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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 April 2016
The year 1770 may seem an arbitrary date to take as a starting point for this list of architects, sculptors, designers and craftsmen whose work is still to be seen in Chester Cathedral. It might be thought that 1541 would be the more natural date to begin the list, the year in which the former Benedictine Abbey of St Werburgh, dissolved in 1540, became the cathedral of the new diocese of Chester. But much of the work in the cathedral between 1541 and the early nineteenth century disappeared in the restorations of R. C. Hussey (q.v.) and Sir George Gilbert Scott (q.v.). Apart from monuments, the surviving seventeenth- and eighteenth-century work in the cathedral and its precincts belongs chiefly to the time of John Bridgeman, Bishop of Chester 1619–44, and to the years round 1760. In neither case is evidence in existence as to who designed or executed the work, but it is important in the architectural history of the cathedral and the precincts and therefore listed here in the foreword.
Abbreviations
Barber: Barber, Edward, Handbook to Chester Cathedral (Chester 1910)Google Scholar
Belcher: Belcher, John T., The Organs of Chester Cathedral (Chester 1970)Google Scholar
Bennett: Bennett, Frank, Chester Cathedral (Chester 1925)Google Scholar
Burne: R. V.H. Burne, Chester Cathedral. From its Founding by Henry VIII to the Accession of Queen Victoria (1958)
C A J: Journal of the Architectural, Archaeological, and Historical Society of the County and City of Chester and North Wales
CO: The Cheshire Observer
C C: The Chester Chronicle
CCM: Chester Cathedral Muniments
Courant: The Chester Courant
CDG: The Chester Diocesan Gazette
Frater: James Frater, MS Diaries 1870–75, in the Chester Cathedral Muniments
Graves: Algernon Graves, The Royal Academy Exhibitors 1769–1904 (1906)
Hiatt: Charles Hiatt, The Cathedral Church of Chester. A Description of the Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See (1905)
Hicklin: Hicklin, John, The History of Chester Cathedral (Chester 1846)Google Scholar
Howson: Howson, J. S., Handbook to Chester Cathedral (Chester 1882)Google Scholar
Murray: Handbook to the Cathedrals of England, Northern Division ii (1869)Google Scholar
NFCC: Newsletter of the Friends of Chester Cathedral
1 For a detailed account of the work in the cathedral and its precincts in the time of Bishop Bridgeman see Barber, E., Chester Cathedral: the Jacobean Work in CAJ n.s. xii (1906), 5–21 Google Scholar,and Burne, 104–108,112–119.
2 See Burne, 218–220.
3 The Cheshire Sheaf, 4th series, i, 57.
4 Randle Holme I (1571–1651); H (1601–59); III (1627–1700); IV (1659–1707). The Robert Bennet tablet of arms figures in a list of the Randle Holme tablets in churches in Chester, made probably by Randle Holme III. See B M Harley MS 7568:261. The list is headed: The names of such persons for whom several Tablets of Arms are set up in the particular churches within the City of Chester, with the times of their deaths.
5 See Proceedings Royal Irish Academy xli (1932–34), 161.Google Scholar
6 For the two bells see Clarke, W. J., ‘Cheshire Bells. A Detailed Survey and History of the Bells in the County’ in Trans. Lanes. & Chesh. Antiq. Soc. lx (1948), 93–96,102.Google Scholar
7 Bennett, 81.
8 Builder (1876), 896.Google ScholarPubMed CCM Common Place Book 1884–1907, f. 118, in which is fastened a letter dated 13 April 1888 from the donor of the gates, 1st Duke of Westminster, to Dean Darby, with a cutting from the sale catalogue of Christie, Manson & Woods, at which the Duke bought the gates. They are described as from Guadalajara and by Berruguete. For the Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles see Serrano, Francisco Layna, Historia de Guadalajara y sus Mendozas en los sighs XVI y XVII I, iv (Madrid 1942).Google Scholar But there is no mention of the reja. The capilla was built by Dr Luis de Lucena (1493–1552), a distinguished sixteenth-century Spanish savant and a native of Guadalajara who became private secretary and physician to two Popes, Clement VII and Paul III. The furnishings of the capilla were dispersed in the 1860s.
9 CCM Vouchers 1898, Nos 70,205.
10 Courcmt, 28 Aug 1838. Moved in 1929 to present site from east wall of north transept, when twelfth-century arch opened up.
