Note 7 — PART I.

The Norman towers or turrets had, however, been rebuilt in the Early English period. “From an account of an accident which occurred between 1163 and 1179, we know that the west front was flanked by two towers; for while Roger, Bp. of Worcester, was celebrating mass before the high altar, the north-west tower, owing to a defect in its foundation, fell. It may be a question, however, whether these towers were not rather turrets, like those at Tewkesbury. The very fact that at Tewkesbury we have turrets rather than towers, is sufficient to make the suggestion very probable, for there is a great resemblance between the two churches. Moreover, if Abbot Morwent found a design with towers, properly so called, he substituted for it one provokingly inferior. This is hardly likely.”—(G. A. P.) The rebuilding of the north-west tower was commenced in 1222, and its companion was also rebuilt between the years 1228-1243. These were the towers or turrets destroyed by Abbot Morwent.