Hereford Cathedral was founded in 676 and dedicated to martyred King Ethelbert.

 

The cathedral has been built and rebuilt in different ages with the nave having Norman pillars dating back to the 12th Century, whilst the side aisels and choir largely date back to the 14th Century. The Early English Lady Chapel with its ambulatory was constructed over the Crypt in the 13th Century.  The acute Gothic arches are similar to those of Westminster.

 

The cathedral is built in a Romanesque style  and has a central crossing tower with magestic pinnacles and adorned with ball flowers in the Decorated style.  The stone is a soft, pink sandstone and there is lots of purbeck marble used throughout.

 

Hereford Cathedral contains the largest chained library in the world with some of its books dating back to the 8th Century. The illuminated manuscripts are staggering in their beauty.

 

Also contained within the cathedral is the largest surviving medieval world map, the Mappa Mundi.

 

It costs around £4000 each day to keep the cathedral open to visitors.