in the stained glass of the chapel windows. In the jamb-mouldings are
pateras to correspond in design with the windows, under one of which this
door-case is inserted.
Plate X. contains the Windows of the Chapel and Library to a larger scale;
one of the lights of the latter is shewn glazed, the quarrels are like that given,
one-third the full size, in Plate VIII.; it also contains details of the same.
Plate XI. The Bell-Turret at large, in elevation and profile; the shield
impales the arms of the united see of Bath and Wells; which are, azure, a
saltier per saltier, quarterly quartered, or and argent [or the cross of St.
Andrew, who is the patron-saint of the church of Wells] : on the dexter side
of the saltier are two keys indorsed, the upper or, the lower argent, and on
the sinister side, a sword or, charged with a crosier erect, or [these are the
arms of Bath Abbey] : with those of Beckington, viz. argent on a fesse
* Nicholas Bubwitfa, faishop of Sarum, and treasurer of England, was advanced to this see fay the pope, 7th
Octofaer, 1407. He contrifauted considerafaly to the N.W. tower of the Cathedral at Wells, built the Library over the
eastern cloisters, and a small Chapel leading from the cloisters themselves; which last, however, was soon afterwards
destroyed : whether this door originally belonged to it may form matter of conjecture, but does not seem unlikely. He
also constructed a small Chantry Chapel in the nave, wherein, after his decease, on the 27th October, 1424, he was
buried, having appointed three priests to celebrate a daily mass there for the good of his soul. He also founded an
Almshouse, near the north side of St. Cuthhert’s Church in this city, and erected a small Chapel in Bath Abbey.—
Brixton’s Wells Cathedral, pp. 42 and 110.
D
17
Plate VIII. shews at the bottom a Plan of the Chapel, one half of the
ceiling is dotted in, which is of oak, divided into four compartments by richly
moulded girders, each divided again into four, which are again subdivided into
four panels; on the intersections are pateras or bosses, one of which is drawn
at large at A. Above is the plmi of the Lnbrary, which communicates with the
Chapel by a small circular staircase; one of the quarrels of the windows is
given one-third full size.
Plate IX. gives the Door-case and Oak Door at large ; on the tracery
are placed four shields, which are so mutilated as to be hardly made out: the
first, to the left, arms unknown; on the second are those of the united see of
Bath and Wells, on the sinister side of the saltier ought to be shewn two keys
indorsed ; the third unknown ; on the fourth are those of Nicholas Bubwith,
who was bishop of this see in 1407; they are a fesse engrailed, gules, between
tliree groups of conjoined holly-leaves, four in each, and correspond with those
on his monumental chapel in the nave of the cathedral :• these arms occur,
also, in the stained glass of the chapel windows. In the jamb-mouldings are
pateras to correspond in design with the windows, under one of which this
door-case is inserted.
Plate X. contains the Windows of the Chapel and Library to a larger scale;
one of the lights of the latter is shewn glazed, the quarrels are like that given,
one-third the full size, in Plate VIII.; it also contains details of the same.
Plate XI. The Bell-Turret at large, in elevation and profile; the shield
impales the arms of the united see of Bath and Wells; which are, azure, a
saltier per saltier, quarterly quartered, or and argent [or the cross of St.
Andrew, who is the patron-saint of the church of Wells] : on the dexter side
of the saltier are two keys indorsed, the upper or, the lower argent, and on
the sinister side, a sword or, charged with a crosier erect, or [these are the
arms of Bath Abbey] : with those of Beckington, viz. argent on a fesse
* Nicholas Bubwitfa, faishop of Sarum, and treasurer of England, was advanced to this see fay the pope, 7th
Octofaer, 1407. He contrifauted considerafaly to the N.W. tower of the Cathedral at Wells, built the Library over the
eastern cloisters, and a small Chapel leading from the cloisters themselves; which last, however, was soon afterwards
destroyed : whether this door originally belonged to it may form matter of conjecture, but does not seem unlikely. He
also constructed a small Chantry Chapel in the nave, wherein, after his decease, on the 27th October, 1424, he was
buried, having appointed three priests to celebrate a daily mass there for the good of his soul. He also founded an
Almshouse, near the north side of St. Cuthhert’s Church in this city, and erected a small Chapel in Bath Abbey.—
Brixton’s Wells Cathedral, pp. 42 and 110.
D