Architecture And Archæology.

ratus necessitated the construction of a central flue for a certain length along the choir , 4 ft , 7 in . wide , beneath the pavement , and , in digging the trenches for the reception of this and its connected flues , various walls were encountered , which the recent opportunites for more thoroughly exploring have demonstrated to belong to the earlier choir of the cathedral , the foi'm and ja-roporfcions of which it has been possible to

decide with tolerable accuracy , and for the elucidation of which we are greatly indebted to the patient investigations of Professor Willis , who has since printed a " paper " on tho the subject . It would appear that there once existed a church , less in breadth than the present one by the thickness of the walls on each side , and finishing eastward in an apse , about midway of the length of the present choir ; that

is , at the fourth pillar westward , reckoning from the Lady chapel entrance . ( It may be remarked , parenthetically , that very similar discoveries have been made in the crypts of Ely and Canterbury Cathedrals , and elsewhere . ) These foundations , perhaps , belonged to the church which Bishop Jaruman is said to have built in 667 , and into which the bones of St . Chap , the patron saint , were removed in 700 .

Foundations indicating two other choirs are also remaining ; those have both square est end , while the east end of the existing cathedral is octagonal , being a rare instance in this country . Above ground , some curious discoveries have been made in reference to the history of the three westernmost arches of the choirbthe removal of the modern stall work & c

, y , , which stood against their pillars . In viewing the latter from tho aisles , it had always been evident that they were of nearly the earliest period of Pointed architecture , retaining even some Norman features , while those of the remaining bays eastward are of the first half of the fourteenth century , or at least a century and a quarter later in date .

The three western bays , however , when viewed from the choir , differed entirely from either of these styles , agreeing , in fact , with the intermediate style which prevails in the nave—a puzzling anomaly , it must be confessed . But , on removing the stalls , it was found that the work of this intermediate style was a mere overlaying of 2 Joflwi . it cciiteni . ' having no reference whatever to the older work , and that ,

to prepare a groundwork of bricks , tiles , spikes , and packthread for this cement the ancient stonework had been mercilessly cut away , in some places to the depth of a foot or more , and this determined mutilation rendered it a matter of extreme difficulty to make out what had been the original design , and the more so inasmuch as that design itself was the work of two very distinct periods . It would be tedious

as well as a difficult thing to explain by mere words the strange facts which the examination of these mutilated pillars revealed ; suffice it to say that Mr . Scott bestowed especial pains in elucidating the mystery , and solving apparent contradictions , and that it is understood that he lias entirely succeeded , their true appearance in the fourteenth century having been as they now appear . The niches over these pillars , with their statues , had been entirely

destroyed , but have been restored , partly from the old descriptions of them and partly by reference to the niches remaining iu the Lady chapel . These figures , which are of largo size , and have been sculptured in a thoroughly artistic manner , arc six in number , three on each side of the choir , and representing St . Peter , the Virgin Mary , St . Mary Magdalen , St . Christopher , St . James , ' and St . Philip .

The great work , however , now about to be completed , has been the double one of throwing the choir open to the nave and of bringing back the reredos and altar table to their original position . The stalls again , as formerly , occupy the first three bays , while the next three bays eastwards are devoted to the presbytery and altar space , the two easternmost opening , as at first , into the Lady chapel , which will be made

use of for early service , in conformity with a provision in the ancient cathedral statutes . The whole interior of the church has been carefull y cleared from its numerous coatings of yellow and white wash ; and the rich warm color of the stonework exposed ; the improvement is astonishing . In the vaulting of the choir traces were found of the ancient gilding and coloring , and a portion was exactl y restored ; but the effect not being quite liked , it has been discontinued .

The screen which divides the choir from tho nave is an elaborate speciment of artistic metal work , and has , perhaps , few parallels extant among screens either of ancient or modern construction . Handsome brass folding gates to tbe centre opening form the medium of communication , the arched head over them being elegantly crisped and spanned by a bold crocketed gable , finished by a cross . The six

crockets on the one side are adapted from the passionflower , and on the other from tho rose . Tho columns supporting this arch are clustered , and have both natural foliage and conventional in their capitals . There are four narrow arches on each side of the centre one , springing likewise from shafts , in whoso capitals may be traced the forms of the fern-leaf , the ivy , and the convolvulus ; while some

subordinate capitals below represent fruits and flowers , such as the strawberry ( rendered in ivory ) , the wild rose ( in carnelian ) , the blackberry ( in onyx stones ) , aud currants ( also in carnelian ) . Above the side arches is a row of large circles , in each of which stands the bronze figure of an angel . These are repeated on the other side of tho screen , and all are in attitudes of devotion or holding instruments of music ,

such as tho harp , organ , cymbals , & c . A rich frieze of scrollwork and a handsome cresting form tbe upper portions of the design , in the carrying out of which various metals have been employed , the delicate capitals being entirely hammered out from sheet copper . The two screens in the same line as the centre one across tho north and south aisles of the choir are less ornamental but of excellent design and workmanship . Their cresting obtams additional light and shade by the introduction of ironwork ribbed up by hand

from the sheet , and the rivets uniting the respective portions are rendered into decorative details . The introduction of these metal screens in j > laco of wood or stone is especially serviceable , where , as at Lichfield , it is essential that the architectural perspective of the building be as little interfered with as possible . The eagle lectern ( which is also of brass ) is a special gift

from the Theological College , at Lichfield . The pavements constitute an important item in the restoration , and are a union of encaustic tiles and marble . That between the choir and seats has tiles of tbe same patterns as some old ones found in the church ; the pavement of the altar space is the gift of Mr . Colin Minton Campbelland contains medallions illustrative of suitable

, Scripture subjects , surrounded by tile mosaic borders of the most intricate kind ,- the fitting of which had to be accomplished for the most part by laborious hand-work . The large sjmce between the altar-rails steps and the choir seats is nearly a square , and it has accordingly been divided into four equal portions , surrounded by frheir respective borders of tile andmarble , and containing medallions

about 3 feet iu diameter , enriched with subjects illustrative of the history of St . Chad , and with smaller medallions representing the busts of kings and bishops historically connected with the cathedral . The events thus commemorated in the principal medallions are—1 st , "The Consecration of St . Chad : " 2 nd , " His Mission ; " 3 rd , " The removal of his bones from Sfcowe to Lichfield ; " and 4 th , " The Clerk Vicars

of the Cathedral entering tho Chapter-house , Juno 16 th , 1660 , " when this , with tho vestry , was tho only place in the church that had a roof to shelter them . ( Vide Ashmolean MSS . )

The list of sovereigns whose busts arc introduced lato the ten lesser compartments is Oswy , Wolfere , Etheldred , Offa , Stephen , Henry III ., Charles I ., and Victoria ; and of bishops—Diuma , Jaruman , Saxwulf , Higberfc , Clinton , Langton , Hackefc , and Lonsdale . Hopton-wood stone was selected for these medallions , in which the subjects are incised , and filled in with dark-colored cement , a practice almost

unknown hitherto in this country , but of which there are examples on the Continent , at St . Omer , at St . Rcmy , Rheims , and elsewhere . The woodwork includes the Bishop ' s throne , tbe stalls , subselte , and front desks , the whole , except tho choristers ' , being of oak , and of a thoroughly substantial character . Abundant scope is thereby afforded for rich carving , which is largely introduced , and consists of flowers and foliage of great variety , and also sculptured panels and figures of the Apostles on the ends of the seats . The throne stands east-