Ely Cathedral | Page 6

were begun by
him, but were not finished at his death in 1093; of this work, only the
ground-story of the great Transept now remains; the original plan, as

was usual in Norman churches, comprehended an eastern arm of
moderate length, a Transept, with a central Tower at the crossing, and a
Nave; the Choir usually occupying the crossing and one or more bays
of the Nave, the eastern arm being used as a presbytery or sanctuary.
After a delay of seven years, the work was carried on by Abbot Richard
(1100-1107), who probably completed them, with the exception of the
Nave, which was finished about 1174, affording a fine specimen of
later Norman, and by its extension westward gave the church the form
of a Latin cross, then much used. It is not improbable that the
Conventual Church, which the new building was intended to supersede,
stood on the site of the present Nave, and was removed from time to
time to make room for the new and enlarged building then in progress.
A few years later the great western Tower with the wings, forming a
second Transept, were begun, but whether by Bishop Harvey or by the
monks themselves during the episcopate of Bishop Nigel (1133-1169),
we cannot say; they were carried on during the episcopate of Bishop
Ridel (1174-1189), and completed as high as the first battlements
during that of his successor, Longchamp (1189-1197), producing a fine
example of what is called the Transitional style. During this latter
period the Romanesque had been rapidly giving way to the Pointed
style, and thus as the building progressed one style merged into the
other.
After some years further progress was made towards the west, as the
Galilee, or western porch, is stated to have been erected by Bishop
Eustace (1198-1215), of whom it is recorded that "he built from the
foundation the new Galilee of the Church at Ely, towards the west, at
his own cost." "This has given rise to much difference of opinion.
Some persons think that by the 'Galilee towards the west,' is meant the
western porch, while others holding that so fine a work is inconsistent
with so early a date, suppose the Galilee to have been the northern half
(now lost) of the western Transept.... My own impression has always
been that it was the west porch which still exists."[7] Be this as it may,
it is a beautiful specimen of the Early English style; and Bishop
Northwold (1229-1254) took down the east end of the church and

lengthened it by the six eastern arches, usually called the Presbytery,
with its magnificent eastern façade, in the same style; they were begun
A.D. 1234, and finished and dedicated in 1252, being "one of the
noblest pieces of architecture of that glorious architectural period."
About the same time a spire of timber covered with lead was erected on
the Tower.
[Footnote 7: Lecture on Ely Cathedral by the late Sir G.G. Scott, at the
Etheldreda Festival, Oct. 1873.]
We now come to the period in which the "two great and famous
productions of the fourteenth century--the two special objects of pride
which our Cathedral boasts--the Lady Chapel and the central Octagon,
with the three adjoining bays eastward,"[8] were erected; "each work is
of the highest and of undisputed merit, and forms a most marked
feature in the building;"[9] affording most admirable specimens of the
Decorated English style. In 1321 the foundation stone of the vast and
magnificent Lady Chapel was laid by Alan de Walsingham, then
sub-prior, in the time of Bishop Hotham (1316-1337), the work was
continued under Bishop Montacute (1337-1345), and finished in 1349,
under Bishop L'Isle (1345-1362). In the year following the
commencement of this work the fall of the great central Tower took
place, ruining the adjoining bays all round, and especially those of the
Norman Presbytery. This catastrophe was not altogether unexpected,
for the monks had discontinued the use of the Choir and held their
services in St. Catherine's Chapel, in the western part of the Cathedral.
The Tower fell with such noise and violence as "to make the whole city
to tremble, and to cause men to think that an earthquake had taken
place." The work of rebuilding was soon undertaken, and under the
skilful directions of the same Alan de Walsingham (who was doubtless
the architect of both these erections,) the grand work was accomplished;
the stone-work of the Octagon was finished (if indeed it ever was quite
finished) in 1328, and the woodwork and roof about 1342. The plan of
the Octagon included in its area one bay on each of its four sides. The
expense of rebuilding the three bays on the eastern side was defrayed
by a sum of money left by Bishop Hotham.

[Footnote 8: Ibid.]
[Footnote 9: