User:Joopercoopers/ideas

Thoughts for additions to Chester Cathedral.

I think this would have to be a separate section; but, preferably, a separate article.

2 Charles the first nearly killed on Cathedral tower - shocker! [1]

Very unhappy about this source; it is unreferenced and mixes chat with reliable stuff. I think we would know this about Charles I from other sources but I've never heard it, have you?

3 "Monks were scared the devil would peep at them over the screen during their services in the quire. So, they carved a little devil in chains to frighten him off." (same ref)

This is rather silly (in my opinion).

4 South transept unusually large. Case regarding parishoner's rights of St. Oswald.

Unusual length of transept mentioned in the article - and the reason for it.

5 Discuss the pilgrimage. 6 One of the treasures of the cathedral was a girdle belonging to Thomas a becket.

Really?? Why don't they tell us then? Perhaps "was" is the key word. If it's not there, there's no point in mentioning it.

7 "The Cathedral houses one of the most complete medieval monastic complexes in the country. Intricately carved Quire stalls which are almost 800 years old and considered to be the finest in the UK." [2]

I think this is more or less covered already; if not, some copyediting should do it.

8 "The monks were known for their hospitality." [3] can we get more juicy info on this?

This looks a more reliable and accurate source. But were not all monks hospitable? Were the Chester ones more so than others? If so, who said so, and where? Incidentally this article mentions the Charles I episode and confirms it is legend - does this have a proper place in our article?

9 Land ownership of the abbey [4]

I'm a bit concerned by the "Virtual Stroll" site (this ref and 5 & 6) so I've used it sparingly, if at all. It all seems OK but it is a personal site and as such I think WP treats them with some care. Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published sources (online and paper) says that self-published sources "are largely not acceptable" and should be used only in very limited circumstances.

10 "The medieval trials by fire, water and combat were practiced in the Abbot's courts and malefactors were summarily executed by the Abbot's officers. (After the Dissolution, ecclesiastical justice continued to be administered in the Lady Chapel. It was here, in 1555, that George Marsh, a widower with children, was condemned to death for preaching the 'heretical' doctrine of Martin Luther by the Bishop of Chester, George Coats. George Marsh was the only person martyred in Cheshire under Queen Mary."[5]

11 Consistory court is the only complete example to survive in england.

12 John Clarke, the 25th and last Abbot, became the first Dean. He did not long enjoy his new office, which began 4th August 1541, as he died the following month.

13 The decay of the building after dissolution "By 1580, it was "in great decay and the glasse thereof carryed to their pryvate benefices by the Dean and Chapter"."

14 "n the 1640s, and lead was stripped from the roof in order to make musket balls."

15 "n the early years of the 18th century, author and traveller Daniel Defoe said of it, "'Tis built of a red, sandy, ill-looking stone, which takes much from the beauty of it, and which yielding to the weather, seems to crumble, and suffer by time, which much defaces the building" and by 1798, it was described as "one of the most heavy, irregular and ragged piles". "

16 Eastern part of cathedral had no foundations at all.

17 "1393 Sir Baldwyn Rudistone and other desperados excite a dreadful riot in the Abbey Precincts and city. After killing one Sheriff, taking the other prisoner and injuring the Mayor, they were finally expelled but returned a few days after with 300 men, and attempted to take the place by surprise, but were repulsed and many taken prisoner." [6]

Maybe a better source - [7]

This of course is the prime source; but I can't find much that is relevant and not already in the article. Can you?

Sorry if this is all a bit negative, but if we hope to go for FA sometime, we have to ensure that the sources adhere to WP guidelines. Thanks for all the work you have put into this. Peter. Peter I. Vardy (talk) 12:06, 30 March 2008 (UTC)