Manchester Cathedral Restoration: Trinity Chapel

MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL RESTORATION - THE work of restoring the canopy between the Trinity Chapel and the Ducie Chapel, on the north side of the nave of the church, has been completed. One of the first works proceeded with after last Easter was taking down the walls of the historic De Trafford Chapel, on the south-east side of the nave. "The south side of this chapel," Mr. Crowther reported, "is the only portion of the exterior which has not been fully restored. The south windows, buttress, parapet and pinnacles, all of wretched and incongruous character, were reconstructed some time during the last century; all these details should be restored in harmony with corresponding features of the Jesus Chapel (now the library), but of different design, for this chapel is of earlier date than the Jesus Chapel, which it adjoins, as may be seen by the jambs and arch of the large window that still remain in the east wall, which therefore must have been an external wall previously to the erection of the Jesus Chapel. It is more than probable that some, if not the whole, of the tracery of this window, which I propose to open out, will be found buried in the wall; at all events, the jambs and arch appear to be in nearly perfect preservation. This window was probably walled up when the galleries and other abominations in cement were perpetrated." Two new windows have been placed in the chapel, the glazing of which has been carried out in small quarries of cathedral glass. Inserted in the westward window is the piece of ancient stained glass which has formed an object of interest in the De Trafford Chapel for many generations. Inside these windows are pedestals and canopies, the designs for which are taken from the original period of the church. Between the windows there are double niches of a very peculiar design, copied from the ancient ones taken out. Above these niches are carved corbels, intended for the reception of the wall brackets of the new roof. Under the south-east window of this chapel was discovered an ancient piscina. This has been removed, and replaced by an exact copy of the original. Outside the chapel is a buttress standing between the two j windows, the lower portion having a pedestal and canopy, and above is a pinnacle growing out of the buttress. The tracery of the parapet is in harmony with that on the north 1 side of the church. The opening out of the east end of the chapel into the Jesus Chapel will give a good view through to the east end of the Jesus Chapel. Last spring the con tractors commenced operations in removing the organ, and proceeded with the work of restoring the great central chancel arch and the arches to the east end of the north and south aisles. This important undertaking is now practically completed, and has been the most difficult part of the restoration. The winding staircases to each turret have been, stone by stone, most carefully restored. The cornice is elaborated with carved patrerae and above is the Tudor leaf finely carved. The masons are now completing the shields in the great spandrels, on which are being carved the coat-of-arms of the two donors of the arch, Mr. F. W. Grafton, M.P., and Mr. James Worrall. All the mouldings have been reproduced from the ancient work. The spandrels to the turrets have likewise been carefully copied from the originals. The figures forming the group on the nave roof are now replaced. These still retain some of the lead shot which they received during the siege of Manchester by Lord Strange, in September, 1642. It is intended to replace the organ as soon as the new arch between Ducie Chapel and the Derby Chapel is completed and the west end of the chancel roof is repaired. The contractors are now engaged in erecting a new " Bellows Room," which occupies a prominent position on the north side of the church, in close proximity to the Derby Chapel. The carving has all been executed by Messrs. Earp, Hobbs and Company, and the masonry supplied by the Cathedral contractors, Messrs. J. W. Graham and Sons. [British Architect 28 May 1886 page 568]

Reference        British Architect 28 May 1886 page 568