The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07
NOOKS i'm TOMB
OF OLD KINGS
Westminster Abbey Has
Secret Crannies TO Which
Few Persons Have Access
FAMOUS CHAPEL OF PYX
Formerly Treasure House
OF Norman Conquerors and
Locked With Seven Keys

To the man who thinks he knows
every nook and Granny of Westminster
Abbey it will probably be a surprise to
learn that there are many of its most
ancient and interesting parts of which
he has never even caught a glimpse.
For instance, in the eastern cloister Is
an ancient double door 80 guarded
against unauthorized intrusion that 1t
can only be opened by seven keys.
which are I'm the jealous custody of as
many Government officials. Five of the
keyholes of this wonderful door, which
by the way Is covered with human
skins, are concealed from view by
stout iron bar which traverses it.
This door gives access to a vaulted
chamber known as the chapel of the
Pyx, the walls of which were standing.
as they stand to-day. before ever the
Norman conqueror landed on the shore
Of Sussex This chamber was once the
treasury Of England. to which were
brought ''the most cherished posses
sions Of the state"
The regalia Of the Scottish Kings and
OF the Holy Cross and Holyrood were
deposited here: for many a year 1t
served as q mint for coming silver and
gold; it was centuries ago the scene of
a daring robbery, when treasure valued
at f500,000, equal to-day to 10000, 900,
was taken from it. and to-day 1t con-
tains, in addition to stone altar, some
old chests. one of which Is said to have
held the jewels Of Norman Kings.
WHERE MONKS MEDTTATE
Not far away is passage leading to
the little cloiBter, the arched walls Of
which were built under the eyes OF Ed
ward the Confessor nearly eight and
one-half centuries ago and which
echoed to the football of the first Will
liam and his mailed attendants. Hid
den from view under the pavements
are the bases of the original columns of
the abbey. which have also stood since
before the conquest, and adjoining the
little clpfster is q garden, shut OF by
high walls from the outside world, In
which monks meditated and walked
and prayed eight centuries ago.
At the southeast corner OF the little
cloister are the remains Of st. Gather
ins,s Chapel. which was probably built
within living memory OF the conquest.
The beautiful doorway which once
gave access to 1t now serves as the en-
trance to one Of the official residences
and in its walls are still to be seen
traces OF the high altar and a fireplace.
Not far from this interesting relic of
ancient days Is square gray tower
which once served the grim purpose of
q monastic prison and has also been the
repository of the royal jewels (for many
years 1t was known as the Kings
jewel house') and acts Of Parliament.
After all these centuries of existence IT
still has it's uses, for in 1t are kept the
standards OF weights and measures.
Few who have explored the abbey
have been privileged to inspect the
chapter library, with Its treasures of
books and manuscripts many centuries
old, or perhaps know that under the
passage leading to the chapterhouse
lies the dust Of the first abbot Of West
minister, who had his day when the
confessor was king Of England. The
chapter house. which Is open to the
public, has, OF course, centuries OF in
teresting memories.
It was originally the chamber where
the abbot and monks used to transact
their monastic business; for many gen.
erations the commons sat and legis-
lated here before moving to the chapel
OF St. Stephen In Westminster place.
and in later years 1t was used as q
storehouse for the public records, In
Guiding the original Domesday book.
ETRONGROOM OF KINGS.
Beneath the chapter-house Is a crypt.
the entrance to which is kept jealously
locked and which seems to have served
the purpose Of strongroom to the
Plantagenet kings, and not far from
the chapter-house is St. Faiths chapel.
at one time the vestry Of the abbey and
II, which the ancient and priceless altar
plate of the abbey is kept.
or peculiar interest is the Jerusalem
chamber. which was built more than
500 years ago and was probably at one
time the abbot's withdrawing-room
1t was in this chamber that Henry w
died, In curious fuifillment of a proph-
ecy that he should die in Jerusalem:
j Il hath been prophesied me many q year
/ / shall not die but in Jerusalem
Which vainly supposed the holy land.
But bear me to that chamber; there I'll lie.
| In that Jerusalem shall Harry die.
And In the same chamber Addison,
Congreve and Prior lay in state before
their splendid interment in the abbey.
Chicago Chronicle.