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The Misericords and history of Hereford Cathedral,
St Mary the Virgin
Hereford Cathedral has forty 14th century misericords and several modern misericords.
Click to launch a description of the misericords of Hereford Catrhedral
Please click on the thumbnail misericords for larger images
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Although there has been a place of worship in the site of the present cathedral since 676 AD when a small church was built. After the murder by Offer of King Ethelbert, his body was taken to the church at Hereford. Due to miracles happening at the tomb of St Ethelbert, a cathedral was built in place of the original church at about 830 AD. The cathedral was heavily altered in 1020, but only had a short life as it was destroyed by the Welsh army in 1056, no part of the Saxon cathedral remains.
Building of the Norman Cathedral started in 1079, but took until 1148 to be completed - it appears that successive bishops had different ideas about the cathedral and re-did much of the previous bishop’s work. A mere 50 years later it was decided that it was time for another rebuild! So very little of the 1079-1148 church remains, namely the Choir, but only up as far as the clerestory, the arch between the choir and the north transept, the south transept and the nave arcade. At this time a retro-choir was built, the North and east transepts as well as the nave aisle were built. The choir vaulting probably dates from this period.
The central Tower and Chapter house date from the early 14th century. Then a Western nave tower was added in the mid-fifteenth century. Finally in the early 16th century, the North Porch was added, thus completing the building work started almost 440 years earlier. So saying, in 1902- 1908 a new west front was built, but this seems to have been more out of necessity that desire.
Building of the Norman Cathedral started in 1079, but took until 1148 to be completed - it appears that successive bishops had different ideas about the cathedral and re-did much of the previous bishop’s work. A mere 50 years later it was decided that it was time for another rebuild! So very little of the 1079-1148 church remains, namely the Choir, but only up as far as the clerestory, the arch between the choir and the north transept, the south transept and the nave arcade. At this time a retro-choir was built, the North and east transepts as well as the nave aisle were built. The choir vaulting probably dates from this period.
The central Tower and Chapter house date from the early 14th century. Then a Western nave tower was added in the mid-fifteenth century. Finally in the early 16th century, the North Porch was added, thus completing the building work started almost 440 years earlier. So saying, in 1902- 1908 a new west front was built, but this seems to have been more out of necessity that desire.
© 2008 All Rights Reserved Last Updated 26 December 2008
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