Chester cathedral is in the form of an irregular cross. The western front is not imposing: in fact, it is in an unfinished state, and is disfigured by a building jutting out against it. It was doubtless the original design to erect two . western towers; and of the northern one the foundations still remain: the place of the southern is occupied by the consistory court. The west entrance exhibits a Tudor arch, enclosed within a square head. On each side are four niches, and pedestals, on which statues were placed. Above is the great west window of eight lights, with elaborate tracery. This front is flanked by octagonal turrets, with belts of panelled tracery, and embattled parapets. On turning to the south, we find behind the consistory court a rich and deep porch. The south side of the nave with its aisle is plain, yet strik- | ing; but the most remarkable feature of this part of the church is the south wing of the transept. Instead of resembling the northern wing, as is generally the case, this is nearly as long as the nave or the choir, broader than either, and with aisles on each side; while the north wing is very short, only as broad as a side of the central tower, and without aisles. The aisles of the choir extend to the east beyond the choir itself, and form the aisles of the Lady chapel at the extreme eastern end of the church. The eastern window of the choir is seen over this chapel; but the whole of this part of the cathedral is of very plain pretensions. On the north side is the chapter-house and cloister, to which is attached a building used as a school. By far the best external feature of this cathedral remains yet to be described. This is the central tower, rising at the intersection of the transepts with the nave and choir. It is only of one story above the roof; still it is lofty, and of imposing appearance. In each side are two pointed windows, with a single mullion down the middle, and a quatrefoil at the top. All of them have crocketed canopies with finials. At the four angles of the tower are four octagonal turrets, terminated, as the tower itself is, with an embattled parapet. The material of which this church is composed is a red and crumbling sandstone. This detracts from its character, causing it, on nearer inspection, to look dilapidated; still it is not, under some circumstances, a disadvantage. When the writer first visited Chester, it was on a splendid summer's evening that he approached this antique city. The rays of the departing sun gave the old tower of the cathedral a richer hue, and its dark red walls glowed with the mellow light, impressing on his memory a picture which will not easily be effaced.

Entering through the western doorway, we descend by several steps into the nave; and the

first feeling is perhaps one of disappointment. There is no triforium: the ceiling is flat, and of wood, resting on wooden brackets. It would seem, however, that it was the original plan to vault the roof with stone, and some indications are left of the commencement of this work. The clerestory is lofty; the windows deeply recessed with galleries, constructed through the intervening piers. The pillars of the nave are clustered with rich bases and foliated capitals; the arches are pointed.

The central tower stands on four massy piers: above the arches is a flat wooden ceiling. Five pointed arches separate the choir from the aisles on each side: above these is an arcade of pointed arches, supported by slender shafts: higher still are the clerestory windows. The pavement is of black and white marble, and there are stalls on each side. The bishop's throne is interesting. It is the stone case of the shrine of St. Werburgh, and is a rich specimen of Gothic architecture, finely decorated with carved work, and embellished with a range of thirty curious little statues, variously habited and gilt, holding in their hands scrolls originally inscribed with their names, but now defaced. It has been supposed that they were intended to represent kings and saints of the royal Mercian line, relatives of St. Werburgh. In the south aisle of the choir is an altar tomb, which tradition appropriated to Henry the Fourth, Emperor of Germany; but, as this prince was interred first at Liege, and afterwards at Spires, it seems difficult to imagine what connexion he could have with a sepulchre in Chester cathedral. The tomb was doubtless that of one of the later abbots. In the choir are also the monuments of Bishops Stratford and Peploe. Under the east window is an arch opening into the Lady chapel, which consists of a middle and two side aisles, the stone vaulting of which is ornamented with richly carved keystones.

The chapter-room is an elegant building, 35 feet high, 50 feet long, and 26 broad. The cloisters form a quadrangle of 110 feet square: the south walk and the dormitory over the east walk are destroyed.

The dimensions of the cathedral are