St. Alban's Abbey.

exquisite and intricate details of the work will meet with the care and consideration which they so thoroughl y merit . It was about this time , viz ., about 1320 , that the Norman bays on the south side of the nave suddenly fell . Abbot Hugh de Eversdon at once commenced the rebuilding , and the beautiful arches now remaining at the east end of the south side of the nave are of his time . The design was evidently intended to harmonise with the earlier work of William de Trumpingtonthe arches being

, of the same proportions , and the triforium and clerestory being also on the same p lan as the earlier work . The columns and capitals are almost exact copies of the older work ; but the mouldings of the arches are more numerous and less bold , and the enrichments of the triforium arches are more elaborate though less effective than Trumpington ' s work . The main structural work , as now existing , was thus completed ; and

thongb succeeding Abbots made some minor additions and alterations in the particular style of their respective periods , no more important changes were made in the fabric of the Abbey Church . To Richard cle Walyngforde ( 1325 to 1335 ) or to Michael cle Mentmore ( 1335 to 1349 ) has been ascribed the rebuilding of the great Cloister , the ornamental panelling of which still remains on the exterior of the south wall of the nave . To this period Bro . Neale also assigns the beautiful shrine of St . Alban , so recently discovered and so admirably put together by our respected Bro . J . Chappie , the Clerk of the Works . As is now well known , the numerous

fragments of . the shrine were found closed up in the west wall , which bounded the footpath through the Ante-Chapel , now happily diverted round the east end of the Lady Chapel . The whole shrine is composed of Purbeck marble , and is a very beautiful specimen of pure Decorated architecture . There is a lower panelled table with four quatrefoils on the north and south , and one on the east and west sides . Above is an arcade of cinquefoil-headed arches , within richly carved and feathered canopiesand above again is a cornicewith foliage

, , and other ornaments . Within the arches are a series of panels with a delicate network of tracery and remains of gilding ancl red and blue colouring on them . The whole surface of the shrine is covered with ornaments , figures of the founder ancl others on pedestals , the martyrdom of St . Alban , censing angels , etc . Within the lower arcade were probably exhibited some of the relics of the Saintwhile the " feretrum " or portable shrine was placed on the

, top of the present structure , and was only carried about on grand festivals , and then only the important relics it contained were shown . The whole composition is of remarkable merit , and should be carefully studied by all who visit this noble building . In its arrangement it must have been very similar to the earlier and more perfect shrine of St . Edward the Confessor , still remaining at Westminster Abbey . The celebrated shrine of St . Thomas a ,

Becket , at Canterbuiy Cathedral , also occupied a similar position , and , from the appearance of the present pavement , seems to have been somewhat similar , in size and character , to the examples at St . Albans and Westminster Abbey .

During the long rule of Thomas de la Mere the stone screen between the nave ancl choir was erected , above which formerly hung the Holy Rood , viz ., a large sculpture of our Saviour on the Cross , with the Virgin Mary and St . John on . either side . The shrine of St . Amphibalus , which has also been recently discovered , belongs to this date . It is composed of white stone , and the st yle of architecture is very curious and of quite a foreign type . Abbot

de la Mere seems to have brought over some Flemish artists . His own magnificent brass , one of tbe finest in England , was probably executed during his lifetime , ancl is undoubtedly of Flemish workmanship . It is now placed in the Chantry Chapel of Abbot Whefcehamstede , ancl is remarkable for the fact that tbe rich enamelled brass covers the whole surface of -the stone , instead of being let into portions only of the slab , as in the great majority of instances .