Ely Cathedral | Page 7

Ibid.]
The spire erected on the western Tower by Bishop Northwold was
taken down in the latter part of the fourteenth century, and was replaced
by an octagonal story, flanked with turrets, in the Decorated style,
above which a spire was again placed. This was an injudicious step,
and has been thought to have been the primary cause of the ruin of the
north-western Transept, the great additional weight being more than the
four supporting arches (which were lofty) were intended to bear. Of the
period when the Transept fell, or was taken down, we have no record;
but the character of the buttress on the site of the western wall shows
that it must have been at an early period, probably about A.D. 1400, as
the strengthening arches placed within the original ones appear to have
been erected a few years after.
We have no further additions to the fabric to particularise in this sketch,
with the exception of the chapel of Bishop Alcock, (1486-1500), in the
Perpendicular style; and that of Bishop West (1515-1533), in the same
style, but when it was approaching to Renaissance; but the alterations
of windows and other parts, together with necessary repairs, have been
numerous and various at different periods.
The Choir was under the Octagon until 1770, when it was removed to
the east end of the church; it was again altered in 1852 to its present
position. Many costly and extensive restorations[10] and alterations
have been made within the last thirty-five years, and others are still in
progress. The Galilee, or western porch, has been cleansed and floored,
and the arch of communication with the Tower beautifully restored; the
western Tower has been strengthened, the interior thrown more open, a
painted ceiling put up, and a new floor laid; the south-west Transept
has been opened, repaired, ceiled, paved and cleansed; the apsidal
Chapel of St. Catherine has been rebuilt and paved; the roof of the
Nave has been re-covered with lead, the interior walls have been
cleansed, a new and beautiful painted ceiling completed, and a new
floor laid in the Nave and aisles; the Octagon and Lantern have
undergone a thorough repair, and the decoration of the dome and

lantern has been effected; the great Transept has been repaired, the
polychrome roof re-painted, and a new floor laid in the northern portion.
The whole of the eastern portion of the church has been cleansed and
restored; the beautiful Purbeck marble pillars have been re-polished;
the floor of the Choir has been re-laid with veined and black marble
combined with encaustic tiles; an enriched oaken screen has been
erected at the entrance of the Choir, near which a new and elegant stone
pulpit has been placed; the original stalls have been repaired, and
improved by the introduction of a series of carved panels, and new
sub-stalls erected; and a new and elaborate reredos or altar screen has
been placed in the Choir. More than eighty windows, exclusive of the
eight lights at the east end of the church, have been filled with stained
glass by various artists, and several others, which had for many years
been stopped up, have been re-opened; the organ has been very
considerably enlarged and improved, put into a new and elegant case,
and placed in another position; and several stoves have been introduced
for warming the Cathedral when necessary. The whole has been done at
considerable expense, to meet which the funds have been raised by
subscriptions, towards which the late Bishops Sparke, Allen, Turton,
and Browne, the late Deans Peacock and Goodwin, the Canons and
their families and connections, with many noblemen, gentlemen, and
others, have been contributors: the capitular body have done much
towards the work in general, but particularly towards the repairs of the
fabric, the enlargement of the organ, and the warming of the Cathedral.
For a more detailed account of works and expenses we refer our readers
to Appendix II. at the end of the work.
[Footnote 10: The Restorations, which have been for some years in
progress, have been executed throughout with the most scrupulous care,
preserving every portion of uninjured surface, and re-producing what is
mutilated or destroyed as nearly as possible in exact conformity with
the indications of the ancient work afforded by the parts which remain,
and in the same material. They were at first carried out under the
directions of the late Dean Peacock, assisted from time to time by
Professor Willis, and by the occasional advice of Professional friends:
but towards the end of the year 1847, Sir G.G. Scott was appointed
architect to the works, and under his direction the rearrangement of the

Choir was effected, and other restorations in progress carried out until
his death. The windows have been filled with stained glass chiefly
through