11 Courant, 16 April 1844. Willow tree pediment repaired 1912 by Haswell (q.v.).
12 CCM Chapter Book 1841–85, minutes 17 Feb 1863; Vouchers 1864, Nos 407,421-423,428. Thomas Hughes, The Stranger's Handbook to Chester and its Environs (Chester 1869), 113.
13 CCM Chapter Book 1841–85, minutes 25 Nov 1881. Builder (1883), pt i, 686. Ex. inf. Church Commissioners.
14 Builder (1887), pt2,426.
15 CDG 1887, 15 Jan, 1.
16 Barber, E., ‘The Baptistery of the Cathedral’ in CAJ n.s. xvii (1910), 81–96.Google Scholar
17 CDG 1887, 15 March, 9. Builder(1887), pti, 414.
18 CDG 1889, 136. Darby, J. L.. Chester Cathedral (1898), 37–39.Google Scholar See also CCM, Frater 10 July 1872.
19 CCM letter, 19 May 1899, from Blomfield to Dean Darby, with sketch of doors attached.
20 Builder (1883), pti, 686.
21 Barber, 10. CCM Common Place Book, 1884–1907, 288.
22 CC 11 Sept. 1875,13 Oct. 1917; Courant, 29 Jan. 1879.
23 CO 2 Aug 1902. Barber, E., ‘The South Transept of Chester Cathedral’ in CAJ n.s. ix (1903), 99–114.Google Scholar Graves, i, 212.
24 CCM Vouchers 1822, Hall 15 Aug 1822.
25 Barber, 65–66. See also Copy or Creation. Victorian Treasures from English Churches, Catalogue of Exhibition, Goldsmiths’ Hall (1967).
26 Barber, 68.
27 CDG 1887,16May, 6.
28 CCM Ledger, Dean and Chapter, 1928- , f. 282. CDG 1929, 163.
29 According to a memorandum headed ‘Cathedral Plate’ and dated 16 Oct 1894 on a loose sheet of paper in 1926 Inventory of Cathedral Plate, the candelabra are said to have come from the church of S. Tomaso, Milan, and from there found their way to Paris, where they were bought by the 1st Duke of West-minster and given by him to the cathedral in 1872.
30 Builder (1863), 555–556. CCM Vouchers 1863, No. 169.
31 Howson, 54. CC 3 Feb 1872.
32 Art Journal (1879), 55. Howson, 37–38.
33 Howson, 53–54.
34 CDG 1886, 16 Dec, 11–13. Barber, 19–20. CCM Frater, 30 Mar 1872.
35 Ex. inf. Miss T. M. Cox.
36 CDG 1922, 87.
37 CO 2 Dec 1939. Chester Cathedral Refectory, n.p. n.d.
38 CCM Common Place Book 1952–4 at 24 Aug 1952.
39 Ex. inf. Canon M. H. Ridgway, Vicar of Bowdon, Cheshire. Date on inscription on desk.
40 CO 7 May 1949.
41 CDG 1923–27, passim; 1932, 15.
42 CDG 1931, 34.
43 CCM Common Place Book 1908–22, 496 Google Scholar.
44 CDG 1928, 187,195–196.
45 CCM Common Place Booh 1908–22, 479.Google Scholar
46 CDG 1926, 68; 1927, 54–55,62–63.
47 CDG 1930, 70.
48 CDG 1930, 62–63, 87–88.
49 CCM Vouchers 1837, particulars of Gardner's bill paid.
50 ibid. Vouchers 1837, Mr Gardner ornamenting organ &c. See also Burne, R. V. H., The Monks of Chester (1962), 143.Google Scholar
51 CC 2 Oct 1931. Chester Cathedral Blotte, 1932.
52 Hardman, Metal Day Book, 1845–9, f.76 (on loan, V & A Mus.). Hicklin, 100–101.
53 Chester City Library, Local Collections, Hughes Thomas, MS, Copies of the Gravestones, monumental slabs, tablets etc., remaining in Chester Cathedral…, 1874 (4 note books). In the light green notebook he says the brass is by Hardman. See also Pugin, A. W., An Apology for the Revival of Christian Architecture (1847), pl. vi, x.Google Scholar
54 CO 23March 1879.
55 CCM Papers restoration 1819–20. Harrison, Memorandum of some of the repairs required at Chester Cathedral; bill from the executors of the late Mr Harrison; designs, working drawings, report, specification and attendance for the restoration and improvement of the cathedral; Thomas Kelly, contract for carving and restoring the buttresses. See also Burne, 243–246.
