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in 1761. He was appointed Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's in 1771, and died in 1779. The same year

THOMAS THURLOW, brother to the lord chancellor of that name, and Dean of Rochester, was advanced to the see of Lincoln; appointed Dean of St. Paul's in 1781; and in 1787 translated to the see of Durham. He was succeeded in the Bishopric of Lincoln and Deanery of St. Paul's by

GEORGE PRETTYMAN TOMLINE, D. D. F. R. S. &c. who now holds those dignities.

The CATHEDRAL, or as it is usually called, the MINSTER, is justly the pride and glory of Lincoln. This magnificent building, from its situation on the highest part of a hill, and the flat state of the country to the south-east and south-west, may be seen at the distance of twenty miles. Raised at a vast expence, by the munificence of several prelates, it discovers in many parts singular skill and beauty; particularly its western front, which cannot fail to attract the attention of the most unobservant traveller. And of all the ancient fabrics of this description now re maining in England, no one deserves the attention of a curious enquirer more than this, "whose floor," says Fuller in his humorous style, "is higher than the roof of many churches." It may be said to be a building proportioned to the amplitude of the diocess; and is justly esteemed one of the most extensive and regular of its kind, notwithstanding it was erected at different periods, and has undergone various alterations in later times. After the see was removed to this place, the new bishop, Remigius, according to Henry of Huntingdon, "purchased lands on the highest parts of the city, near the castle, which made a figure with its strong towers, and built a church, strong and fair, in a strong place and in a fair spot, to the Virgin of Virgins, in spite of all the opposition from the Archbishop of York, who laid claim to the ground, placing in it forty-four prebendaries. This afterwards being damaged by fire, was elegantly repaired," by that munificent and pious Bishop of Lincoln, Alex

ander.

ander. The first foundations were laid in the year 1086, by Bishop Remigius, and the building was continued by him and his successor, Robert Bloet. Soon after the death of this bishop, the church is said to have been burnt down* about A. D. 1127, and rebuilt by Bishop Alexander, his successor, with an arched stone roof, to prevent the recurrence of a like accident in future; and it is stated, that he set his whole mind upon adorning his new cathedral, which he made the most magnificent at that time in England. But though thus rendered pre-eminent for size and decoration, it was made more elegant, &c. by St. Hugh of Burgundy, in the time of Henry the Second. This prelate added several parts, which were then named the New Works +. To shew what these consisted in, and the periods when different alterations and additions were made to this structure, I shall transcribe a passage from the ninth volume of the Archæologia, the substance of which appears to have been derived from the archives of the cathedral.

"A. D. 1124. The church was burnt down. Bishop Alexander is, in the historical accounts given to the public, said to have rebuilt it with an arched roof, for the prevention of the like accident. But John de Scalby, Canon of Lincoln, and Bishop Dalderby's registrar and secretary, says of Robert de Chesney (who succeeded Alexander), that he" Primus Ecclesiam voltis lapideis communivit, 1147.”

66

1186. John de Scalby says of Hugh the Burgundian, Bishop of Lincoln, that he "fabricam ecclesiæ a fundamentis construxit novam." This can relate only to alterations and repairs of the old church, for the new east end was not begun to be built till 120 years after."

* Mr. Gough says, "only damaged."

"1244-5

+ It appears, from various documents, that all additions made to ancient structures were called New Works. Various alterations, &c. were made at Ely cathedral, nearly at the same periods that others were making at Lipcoln, and they are all called New Works, or "Nova Opera."

1244-5. The great tower fell down, and greatly damaged the church. Very little was done to repair this disaster, till the time of Oliver Sutton, elected Bishop, 1279. The first thing which he set about, was extending the Close wall, but not so far to the east as it now is, for it was, as will be seen, further enlarged; and he afterwards completely repaired, in concurrence with the dean and chapter, the old church; so that the whole was finished, painted, and white-washed, after the year 1290. When this work was done, the great tower was carried up no higher than to the part where the large windows begin, and where the bells now hang. The upper part was, with the other new work, begun sixteen years after."

"1306. The dean and chapter contracted with Richard de Stow, mason, to attend to, and employ other masons under him, for the new work; at which time the new additional east end, as well as the upper parts of the great tower and the transepts were done. He contracted to do the plain work by measure, and the fine carved work and images by the day."

