Ely Cathedral Part 20

1. The Nave and Aisles have been re-paved.

2. The great Western doors have been repaired and decorated.

3. The Cathedral has been warmed and lighted.

4. Many stained windows have been inserted in the Choir.

5. The fourth large window in the Octagon has been filled with painted gla.s.s.

6. The foundation of the south side of the Choir and the south-eastern Transept have been underpinned and thoroughly repaired.

7. The great Western Tower has been braced with iron bands, and, it is believed, effectually secured.

8. The stone pulpit in the Octagon has been erected.

9. Many figures in wood have been placed on the Choir screen, the decoration of which is now completed.

10. Nine stone figures have been placed in the ancient niches in the Octagon; three more are needed to complete the design.

11. The whole of the carved panels over the stalls in the Choir have been completed.

Several works still remain to be effected before the restoration can be considered as complete.

1. The paving of the Octagon and Transepts. The cost of the paving of the Nave has much exceeded the sum antic.i.p.ated.

The completion of this work will cost from 1000 to 2000 additional.

2. The re-paving of the aisles of the Choir, a work of no pressing importance at present, but which will demand great care and consideration whenever it is undertaken.

3. The decoration of the blank s.p.a.ce of wall beneath the great East Window, on which there remain some traces of painted figures. If these are found too faint and uncertain for restoration, the s.p.a.ce might perhaps be covered with a copy of some appropriate painting in mosaic.

4. The restoration of the exterior of the east end of the Choir. Window shafts to the number of about fifty have disappeared or are broken. The south-east angle turret has been crowned with a pinnacle, but the corresponding turret at the north-east still remains truncated. In the eastern face of the Choir there are twelve niches, which probably were once all filled with figures.

5. The restoration of the Galilee is still very incomplete.

The shafts of Purbeck marble, which are so numerous throughout it, require to be repaired or replaced. The niches in the west face, intended for figures, are all empty.

6. The pitch of the roof of the Galilee and of the south-western Transept ought to be raised to give their full effect to the proportions of the great western Tower.

7. The rebuilding of the fallen Transept (north-west) is a work much to be desired, perhaps hardly to be antic.i.p.ated, yet surely not to be despaired of.

8. The completion of the pinnacles and parapet of the Octagon. This is very important to give full effect to the central portion of the Cathedral, which suffers unduly in estimation from the original design being so imperfectly carried out.

9. Exterior repairs of Trinity Church, formerly the Lady Chapel, which is still under the charge of the Capitular body. The cost of restoring the interior decoration of this elaborate specimen of art, if it be deemed desirable, may be left at present out of calculation.

A generous offer has been made for the interior decoration of the Lantern and vault of the Octagon, which there is every reason to hope will be executed at no distant time.

C. MERIVALE.

_The Deanery, October, 1873._

Summary of Expenditure upon Restorations, Memorials, and Special Works executed in Ely Cathedral within the last thirty years.

_s._ _d._

Restoring the interior and exterior of the Choir, providing Memorials, special works, and decorations 28,067 0 0

Restoring the Lantern as a memorial to the late Dean Peac.o.c.k, furnis.h.i.+ng Octagon, and filling large windows with stained gla.s.s 10,022 0 0

Restoring north and south-east Transepts 4123 0 0

Repairing roof, making new ceiling, laying new floors to the Nave and side aisles, providing memorials, &c. 7269 19 4

Opening the Lantern of the great Western Tower, securing the Tower, &c. 4017 15 10

Restoring St. Catherine's Chapel, restoring the south-west Transept, now the Baptistry 2384 16 9

Restoring west Entrance-gates, &c. 1168 15 10 -------------- 57,053 7 9 ==============

Lists of those persons who have contributed from time to time to these Restorations have been published. The general amount of these offerings are shown by the following summary:--

_s._ _d._ Contributions and special works by the Bishops of Ely and their families 3600 0 0

Contributions and payments by the Dean _s._ _d._ and Chapter corporate 22,927 10 7

Contributions by individual members of the Chapter and their families 14,907 19 0 ---------------37,835 9 7

Contributions and special works by the Officers and Tradesmen of the Dean and Chapter 1412 1 0

Contributions by other Inhabitants of the City of Ely 365 11 0

Contributions by the general public 13,840 6 2 -------------- 57,053 7 9 ==============

Besides the Restorations of the Cathedral, and the defraying of numerous expenses incident to their position as patrons or proprietors, considerable works have been carried on by the Dean and Chapter during the last thirty years in providing houses for the Masters of the Grammar School, converting the Great Gate into suitable Schoolrooms (towards which friends have contributed 575, including 325 by the City of Ely), partially restoring Prior Crauden's Chapel, improving the Deanery and the Canons' houses, building new Schools for the Choristers, with a Master's house, turning part of the old Sacristy into a muniment room and Verger's lodge, executing important sanitary works, laying underground drains, laying out and planting the grounds around the Cathedral, &c., at a cost altogether exceeding 12,000, exclusive of ordinary repairs. Total cost of Restorations and Improvements about 70,000.

Some of the works named as being required to be done have been completed since the issue of the Dean's statement in 1873, viz., the decoration of the Octagon and Lantern; the three figures of the Apostles required to complete the series in the Octagon; the floor of the north arm of the Transept; and the erection of pinnacles on the exterior of the Octagon.