The =Central Tower= rests on massive piers with Norman arches. The entire space is open from the floor of the Cathedral to the wooden floor of the bell-chamber, painted beneath in blue and gold. From this floor hangs a corona of wrought iron, coloured like the screen. The tower contains a fine peal of ten bells. Through the north arch of the tower we pass into the =North Transept=, said to be the work of Peter of Savoy, who became Bishop of Hereford. He was called Bishop Aquablanca from his birthplace near Chambéry. He died in 1268 intensely hated. The original Norman north transept was pulled down about 1260 for this new one, rebuilt “on a design which is perhaps the most original, as it certainly is one of the most beautiful in the history of English Gothic architecture. To the north and west were built enormous windows, with tracery of cusped circles, quite exceptional in their elongation, more like late German than English work. On the east side was built an aisle of exquisite beauty. Its arches, almost straight-sided--its triforium windows, a ring of cusped circles set under a semicircular arch--its clerestory windows, spherical triangles, enclosing a cusped circular window--the composition of the triforium--the north and west windows--are quite unique, except so far as they were copied in later work in the city and neighbourhood. At the south end of the aisle is the exquisite TOMB of Bishop Peter Aquablanca (died 1268); no doubt built in his lifetime. The tomb is as unique as the transept, and chiefly resembles it in design. The inference is that Bishop Aquablanca built the transept. The credit of it, however, is constantly given to his successors, apparently on account of his private vices. But saints as well as sinners have liked to leave memorials behind them in stone; and, moreover, Aquablanca had his good points. To this day four thousand loaves are distributed every year out of funds which he bequeathed. It is recorded, too, that of a fine which was imposed on the citizens for encroachments on his episcopal rights, he remitted one half and handed over the other for works on the cathedral.”--(F. B.) Aquablanca was succeeded by Thomas Cantilupe, as much loved as the former was hated. Dying on a homeward journey from Rome, in 1282, his bones were removed from the flesh by boiling and carried to Hereford to be placed in the Lady-Chapel. Forty years later he was canonized. Many miracles were effected at his shrine, removed to the transept in 1287. King Edward I. sent sick falcons to be cured and people thronged with large offerings. We shall soon see all that is left of the =Cantilupe Shrine=.