Winchester Cathedral view from the West
It is said that reconstruction of this end of the cathedral was halted by the Black Death in 1349 at a level just above the three door arches – then resumed about 25 years later in a simpler, less skilled fashion
Winchester Cathedral
When Wessex spread its wings
from Itchen's valley,
Winchester ruled the land,
and kings arose
to quell defiant foes.
Now all those bygone kings
contained in caskets
garnish my chancel screens;
each monarch thus
succumbed to earthly dust.
And even brave Canute,
renowned in legend for his pantomime,
now resting mute,
could not forestall the ever rising tide of time.
© 1991 JOS