Durham Cathedral, locally known as "the Abbey," is usually ranked among the six finest English cathedrals, though, apart from its magnificent situation, the first impression made by the exterior scarcely seems to warrant so high a place. The composition of the east end is externally unsatisfactory; and the west front suffers from the difficulty of obtaining a good near view. The site was first built upon by the monks of Lindisfarne, who, in 999, chose it as a resting place for St. Cuthbert's remains. After the Norman conquest a new and larger church was begun, the choir of which seems to have been completed in 1093-95. The transepts and nave, also in the Norman style, were all finished by 1143. The cloisters and upper part of the central tower are Perpendicular (1400-80). A destructive restoration was carried out in 1778-1800, sweeping away many ancient details, and spoiling the exterior by scraping. Recently the entire building has been restored. [Illustration: PLATE XCV SALISBURY CATHEDRAL FROM NORTHWEST] Hereford Cathedral was begun in 1079, and not finished till 1530, and consequently shows an interesting mixture of architectural styles. The nave, south transept and piers of the tower are Norman, the Lady-Chapel is Early English; the north transept was rebuilt between 1250 and 1288; the north porch was erected about 1290. The tower dates from the fourteenth century. [Illustration: WORCESTER CATHEDRAL FROM SOUTHWEST] [Illustration: WORCESTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR] Peterborough Cathedral is one of the most important Norman churches left in England, though at first glance the exterior does not seem to bear out this assertion. The elaborate and somewhat foreign-looking west façade, with its recessed arches, gables and sculptures, is however an Early English addition of about 1220; and forms, as it were, a screen in front of the original west wall. The present building is the third church on this site. The first was destroyed by the Danes; the second was burned in 1116. The oldest part now standing is the choir, consecrated about 1140. The great transept dates from 1155-77, the late-Norman nave from 1177-93, and the west transepts, in the Transitional style, from 1193-1200. A series of uniform Decorated windows was added throughout the church in the fourteenth century. The spires and pinnacles of the flanking turrets of the west façade are of the Decorated and Perpendicular periods. The interior gives an impression of unusual lightness for Norman architecture, an effect enhanced by the color of the stone. In 1643 it suffered severely at the hands of the iconoclastic Puritans. The clearstory and triforium of the nave are impressive in size and effect. The painted wooden ceiling dates from the twelfth century. [Illustration: PLATE XCVI LINCOLN CATHEDRAL FROM SOUTHWEST]