The choir, retro-choir, and Lady-chapel, with the choir-aisles and the eastern transepts, are _Early English_, and were commenced in 1224. The nave, with the exception of the two western bays, is of later date, _Decorated_, (1317-1327,) on the north side; and Decorated with a strong tendency to Perpendicular (_circ._ 1360?) on the south. The central tower is also Decorated, and was no doubt the tower for which the legacy of Bishop Nicholas of Winchester (1281) was intended. The cloisters are Perpendicular.
The _Early English_ portion of the cathedral (the whole of the church east of the central tower) is by far the most interesting, and affords some very good examples of design and sculpture. On the whole, however, although the entire building deserves, and will repay, careful examination, it can hardly be said to rank among English churches of the first class. The Norman cathedral, which covered nearly the same ground as that which now exists, terminated eastward (as appears from the crypt, § XXII.) in a broad apse, with small apsidal chapels attached at the sides. The ground-plan of the existing building forms a double or patriarchal cross[62], with a square eastern end. The whole north front of the cathedral is seen at once as the Close is entered from the High-street; but although the length (450 ft.) and general mass are imposing, the view is hardly picturesque [_Frontispiece_]. The transepts do not project far enough to break the long line satisfactorily, and the whole work of the exterior (including the central tower) is unusually plain. This view has, however, been greatly improved by the recent (1865) lowering of the ground on the north side of the church (including St. Michael’s churchyard) to the depth of at least four feet. No good general point of view can be obtained on the south side of the cathedral.
Since the year 1857 very extensive works, amounting in fact to a rebuilding of much of the eastern portion of the church, have been carried on under the superintendence of Mr. A. E. Perkins, architect to the Dean and Chapter. These will be pointed out as we proceed. It may be said here, however, that besides the great desecration and injury which the building suffered from the troops of Essex in 1642, and again from Cromwell’s soldiers after the battle of Worcester in 1651, it underwent much unfortunate “restoration” during the eighteenth century. Much of the work then done it was desirable to remove; and the condition of the stone in many parts of the cathedral was such as to render extensive repair absolutely necessary[63]. The stone used by the Norman and Early English builders was from the Higley quarries, near Bridgenorth; these quarries are in the sandstone; as are those at Holt, which were used by the builders of the Perpendicular period. For the repairs and rebuilding (1857-1863) stone has been brought from Ombersley, near Droitwich.