56 ibid. Martin & Ingram: estimate for belfry, contract for taking down the belfry floor. See also Pennant, Thomas, Tours in Wales, ed. by Rhys, J. (Caernarvon 1883), i, 229.Google Scholar
57 CC 21 Jan 1905.
58 CAS n.s. xv (1909), 121. CO 5 Oct 1912. CCM, printed plan of east aisle, south transept, signed Haswell, on which the wall between the chapels of St George and St Nicholas is dated 1912.
59 CCM Chapter Book 1894–1941, minutes 14 Dec 1906.
60 ibid., minutes 6 Dec 1906; Ledger, Dean and Chapter 1900- , f. 177.
61 CO 28 June 1924.
62 CCM 1930 Inventory of Cathedral Plate, appendix, item xxiv.
63 CCM Vouchers 1928, No. 142. CDG 1928, 54.
64 Builder (1863), 556.Google ScholarPubMed
65 Hiatt, 71. CCM Frater, 2 March 1872, 18 Sept 1872.
66 Howson, 53.
67 Barber, 50.
68 CDG 1887,15 Sept 7–8. Graves, iv, 61.
69 CDG 1890, 69–70.
70 Belcher, 6–12.
71 Church Crafts League. List of Architects and Craftsmen, published by the League at its office, Church House, Dean's Yard, Westminster, SW 1 (1920), 44.
72 ibid., 47.
73 Ex. inf., Warham Guild.
74 The best account of Hussey's restoration of the choir is Hicklin, 79–100.
75 CCM Chapter Book 1841–85, minutes 19 April 1843.
76 ibid., minutes 25 Nov 1843. Courant, 5 Dec 1843.
77 Courant, 22 Oct 1844.
78 CCM Vouchers 1848, No.831.
79 CCM Vouchers 1849, Bellis & Williams, 19 May.
80 Inscription top of screen in north aisle. CCM Chapter Book 1841–85, minutes 30 March 1848.
81 CCM Vouchers 1848, No.831;Frater 18 May 1875.
82 Hicklin, 93–94. CCM Account Book, The Cathedral Improvement Fund, payment to Evans of £300, 2 July 1846.
83 For details of the Gray & Davison organ, see Belcher, 10.
84 Hicklin, 93. Builder (1848), 201.NFCC, Christmas 1968, 4.
85 CCM Vouchers 1854, Bellis & Williams 18 Jan, Haswell 24 Jan.
86 ibid., Vouchers 1855, No.250.
87 ibid., Vouchers 1853, Haswell 6 Dec; 1855, No.250.
88 ibid., Vouchers 1857, Nos 336, 337. Murray, 388.
89 CCM Vouchers 1867, Nos 592, 611.
90 For an account of Job Kekana's work see Rosamund Essex, ‘Fingers that Itch for Wood’, Anglican World, Feb, March 1961, 30–31.
91 Howson, 57, CC 4 May 1867. CCM Chapter Book 1841–85, minutes 28 Nov 1867.
92 CDG 1887, 23 July, 5. Barber, 67.
93 CDG 1890, 185.
94 Barber, 26–27. Date on inscription on reredos. See also CCM letter from Kempe to the donor, Mrs Brocklebank, dated 11 Dec 1903 and drawing signed by him, headed Proposed New Altar.
95 Barber, 52.
96 ibid., 52. Courant, 4 June 1902.
97 CDG 1904, 100. CO 23 April 1904.
98 CC 30 July 1921. For the tablet see The Egerton Memorial in Chester Cathedral. Dedicated July 26,1921. A page of family history from the record of the War 1914–18 (n.p. n.d.), v.
99 Bennett, 62–63. Date on inscription on reredos.
100 CAJ n.s. xiii (1907), 127–128.
101 CCM Vouchers 1878, No. 516.
102 ibid., Vouchers 1890, No. 792.
103 CDG 1886, Sept, 2. CCM Vouchers 1892, No. 127; 1893, No.530; 1897, No. 754.
104 ibid., 1894, No. 530.
