THE CATHEDRALS
OF
GREAT BRITAIN
THE CATHEDRALS
OF
GREAT BRITAIN
THEIR HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE
BY
P.H. DITCHFIELD, M.A., F.S.A.
Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Rector of Barkham
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
HERBERT RAILTON, J.A. SYMINGTON, H.M. JAMES,
H. CRICKMORE, ETC.
1902
London: J.M. DENT & COMPANY
Philadelphia: J.B. LIPPINCOTT COY.
All Rights Reserved
PREFACE
In this volume I have attempted to give an architectural[v]description of all the cathedral churches of England, Wales, andScotland, together with a brief history of each see. In orderto include any adequate account of each church and bishopricin one volume of portable size, which may be of use to visitorsin their travels, much compression has been necessary, but it ishoped that nothing of importance has been omitted which mightbe useful to those who would read aright the architecturalhistory of our great churches. On account of their immenseimportance in the history of Gothic art, it has been thoughtwell to include in this volume some account of the churches ofWestminster and Beverley. At the close of each history of acathedral will be found a record of the principal building datesand dimensions, and also a brief account of the chief places andchurches of interest in the city or neighbourhood which it isadvisable to visit.
I desire to express my grateful thanks to all who havekindly assisted in the preparation of this work, to the deansand canons-in-residence who have often guided me by theircounsel during my study of their cathedrals, and also to thevergers who have readily afforded me much valuable help.More especially do I wish to thank the Deans of Lincoln, Ely,Chester and Gloucester, Canon Tristram of Durham, BishopAnson of Lichfield, and Archdeacon Richardson of Southwell,for their courtesy and kindly interest. I have also to recordmy obligations to the work of many previous writers. Theworks of Freeman, Rickman, Britton, Willis, Winkle, and theDiocesan histories published by S.P.C.K. have been consulted,as well as the special monographs on each cathedral, which are[vi]too numerous to mention. Prior's Gothic Art has been of thegreatest possible assistance, Addis's Scottish Cathedrals and Abbeys,and also the very valuable and indispensable handbooks publishedby the late Mr. John Murray. I have found the volumes ofBell's Cathedral Series most useful when visiting the buildingsof which they treat, and Messrs. Isbister's volumes written bythe deans of our cathedrals contain picturesque and attractiveaccounts of the historic buildings. To all these works I desireto acknowledge my great indebtedness. And lastly I have torecord my grateful thanks to the artis