The monastery continued until 1540 when Henry VIII dissolved it, and some of the last monks became the first Dean and Chapter. The cathedral was badly damaged in the civil wars, and as a consequence a major programme of rebuilding was required after the Restoration of Charles II. From the late seventeenth until the nineteenth centuries there were several campaigns to restore parts of the cathedral, but the Victorians from 1864-75 carried out the largest of these.
Worcester Cathedral embodies many features that are highly typical of an English medieval cathedral. Like the cathedrals of Salisbury and Lincoln, it has two transepts crossing the nave, rather than the single transept usual on the Continent. This feature of English Cathedrals was to facilitate the private saying of the Holy Office by many clergy or monks. Worcester is also typical of English cathedrals in having a chapter house and cloister. To the north side of the cathedral is an entrance porch, a feature designed to eliminate the draft which, prior to the installation of modern swing doors, would blow through cathedrals whenever the western doors were open.
Worcester Cathedral has important parts of the building dating from every century from the 11th to the 16th. Its tower in the Perpendicular style is described by Alec Clifton-Taylor as "exquisite"[1] and is seen best across the River Severn.
The earliest part of the building at Worcester is the multi-columned Norman crypt with cushion capitals remaining from the original monastic church begun by St Wulfstan in 1084. Also from the Norman period is the circular chapter house of 1120, made octagonal on the outside when the walls were reinforced in the 14th century. The nave was built and rebuilt piecemeal and in different styles by several different architects over a period of 200 years, from 1170 to 1374, some bays being a unique and decorative transition between Norman and Gothic. The oldest parts show alternate layers of green sandstone from Highley in Shropshire and yellow Cotswold limestone.
The east end was rebuilt over the Norman crypt by Alexander Mason between 1224 and 1269, coinciding with, and in a very similar Early English style to Salisbury Cathedral. From 1360 John Clyve finished off the nave, built its vault, the west front, the north porch and the eastern range of the cloister. He also strengthened the Norman chapter house, added buttresses and changed its vault. His masterpiece is the central tower of 1374, originally supporting a timber, lead-covered spire, now gone. Between 1404 and 1432 an unknown architect added the north and south ranges to the cloister, which was eventually closed by the western range by John Chapman, 1435–38. The last important addition is Prince Arthur’s Chantry Chapel to the right of the south choir aisle, 1502–04.
History Time Line
680 Diocese founded, and Bosel consecrated as first bishop. First Cathedral dedicated to St. Peter
983 Oswald founded a Benedictine monastry with a church dedicated to St. Mary which superseded St. Peter's as the Cathedral of Worcester
1062 Wulfstan, Prior of Worcester appointed bishop
1084 Present Cathedral commenced by Bishop Wulfstan, beginning with the crypt
1089 Crypt, and that part of the Cathedral above it, completed
1170 c Two Western bays of the nave rebuilt in Transitional Style
1175 Central Tower collapsed
1203 Canonisation of Wulfstan. His shrine became a place of pilgrimage.
1216 King John buried in Cathedral
1218 Restoration of the Cathedral almost complete. Service of Rededication held in presence of Henry III
1224 Construction of the Lady Chapel begun in Early English Style
1317 Rebuilding of the Nave commenced under Bishop Cobham
1374 Present Tower completed
1386 Magnificent north porch built
