St. Alban's Abbey.

supported on a lofty octagonal central column . A very beautiful arcade , varying on the north and south sides , runs round along the wall , and at their eastern end is a very beautiful window of the pure Geometrical st yle , that in the south Chapel being especially admired for the elegance of its composition . This window has , unfortunately , been renewed , with the exception of the tracery in the upper portionand the new appearance of the stone workand also the

, , fact of the mullions being more massive than those originally existing , detract much from its interest . The work in the Ante-Chapel was probably completed during the abbacy of John de Berkhamstede ( 1290 to 1301 ) , and the Lady Chapel commenced by his successor , John cle Marynes ( 1301 to 1308 ) , though mainl y built during the period when Abbot Hugh de Eversdon presided over the Monastery , viz ., from 1308 to 1326 .

This Lad y Chapel , sad though its present state is , is justly regarded as a gem of architectural art , and great must have been the enlightened mind which was able to design so intricate and elegant a work . There are numerous points which even in this superficial sketch deserve special mention . A very beautiful arch opens from the Ante-Chapel to the Lad y Chapel , and on the west wall on either side of itand on the north and south walls of the chapel

, immediately witbin the arch , are rich canopied niches , formerly containing effigies of saints , and with beautiful foliage in the upper portion , still shewing considerable traces of the gilding with which it was once enriched . Foliage of a similar character , though rather earlier , is to be found at Southwell Minster , in Nottinghamshire . On either side of the Chapel are three windows , all very beautiful in their designand all differing in the arrangement of the

, mullions . Within the splay of the windows are a series of small niches containing statuettes of saints , and on the jambs ancl within the splays of the windows is a profusion of the ball flower ornament—the distinctive moulding of the Decorated period . In this example the ball flowers are joined by a

twining stem , which very much increases the beaut y of the design . This is certainly the finest example ,, ancl also one of the earliest , of a not at " all common form of decoration . Other examples of the ball flower ornaments connected by a twining stem are to be found round the lantern of El y Cathedral , built by Alan cle Walsingham about this same time round the parapet of the south porch at Bishop Canning ' s Church , Wiltshire ; also at Bloxham , Oxfordshire ; RushdenNorthamptonshire ; OverCambridgeshire and about twentother

, , ; y examples might be adduced . On the exterior of the Lady Chapel , the cornice , though much mutilated , shews the same design , the ball flowers being mixed up with heads and other devices , but all are connected by a similar twining stem . 'Besides the rich ornamental carving , the splays of the windows have been further decorated with elegant arabesque patterns painted on a red ground , and probably co-eval with the windows . On the south of the altar

are three beautiful canopied sedilia , of the late Decorated period , being of a date subsequent to the earlier portions of the Chapel ; these , from their height , have interfered with the eastern window on the south side , of which only the upper sides now remain , terminated and joined by a cross transom so as to form a triangle , each of the sides being curved outwards . A beautiful wheel window at Boyfcm ChurchWiltshireencloses

, , four similar triangles . Within the triangle is a wheel or circle , containing very rich tracery . The eastern window is perhaps one of the most elaborate designs in the Cathedral . Within , and partly filling up the upper mouldings , which are very beautiful in their arrangement , are inserted small crocheted canopies , adding greatl y to the richness of the general details of the window . Only three other examples of this arrangement are known in

England , _ viz ., at Merton College Chapel , Oxford ; Dorchester Church , Oxfordshire ; and Barnack , Northamptonshire . Such are the most remarkable points of interest in this beautiful Lad y Chapel ; and , it is hoped , that in the course of the restoration which is now being slowly carried on , the