York Cathedral is one of the largest and grandest of English minsters. The present structure is the third on the site, and was built by the first Norman bishop. The choir was rebuilt by Archbishop Roger, 1154-81, the south transept by Archbishop Gray in 1215-55, and the north transept about the same time, while the Norman nave was gradually replaced by the present one between 1290 and 1345. The Lady-Chapel was added in 1360-73, and the present choir substituted for Archbishop Roger's before 1400. The towers date from the fifteenth century, and the edifice as thus rebuilt was reconsecrated in 1472. In its present form, therefore, the minster shows examples of the Early English Decorated, and early and late Perpendicular styles. The most striking features of the exterior are the noble west façade in the Decorated and the imposing central tower in the Perpendicular style. Gloucester Cathedral stands on a site consecrated to religious purposes since the seventh century. The church was raised to cathedral dignity in 1541, having previously been included in the diocese of Worcester. In its present form the body of the church is the work of Abbot Serlo at the end of the eleventh century; but this Norman core was most skilfully altered and recased, chiefly in the fourteenth century, and in general external appearance is thoroughly Perpendicular. St. Albans Abbey, which was raised to the dignity of a cathedral in 1877, is one of the finest and largest churches in England. The earliest parts of the existing building date from the eleventh century; the choir was built in the thirteenth, and the Lady-Chapel in the fourteenth. The fine tower is Norman. An extensive, and not especially successful, restoration of the buildings including a new Early English west front with a large decorated window, has recently been completed. Exeter Cathedral, though comparatively small and unimposing, is, in virtue of its details, one of the most admirable examples in England of the Geometrical Decorated style. The oldest existing parts of the building are the transeptal towers, dating from the early part of the twelfth century, almost unique features in English churches. The rest of the cathedral was built, or, at any rate, altered from Norman to Decorated, between 1280 and 1370, mainly from designs of Bishop Quivil. The elaborate west façade was added by Bishop Brantyngham (1370-1394). The whole has been carefully restored. [Illustration: PLATE C EXETER CATHEDRAL: WEST FRONT] [1] St. Paul's Cathedral was illustrated in THE BROCHURE SERIES for November, 1900. Transcriber's Note: Italics are indicated by _underscores_. Small capitals have been rendered in full capitals. Footnote is at the end of chapter. A number of minor spelling errors have been corrected without note. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brochure Series of Architectural Illustration, vol. 06, No. 12, December 1900, by Various