Photograph of the interior of the Chapel of St Cross, Winchester
Taken about 1880
The second half of the nineteenth century saw a considerable amount of restoration work at the Chapel of St Cross, starting in 1860 with the removal of the coatings of whitewash in the nave and aisles and the relaying of the flooring. Lack of funds hindered progress, but an anonymous donation (possibly by the Prince of Wales) in 1863 enabled work to continue. Removal of more whitewash, flooring work and polychrome decoration of the east wall of the chancel were undertaken, and the Chapel re-opened in the autumn of 1865.
Immediately following this another fund was launched which was devoted to further polychrome decoration designed by the architect William Butterfield. From this image it would appear to have been undeniably striking, but it has subsequently been removed.
The photographer is unknown, but was probably William Savage (1817-87); the photograph and is found in an album entitled 'Winchester Views of Old Buildings'.
See WILLIAM SAVAGE for further details of his life and work.