105 CCM Chapter Book 1941–58, minutes 8 Jan 1951; 25 May 1951; ex. inf. Haswell.
106 Ex. inf. Haswell. CC 3 May 1958.
107 CCM Chapter Book 1841–85, minutes 31 Aug 1867; Vouchers 1867, Nos414, 592.
108 CCM Chapter Book 1941–58, minutes 30 Oct 1945,30 Jan 1948.
109 Details of Miller’s work on the roofs based on CCM Chapter Book 1941–58, minutes 1948–51, and Chester Cathedral Restoration Fund. Report for period ended 31 Dec 1949.
110 CCM Chapter Book 1941–58, minutes 28 June 1947.
111 ibid., minutes 27 Sept 1950.
112 ibid., minutes 28 April 1852.
113 NFCC, Advent 1953.
114 The First Chronicle of the Friends of Chester Cathedral (1958), 9, 13Google Scholar.
115 NFCC, Advent and Christmas 1957. The Second Chronicle of the Friends of Chester Cathedral (1961), 5–6 Google Scholar.
116 CDG 1926, 148; 1927, 119, 135.
117 CCM Frater 16 Aug 1873.
118 NFCC, Christmas 1947; ex. inf. Canon B.A. Hardy.
119 CDG 1921–26,passim.
120 ibid., 1932, 115.
121 ibid., 1921–26, passim.
122 ibid.
123 CC 25 April 1936. The Times, 22 April 1936.
124 Builder (1857), 452.
125 The British Architect, 21 Dec 1883, 292–293.
126 Barber, 55. CCM Vouchers 1896, No.815; 1897, No.754; 1898, No.672; 1899, No.467; Ledger, Dean and Chapter 1908- , f.348.
127 NFC C.Christmas 1964.
128 ibid., Christmas 1963.
129 ibid., Christmas 1964, 1965, 1966. Country Life, 30 June 1966, 1725.
130 NFCC, Christmas 1967, 3; 1968, 4.
131 ibid., Christmas 1968, 8.
132 ibid., Christmas 1964.
133 ibid., Christmas 1965.
134 ibid.
135 ibid., Christmas 1970, 6.
136 ibid., Christmas 1964.
137 ibid., Christmas 1968, 5–6.
138 ibid., Christmas 1966.
139 ibid., Christmas 1967, 3.
140 ibid., Christmas 1968, 5.
141 ibid., Christmas 1965.
142 ibid., Christmas 1967, 3.
143 ibid., Christmas 1969, 4.
144 Chester Cathedral Appeal. First Annual Report, December 1969.
145 NFCC 1965.
146 CDG 1923, 31.
147 Barber, 53; ex. inf. J. Powell & Sons. CCM Chapter Book 1816–94, minutes 4Feb 1891, 24 June 1891.
148 CC 15 Oct 1921; ex. inf. J. Powell & Sons.
149 Bennett, 109–111; ex. inf. J. Powell & Sons.
150 Hardman. The First Glass Ledger 1845–50, f.92 (on loan V & A Mus.).
151 CDG 1904, 165; 1922, 5.
152 Belcher, 8, 14–15. See also Clutton, C., ‘The Rebuilt Organ at Chester Cathedral’, The Organ 2 (1970), 80–85 Google Scholar.
153 CCM Chapter Book 1841–85, minutes 24 June 1859; Vouchers 1859, No.375.
154 ibid., Chapter Book 1841–85, minutes 4 Feb 1868. For the stages in the work of restoration see CCM Frater and the printed annual reports for 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873–74, 1875, entitled Restoration of Chester Cathedral, and a progress report, Restoration of Chester Cathedral. Midsummer 1868-Midsummer 1873 (Chester 1874), all written by Dean Howson. A useful summary will be found in Sir George Gilbert Scott, Personal and Professional Recollections, ed. by his son, G. Gilbert Scott (1879), 330–336.
155 For Scott’s defence of his work on the Lady Chapel see George Gilbert Scott, On the Architectural History of Chester Cathedral as developed during the Present Work of Restoration (Chester 1870), 13–17.
156 The internal demi-buttress was built in 1868, see CCM Chester Cathedral Restoration Day Work Book, No. 1, entries 29 June-5 Oct 1868, where it is called an ’internal buttress’. A similar buttress was built in the south aisle of the Lady Chapel, but disappeared in 1869 when Scott decided to pull down the south aisle.
157 Restoration of Chester Cathedral. Third Annual Report, 1870.
158 ibid., Second Annual Report, 1869.
