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THIS "Short Account" of LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL was first published in the year 1811, soon after the painted Glass, which it describes, was placed in the Church. It was written by Dr. Woodhouse, the late Dean, assisted in the Antiquarian and Heraldic parts by the late Canon Newling. It is, therefore, almost needless to say, that whatever is advanced on the subject of History or Antiquities, will be found to rest on competent Authorities.

A Short Account

OF

LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL.

Ancient Bistory.

HE Episcopal See of Lichfield is of very ancient establishment, having been founded by Oswy,

King of Northumberland, and Conqueror of Mercia, about the year 656. The fabric built by Oswy stood upon the same site as the present Church, upon the declivity of a hill, inconvenient for such an edifice, but chosen by the King, as the venerated spot whereon a number of Christian Martyrs were said to have suffered death under the Diocletian persecution. A distance of thirty yards more to the north would have placed the building on the summit of the hill, where the great labour of levelling the ground, which appears to have been employed, might have been spared; and where the length of the edifice might have been carried duly east and west, which has not been done, nor could, without great inconvenience, have been accomplished in its present situation.

In those times the sanctity of the site was thought to compensate amply for its defects.

From these considerations, we may seem to derive an additional proof to those which have been already obtained, in support of the tradition concerning the Christian Martyrs of Lichfield.

The present fabric was begun by Bishop Clinton, who presided over this Church from the year 1128 to 1153.

The architecture employed in Churches, during this period, was wholly of the Saxon or Norman style. Consequently, so far as the building then proceeded, it was in this character, which is still to be traced in some parts of the edifice. On the outside of the transept are some Norman buttresses and mouldings; and the windows have apparently been altered from circular to pointed. In the north aisle, adjoining the choir, and about the building now used for the Bishop's consistory court (perhaps the most ancient part of the fabric), are ornaments belonging to Norman architecture; which may likewise be observed in the arch of the northern portal, which appears, evidently, from the imperfection of its junction at the key-stone, to have been changed from circular to pointed.

Early in the 13th century the style of building with pointed arches, which has been denominated Gothic, began generally to prevail. The parts of this fabric, already erected, seem at the time to have been altered after the new model, and the additional buildings to have been carried up entirely in the same character. In 1235, Royal permission was granted to the Dean and Chapter, to get stone for the fabric, in the Forest of Hopways; and there appears to have been another Royal grant, to the same purpose, at an earlier period.

From these evidences, and from comparing the various parts of Lichfield Cathedral with the progressive architecture of that age, it seems probable, that this work, begun about the middle of the twelfth century, was not completed before the middle of the thirteenth.

About fifty years afterwards, Bishop Langton lengthened the building by the addition of a lesser choir or chancel, under the name of The Lady Choir.

By this prelate, also, a vaulted roof was placed over the transept, which, before his time is said to have been open to the exterior covering; a proof of which is now to be seen in the heads of windows, of an ancient character, yet in Gothic architecture, appearing between the two roofs. If the vaulting of the transept was the work of this Bishop, it was probably done in the early part of his Episcopacy; for the style of ornament is more ancient than that in the Lady Choir, which we know to be the work of his later days. By the same method of judging we may presume, that the remainder of the vaulting throughout the Church was executed either late in his time or posterior to it.

During the succeeding centuries, the fabric does not appear to have undergone any very important alterations.

In the Civil Wars which raged between King Charles the First and his Parliament, the Close of this Cathedral, being surrounded by a wall and foss the work of Bishop Langton, was garrisoned for the King; and in March 1643, was compelled to surrender to the enemy.

In the course of the next month it was recovered by Prince Rupert, and continued in the possession of the Royalists till after the battle of Naseby. The King, in his retreat from that fatal conflict, passed through Lichfield, and was lodged in the Close ; as he was afterwards, at two several times, in the course of that year. In 1646, the Royal cause becoming hopeless, this garrison, with many others throughout the kingdom, submitted to the conquerors.

During these years of warfare, this Cathedral, being frequently in a state of siege, suffered much from the artillery of the enemy. The tall central spire was completely thrown down; and while the Puritans were in possession of the structure, they stripped it entirely