Cathedral Rebuilt After Fire

1187

A devastating fire in 1187 destroyed much of the Norman cathedral and caused severe damage to the surrounding area. The fire necessitated a major rebuilding programme that transformed the cathedral from a plain Norman structure into a more elaborate building incorporating the transitional and Early English Gothic styles that were then current. The rebuilding was carried out over several decades under a succession of bishops, most notably Bishop Seffrid II, who oversaw the initial reconstruction. The rebuilt cathedral introduced Purbeck marble columns, rib vaulting, and decorative stonework that brought it into line with the architectural developments seen at Canterbury, Wells and other major English churches of the period. The retrochoir, added behind the high altar, is one of the finest Early English spaces in England, with slender Purbeck marble shafts and delicate mouldings. The fire and rebuilding also occasioned the creation of two stone relief panels depicting the raising of Lazarus and Christ at the gate of Bethany, which are among the most important pieces of Romanesque sculpture in England. These panels, dating from around 1125-1150, survived the fire and were incorporated into the rebuilt cathedral. A further fire in 1199 caused additional damage, and repairs continued well into the thirteenth century. The double-aisled nave, unique among English cathedrals, may date from the rebuilding campaigns of this period.