were changed to the pointed arch, and two of the pinnacles, with part of the raised battlements which were then added, still remain. Upon Saint Wilfrid's tower stood also a noble spire, 120 feet high, but of much larger dimensions than those before described, which was blown down on the eighth of December 1660. By the fall of the spire the arched roof of the choir was entirely broken in, the fine Gothic canopies over several of the stalls were destroyed, and the body of the church received so much damage that the estimate for rebuilding the steeple, and other necessary repairs, amounted to the sum of six thousand pounds and upwards; for this a brief was obtained the same year, (12th Charles II) With the money collected upon it, and other contributions, the church underwent a complete repair. The knots or centre blocks of the groined roof, which also was then broken in, are still preserved in the chapter-house, and exhibit very curious specimens of carving in oak, of figures, foliage, &c. A considerable part of the present minster was begun, in 1331, and finished in 1494, as appears from dates in the choir, so that from the beginning to the end of the work there was a space of one hundred and sixty-three years. From the west entrance on each side of the body are six pillars, including the corner pillars in both numbers, which form five arches; on the second pillar, at the west end of the north aisle are two shields of arms cut in stone, one containing the arms of the town, the other those of the Picard family, who were great benefactors to the repairs of the fabric in the time of Edward III. On the south wall of the choir are also the arms of the Picards, and some other benefactors, supposed to be of the same date. The choir is separated from the other part of the church by a partition screen of stone, nearly 20 feet high, 2 high, and ornamented with curious carved work; in the middle of it is the door into the choir, over which is placed the organ. At the west entrance into the choir are stalls for the dean, subdean, and prebendaries, enriched with much carved work, similar to those in the cathedral at York; of these the dean's stall is on the right, and the subdean's on the left hand of the entrance; the rest are assigned to the prebendaries by a label over each. They were begun in the year 1489, and finished in the year 1494, at the charge, as is supposed, of Archbishop Rotherham. There are 13 other stalls on the north side of the choir,appropriated to the use of the mayor and aldermen; on the south side are the archbishop's throne, and eleven other stalls, generally occupied by the common-council men of the borough, and below on each side of the choir are seats for the vicar's-coral, singing-men, choristers, and inhabitants. The seats in the stalls are all of oak, and when turned up exhibit different richly carved representations of animals, figures, and foliage. The finials before the stalls, and the crockets to the seats are of exquisite workmanship, particularly those at the deans, sub-deans, and archbishop's seats, as are also two small canopies, one near the mayor's, the other adjoining the archbishop's seat. On the south side of the choir is the chapterhouse, which appears to be the most ancient part of the fabric, and supposed to be the remains of St. Wilfrid's original church. It is very probable that the lady-loft and library were built upon the vestry and chapter-house, about the time of Henry VII. when the aisles were added to the body of the church. There are several curious paintings on wooden pannels, in the chapter-house, viz. Edward III. Richard II. Henry IV. Henry V. Henry VI. James I. and his wife, and Prince Henry, eldest brother of L Charles Charles I. Richard III. Elizabeth his consort, and Margaret his mother; Henry VIII. Catherine Parr, Ann Bolen, Jane Seymour, Edward VI. and Queen Mary. Under the nave of the church is a chapel, said to have been dedicated to the Holy Trinity, in which is a place called St. Winfrid's Needle, that appears to have been used as a confessional. These chapels are called crypts, and were used for the services of the holy week. Besides the entrance from the body of the church, there was one for the priest from the choir. The length of the chapel is ten feet six inches, breadth seven feet six inches; height nine feet. In the transept, to the north, near the entrance into the choir, stands a stone pulpit of curious work manship. The following are the dimensions of the church: Height of the choir to the square 63 feet. Height of the aisles in the choir 29 feet 8 inches. Height of the choir to the ridge 79 feet. Height of the nave to the ridge 88 feet 6 inches, Length of the choir- door to the west door, within the walls, 171 feet. The choir is 99 feet long, and 67 feet broad, aisles included. Body of the church 87 feet broad. Breadth of the nave, exclusive of the aisles, 40 feet inches. Length of the aisles 110 feet 8 inches. Breadth, 17 feet 10 inches. Length of the transept 132 feet. Breadth of the transept 36 feet. Height of the south arch of St. Wilfrid's steeple 23 feet; of the west arch 26 feet 4 inches. Length of the chapter-house 34 feet 8 inches; breadth 18 feet 8 inches. The whole of the east window was formerly filled with painted glass, much of which was destroyed by the the soldiers, under the command of Sir Thomas Mauleverer, Anno 1643. What parts of the broken glass could be collected, were replaced in the window; but it has lately been wholly renewed with painted glass, executed by the late W. Pecket, of York. There are many handsome monuments in the church, and several of considerable antiquity. In the north cross aisle, on an ancient altar-tomb of freestone, are two whole length figures, and upon the sides are shields with the arms of Neville, Scrope, Strafford, and others, which however are much defaced. In the south aisle of the nave, on a grey marble altar-tomb of very ancient workmanship, are represented the figures of a man and a lion, in a grove of trees. No legible inscription is at present to be found upon it, but the tradition is that it was placed over the body of an Irish Prince, who died at Ripon, wher returning from his travels. Among the many charitable institutions in this town we have first to notice: The Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen, in Stam ner-gate, was endowed by Thurstan, Archbishop of York, in the time of Henry the First, for lepers. This hospital was at its institution under the government of sisters, assisted by a chaplain, and appropriated for the relief of persons afflicted with the leprosy; and to prevent the contagion from reaching the inhabitants of the town this building was erected about two furlongs from it. But when leprosy became less frequent, it was converted to the use of sisters and brethren, under the superintendance of a master, who was bound to relieve dis tressed clergy and the poor. This hospital at present consists of a range of buildings, divided into six separate dwellings, and is now inhabited by six poor widows, who have their situation, together with the yearly allowance of three pounds each for life, together with the rent of L 2 the the field adjoining to the hospital. The chapel is on the east side of the road. The hospital was rebuilt by Hooke, and has the following inscription over the door : EDES HASCE RVITVRAS A SOLO RESTIVIT R. HOOKE, S. T. P. HOSPIT: Divine service is still performed in the chapel on the sunday after the twenty-second of July, and on the feasts of St. John and St. Thomas. The mastership of it is in the gift of the archbishop of York; to which the dean of Ripon, for the time being, has of late years been appointed. The Hospital of St. John Baptist was founded by one of the archbishops of York, early in the reign of King John; but for what number of poor does not now appear. This building is sinall, and at present appropriated to the habitation of two poor sisters, who have each an annual allowance of one pound, seven shillings, and sixpence. Near the hospital is a chapel, dedicated to St. John Baptist, in which divine service was celebrated every Sunday until the year 1722. In it was a chantry, said to be founded by John Sherwood, who also founded a chantry in Ripon church, and is buried near the steps to the altar, under an old uninscribed grave-stone. The archbishop of York is patron of this hospital, which is styled the hospital of St. John the Baptist, in Bond-gate, in the parish of Ripon. The Hospital of St. Anne, sometimes called Maison de Dieu,' is said to have been founded by some of the Nevills in the reign of Edward IV. On the outside of the building are the arms of Sir Solo mon |