broad; at the east end is a window of five lights, 63 feet in height; the north side is entirely occupied by an arcade composed of eleven lancet windows, which splaying inwards are separated from each other by one slender graceful Early English shaft, of great symmetry, (See woodcut, Pl. I. B.) On the south side, and facing the Bishop's Palace, are three windows corresponding with those opposite. The chapel is stalled with canopies[1] of a late date, probably Bishop Lucy's; they have the names of the dean and prebendaries, twenty- two in number, on their seats; there is also a fine range of Sedilia, and a Piscina of Early English work, but sadly mutilated by cutting much away to make room for an unsightly tomb like a state bed of the eighteenth century.
The following list comprises the names of stalls, as they occur from right to left facing the altar:—
Right side.—Dom. Episcopus, Decanus, Cancellarius, Prebend of Trallwng, P. Llanwrthwl, P. Berglerood Llanbeden, Powis Castle, P. Llandilo Graban, P. St. Harman, P. Llanarthney, P. Llandwgwy, P. Lledrod, P. Llandegley.
Left side.—Precentor, Thesaurarius, P. Garthbleugg, P. Llanelwell, P. Cliron, P. Llangul, P. Llandisilio, P. Moogytrey, P. Llandryndod, P. Llandarog, P. Nantgunllo, P. Llansainthead.
The state of this chapel is most deplorable, and I cannot better describe it than by quoting the following interesting extract from Mr. Jesse's Tour in Wales.
"But there is one place at Brecon to which the wandering angler's attention should be directed. It is the interesting old Cathedral, now fast mouldering away, neglected, forsaken, and almost unknown. Who can see it without feelings of the deepest regret? No solemn anthem now ascends to Heaven, no choral praise is heard. The insidious ivy creeps through the roof, the floor is damp, and the old oak stalls with their curiously carved misereres are fast falling to decay. And why is this? Are there no funds to keep it in repair? No estates attached to its original foundation? Where is the dean who occupied the stall on which his name is inscribed, or the precentor or presbyters who sat in the others? Did they resign the ecclesiastical duties because decaying incomes kept pace with the decay of the sacred edifice? Nothing of
- ↑ Built by Bishop Lucy, Dean (1666) of Llandean when the Archdeacon and Bishop of St. David's resided much in the Castle at that place.
