Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-09-17

Henry v; the 1--WE full size bronze efigies of King
Henry III, King Edward III, King Richard H.
Queen Anne of Bohemia, Queen Eleanor of Cas-
tile and the efigy of William de Valence and two
or three of stone statuettes In the inches of
King Henry VS. chantry, which, not having any
structural fastening were liable by concussion to
be shaken down and splintered to fragments on
the pavement below; the wooden top Of the Con-
fessors tomb, made by Abbot Feckenham; the pic
ture Of King Richard II the tapestry hangIngs,
the banners Of the knights Of the Bath and the
old altar frontal
"t2) strong protective structure consisting of
balks OF timber and sand bags was erected over
the Confessor's tomb. No less than LOO sand
bags We're used for this purpose. similar cree
ton was raised over the beautiful tomb of King
Henry I'LL Sufficiently substantial shields of tim
Der and many sand bags were placed over the
marble efngy of Queen Philippa. Queen Elizabeth
and Mary Queen of Scots disappeared from view
under small mountains Of sand bags The Lady
Margaret received similar attention. And par
ticularly substantial breast work and covering OF
timber and sand bags formed a solid protection
for the glorious monument of King Henry VII and
his queen at the east end of Henry WIS chapel.
Nothing could probably have averted the destruc-
tlon caused by direct hit. But what was most
to be feared was the crashing of stone and timber
fragments from the roof
"(3) The glass was removed from the three
east clerestorg windows and from the west VIM
dows of the north aisle of the nave Wood Stats
were substituted, which, though much more draf-
ty were infinitely less costly than plain glass The
very ancient glass in the Jerusalem chamber was
also removed and put in safety.
"As matter of fact. the abbey was not
touched by any hostile missile A harvest of our
own shrapne was collected. But the building
passed unframed through all the terrible time OF
the raids. A large German bomb fell about %
yards to the southwest, just grazing the wall Of
the Abbey Choir school and making huge hole
In the courtyard at the back. But II did not
plode. The damage was trifllng and the chOris-
ters who were being kept during the raid on
lower floor and were singing merrily under the
barrage, were at the time quite unconscious Of
their extraordinary escape
Whole Abbey Qulvered.
During the raids most of the occupants of the
official houses repaired for greater security TO the
so-called Norman undercroft in the cloisters,
vast chamber beneath the old monks 1ormitOry.
with stout massive Norman columns and strong
stone-groined roof. Being DESTROYS as far as pos
sible to be on the spot In case anything should
happen 20 the abbey, we In the deanery used to go
to the foot Of little stone staircase leading up
the southern of the two western towers. It was
possible thus to be In the building and see the
Waterman and learn what was going on The
whole abbey seemed to CULVER while the heavy Bar
rage was being fred the windows ratified and the
roar of the guns seemed in the empty abbey TO
produce an extraordinary resonant effect.
"Yery careful precautions had been taken
against fire breaking ont IN the roof. Watchmen
were on guard every night. They specially
reinforced on the occasions when notice was given
OF hostile attack The water tanks were In good
order; the hydrants and hose pipes were contin-
sally tested: large numbers u buckets were