Since the date of the last Report the works have been proceeding. The restoration of the roofs of the nave and south aisle with their ceilings has been accomplished. The clerestory of the nave has been fully restored externally and internally; some of its windows which had been walled up have been opened out, and the whole of them have been reglazed.
In carrying out this portion of the work it was found that the parapets had been corbelled in the same manner as those of the presbytery, although the corbels had been cut off flush with the face of the wall. Fortunately in a sheltered corner next the tower two or three of the corbels remained in a perfect state; these have been the guide in the restoration. The parapet was probably of less height originally, but the position of the sixteenth century roof would not allow of the height being kept lower than at present.
The ceiling of the south aisle, which until lately was open, showing the rough timbers above, has been panelled in completion of the ancient design. The parapet and pinnacles have also been repaired.
The walls internally of the nave and south aisle and the piers and arches have been cleaned, restored, and pointed.
The north transept has been groined in oak, carrying out the design which had been commenced in stone. The modern roof, which was truncated and of very slight timbers, has been strengthened, and the pitch carried up to fit the fifteenth century gable. The ruined pinnacle at the north-west angle has been completed.
Whilst speaking of this transept, it will be well to call attention to the doorway on the western side, which was originally of considerable width, but at a period very shortly after its erection was narrowed, the later jamb with its shaft, cap, and base being precisely like the original jamb which remains built up in the wall; and at a still later period the doorway appears to have been walled up to form a recess, in which was placed a hollowed stone sink with a stone shoot projecting through the wall.
The roofs of Bishop Vaughan’s Chapel and of the cross aisle eastward (page 6) have been thoroughly repaired and releaded.
The works now in progress (July, 1873) are the reparation of the roof of the north aisle of the nave and the restoration of the upper part of the Chapter-house building. The windows in the north aisle, two of which have lost their tracery, are being restored, and the walls internally will be cleaned.