"1313. The dean and chapter carried the close still further eastward, so as to enlarge the canon's houses and mansions, the chancellory, and other houses at the east end of the minster yard."

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"1321. In this year the new work was not finished; for Bishop Burghwash, finding that those who were entrusted to collect the money given by voluntary contribution, and legacies to the church, detained the same, and were backward in their payments, published an excommunication against all offenders in this way, which tended, " in retardationem fabricæ."

"1324. It may be collected, the whole was finished about 1324; but this is no where specified. The late Bishop of Carlisle, Dr. Lyttleton, conjectured, that all was finished about 1283. Conjecturers are led into this mistake by supposing, that the work was finished soon after King Henry the Third's charter, granted for enlarging the church and close."

66 1380.

John Welburn was treasurer. He built the taber

nacle

nacle at the high altar, the north and east parts as now standing; and the south was rebuilt after, to make the north and south sides uniform. He was master of the fabric, and the principal promoter of making the two stone arches under the west towers, and the vault of the high tower; and caused the statues of the kings over the west great door to be placed there."

"N. B. This new work is all of the regular order of Gothic architecture, as I have supposed it to be finally established by the Free Masons. The rest of the church is in part the opus roma- num, and partly of the style of the first essays of the Gothic.” Communicated by Mr. Bradley to Governor Pownal.

These notices are important; for it is interesting to ascertain the dates, &c. of such ancient buildings as are beautiful or grand. The one now under consideration presents, in its different parts, both these characteristics; the principal of which I shall endeavour to describe and particularize.

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The cathedral church consists of a nave, with its ailes, a transept at the west end; and two other transepts, one near the centre, and the other towards the eastern end: also, a choir and chancel with their ailes of corresponding height and width with the nave and ailes. The great transept has an aile towards the east; attached to the western side of this transept, is a gallilee, or grand porch; and on the southern side of the eastern aile are two oratories, or private chapels, whilst the north side has one of nearly şimilar shape, and character. Branching from the northern side, are the cloisters, which communicate with the chapter house. The church is ornamented with three towers; one at the centre, and two at the western end. These are lofty, and are decorated with varied tracery, pillars, pilasters, windows, &c. To furnish the reader with an adequate idea of the dimensions and general size of this structure, I subjoin the following table; the measurements for which were made by Mr. T. Espin, of Louth; and I believe are more accurate than any hitherto published.

The height of the two western towers, 180 feet. Previous to the year 1808, each of these was surmounted by a central spire

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the height of which was 101 feet. The great tower in the middle of the church, from the top of the corner pinnacle to the ground, is 300 feet; its width is 53 feet. Exterior length of the church, with its buttresses, 524 feet; interior length, 482 feet; width of. western front, 174 feet; exterior length of great transept, 250 feet; and interior, 222 feet; the width is 66 feet. The lesser or eastern transept, is 170 feet in length, and 44 in width, including the side chapels. Width of the cathedral 80 feet; height of the vaulting of the nave, SO feet. The chapter-house is a decagon, and measures, interior diameter, 60 feet 6 inches. The cloisters measure 118 feet on the north and south sides, and 91 feet on the eastern and western sides.

Such are the principal measurements of this spacious fabric; to describe the whole of which would occupy a volume. Therefore, in the following particulars, I can only advert to, and notice a few of its prominent features.

Though it will not be an easy task to define and discriminate all the remaining portions of Remigius's and Alexander's buildings, yet there are some parts which may be confidently referred to as the works of those prelates. The grand western front, wherein the greatest variety of styles prevail, is certainly the workmanship of three, if not more, distinct and distant eras. This is apparent to the most cursory observer; and on minute inspection by the discriminating architect and antiquary is very decisively displayed. This portion of the fabric consists of a large square-shaped facade; the whole of which is decorated with door-ways, windows, arcades, niches, &c. It has a pediment in the centre, and two octangular stair-case turrets at the extreme angles, surmounted by plain spireshaped pinnacles. This front may be described as divided into three distinct, though not separated parts; a centre and its two lateral sides. The first presents three perpendicular divisions, and three others from the bottom to the top. In the lowest are three door-ways, a large one in the centre, which directly opens to the nave, and two smaller ones facing the side ailes. These arches are semicir

cular,

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