"Eton College Novembr 20th 1699.

The Provost and Fellowes of Eton College having this year expended £1800 in repairing the Top and outside of their College Chapell, and covering it with a new, Strong, and very handsome roof; And considering further that it conduceth highly to the Honour of God and the benefit of Religion, that the Publick worship of God should be performed, with as much decency as possible, where so great a number of Children, both of the Nobility and Gentry, have their Education; do intend, God willing, to proceed the next year, to the Beautyfying and Enlarging the Choir of it, that so all the Children of the Schole may appear under one View; and likewise that they, and all the people of the Parish, may be so conveniently seated, as to hear with ease all the publick Offices of the Church, which at present by reason of their number, and the ill disposition of the place, they cannot possibly do.

The Charge of this (as it is computed by the College Surveyor) being like to amount to £3000 at least, is much greater than the College is able to bear: And therefore 'tis humbly hoped and desired, that such of the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy, who either have formerly had their Education in this Schole, or do at present belong to it, and other pious and well disposed persons, whom God hath blessed with plentifull Estates, will contribute their charitable Assistance towards the carrying on of this good work; which, as we conceive, tends to the honour of Almighty God, the Advantage of his true Religion, and the publick benefit both of Church and State.

It was then agreed by the Provost and Fellowes of Eton College to proceed forthwith to the Enlarging and Beautyfying, the Choir of their College Chapell, according to the Modell designed by Mr Banks their Surveyor; and for the more Effectuall Encouragement of this good work, they, together with the Masters of the Schole, did promise to pay the severall Summs Subscribed with their Names1."

The work of "wainscotting the Chapell" was proceeded with in the following year. The design of this part was apparently left in a great measure to "Mr Hopson the Joyner," but "Mr Banks the Surveyor" gave advice throughout. Timber for the Organ-loft was bought during the same year, but the Organ was not set up until 17012. The work occupied three years, and cost £5418. 2s. 1d. The style of the internal decorations of the Church will be understood from the accom

1 [The whole amount subscribed was £3232. 35. 6d., of which the Provost, Henry Godolphin, gave £1000, the rest being made up by the subscriptions of the Fellows, the Masters, and old Etonians.]

2 [Audit Book, 1699-1700. "Payd Mr Hopson the Joyner this year an Acc'. or Wainscotting the Chappell... £810. o. o. Itm. more to him for ye Modele of y Chappell £24. 0. o." Ibid. 1700—1. "Item for a Buck to treat ye Choire upon ye

first Tryall of the Organ £3. 10. o."]

panying woodcut (fig. 35). The organ-screen was not placed directly under the Chancel-arch, but crossed the Church opposite to the second window. A flight of five steps led up to it. It was a handsome classical composition about 25 feet in depth. On the west side lofty fluted columns supported an entablature, which was carried round the bay westward of the screen, and also round the Chancel-arch. A classical character was further given to the latter, by the addition of some heavy moldings, and of two columns applied to the piers. The extent of this screen

Fig. 34.

is shewn, by shading, on the plan (fig. 16). In the choir, the pulpit occupied a prominent position in the centre of the south side. The north and south walls were panelled right up to the east end, so that the stone-work and even the entrance to Lupton's Chapel was concealed. At the east end the altar was placed under a lofty classical baldacchino, adorned with urns, the pediment of which obstructed a considerable portion of the

east window'. The roof was plastered on the inside, probably to give the appearance of stone-work, and painted white.

The Ante-chapel was decorated in 1769, in consequence of the following College Order (18 March):

"Agreed to repair and beautify the Ante-chappel with Stucco-Work agreably to a Plan and Estimate delivered in by Edwd. Bowers."

Fig. 35.

1

Interior of the Chapel, looking west, as it appeared in 1816 reduced from a drawing by Mackenzie in Ackermann's Eton; from Lyte's "Eton College."

[These details are derived from a study of a plate by Pugin, in Ackermann's Eton, p. 33. It represents the west side of the Organ-screen, through the door of which the altar-piece is seen. See also Lyte, p. 429. There is a tradition that Sir C. Wren was employed upon these works, but his name does not occur in any of the accounts; and a similar tradition, ascribing to him the Library, built in 1726, is clearly erroneous, as he retired from public life in 1717.]

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These arrangements remained unaltered until 1842, when the reredos was removed and the original stone panelling at the east end discovered. A new altar, altar-rails, and pulpit, all of stone, and Gothic in design, were provided from the designs of Mr Shaw'. In 1844 a subscription was set on foot among the boys to fill the east window with stained glass. The work was entrusted to Mr Thomas Willement, then a leading man in his profession. As money came in, portions were executed and put up, but the whole was not completed until 1849. The easternmost windows on the north and south sides were filled with similar glass in 1846, that on the north side being given by the Assistant Masters, and that on the south side by the Rev. W. A. Carter'. While this work was proceeding, it was resolved to undertake more extensive changes. It was proposed, to quote a circular issued at the time to solicit subscriptions,

"to enlarge the Choir to its original size, to make suitable provision for the encreased number of the Scholars, as well as to obtain better accommodation for the resident families and strangers. It is intended to erect Gothic stalls and a new Screen; and, if possible, to amend or remove the present Roof."

A competition of architects was invited, at the beginning of 1845, and Mr Deeson was selected. It was at first intended to roof the building in stone'; but this scheme was given up as dangerous, and the work on the roof was limited to a removal of the paint and plaster, and the addition of some very ugly and obtrusive cusping to the principals (fig. 36). The contract was signed 3 April, 1847, and the work commenced at once. The old panelling and seats having been cleared away and the walls cleaned, the frescoes were discovered under the whitewash applied in 1560, in a tolerable state of preservation. The upper portion of them was unfortunately almost entirely destroyed by the workmen, but the lower range was preserved, and still exists, behind the modern wood

1 [Minute Book, 14 March, 1842. A view of the east end of the Church in this state is given in "Memorials of Eton College" by C. W. Radcliffe, fol. Eton, 1844.]

2 [Thanks to the Boys for the window were read by the Provost before Speeches in Upper School on Election Saturday, 1849. It cost more than £2000. Each of the side-windows cost £800. The donors were thanked for them 18 December, 1846. College Minute Book.]

3 [See " "The Builder," 4 October, 1845.]

Fig. 36. Interior of the Chapel, Eton College, looking east, shewing the changes begun in 1847; from Lyte's "Eton College."

To face p. 450.

Vol. I.