159 See George Gilbert Scott, op. cit., 18–20. ‘Several’ is rather an exaggeration. There are, including Norrey-en-Bessin, five instances in France of these pyramidal roofs. The earliest appears to be the twelfth-century church of St Nicholas, Caen. There is a pyramidal roof over the apse at the east end and also one over an apse which projects from the east side of the south transept and is flush with the transept wall. The thirteenth-century chapel at Audrieu, Calvados, has a chapel with a pyramidal apse on the east side of the north transept, flush with the transept wall. Outside Normandy are two examples, the pyramids roofing the nave of St Ours, Loches, Indre-et-Loire, and the five apsidal chapels with pyramid roofs round the apse at Bourges cathedral.
160 Restoration of Chester Cathedral. Third Annual Report, 1870. See CCM Ledger, Dean and Chapter 1908- , f.202, for removal of one pinnacle in 1911; there is no record when the others were removed - presumably about the same time. For the spire see Scott, G. G., Personal and Professional Recollections, 335–336 Google Scholar.
161 Howson, 18.
162 Liverpool Echo, 2 Oct 1889, letter from Edward Griffiths; Sphere, 11 Oct 1913; Liverpool Daily Post, 10 Oct 1889, Letter from J. A. Hanley.
163 Drawings of the front, back and side elevations of the organ case, with Scott’s signature at the bottom, are in possession of Charles Whiteley & Co., organ builders, Victoria Works, Crane Bank, Chester, who built the new organ at the time of the restoration. Details of Whiteley organ: Belcher, 11.
164 For the furnishings and decoration of the choir see Dean Howson’s account in Restoration of Chester Cathedral, Report for 1875. In 1889, under the direction of Sir A.W. Blomfield (q.v.), the floor in the sanctuary, on which the altar table stood, was raised two steps. The two steps were removed in 1925, bringing the altar table back to the level as planned by Scott. In 1926 the cross on the top of the reredos was also removed. See CDG 1889, 136; CCM Common Place Book 1922–32, 98, 137Google Scholar.
165 For details of the altar table see The Architect, Aug 1876, 107.
166 Howson, 63.
167 The British Architect, 5 Nov 1875, 256; NFCC 1964.
168 Builder, July-Dec 1908, 538.
169 CCM Letters from Sir Giles Scott to Dean Darby 11 Nov 1913, 19 Nov 1913, 22 Dec 1913; ex. inf. Ferdinand Stuflesser Ecclesiastical Art Works, Ortisei, Bolzano.
170 CC 20 Dec 1913. CAJ n.s. xix, ii (1913), 223–225. CCM letters from Sir Giles Scott to Dean Darby, 25 June 1915, 8 Oct 1915.
171 See CCM letter from Sir Giles Scott to Dean Darby 8 July 1913, giving full details about the work on the pulpitum, south wall and east window.
172 See CCM letter from Sir Giles Scott to Dean Darby 26 Nov 1912, detailing his plans for the restoration of the chapel.
173 CCM Common Place Book 1908–22, 294 Google Scholar.
174 CO 6 Aug 1921.
175 CO 20 May 1933.
176 The Chester Cathedral Chronicle (1961), 5–7, 11–15Google Scholar.
177 CCM bill, W. B. Simpson & Sons, 11 July 1864,
178 Church Crafts League, op. cit., 32, 33.
179 CCM Chapter Booh 1894–1941,26 Nov 1938; 30 Dec 1938; ibid., 1941–58, minutes 29 June 1945.
180 CCM Chapter Book 1894–1941, 30 Nov 1939; tracing, Lady Chapel floor, dated 1940.
181 CCM Ledger, Dean and Chapter 1900- ,f.l63.
182 CCM Chapter Book 1840–85, minutes 21 Nov 1877; 24 June 1882.
183 Builder (1852), pt2,629.
184 Murray, 392. For date see CCM Vouchers 1853, Haswell 20 Feb.
185 Murray, 392. For date see CCM Vouchers 1859, Nos 176, 177.
186 Murray, 392. For date see CCM Vouchers 1859, No.375; Ledger, Dean and Chapter l918- ,f.275.
187 Builder (1859), 845.
188 Howson, 60.
189 Builder (1862), 84. CCM Vouchers 1861, No.392.
190 CDG 1926, 115.
191 CDG 1929, 51–52.
192 Ex. inf. Mary Ozanne.
