Angels with Instruments

At the top of the three pillars in the Lady Chapel are angels singing and playing instruments in celebration of Christ’s birth. They are all facing towards the carving of the nativity.

The instruments they are playing include the psaltery (or harp on a box), a tabor (small drum with a snare), a gittern (the medieval equivalent of the guitar), pipe, tabor and wrist bells, bagpipes, pipe or shawm, portative or Bible Regal (small portable organ) and rebec (stringed instrument played with a bow).