Ripon - Cathedral

Ripon's main attraction is its cathedral, originally a monastery founded in 657 by Alchfrith. The cathedral's attraction lies in the variety of styles it incorporates. Its oldest parts, the choir and transepts, date from the time of Roger of Pont (Archbishop of York 1154-1181). The Early English west front was constructed between 1220 and 1230; the east end (Decorated) in about 1300. The nave and parts of the central tower are Perpendicular. The interior also shows a variety of styles. The choir shows Transitional, Early English and Decorated work. The triforium is the only one in England to be glazed. Particularly fine are the 34 misericords of the choir-stalls (1489/1494). The Anglo-Saxon crypt was built by St Wilfred in 670 as a